17 May 2012

Optimising capacity in cold storage

In addition to creating higher pallet capacities on a smaller floor area, the Movirack^® mobile racking solution from APC Storage Solutions SA, through a series of smart innovations, lowers overall energy requirements, advances warehouse safety and aids general accessibility to goods. 

“This improves the viability of cold storage facilities,” says Fred Albrecht, managing director of APC Storage Solutions SA. “We have managed to introduce the Movirack system to the South African cold storage industry at an affordable price. The savings associated with much denser pallet storage further ensure a quick return on investment and give our clients a competitive edge in their respective industries.” 

By opting for a high-density mobile racking system that increases the storage capacity on existing floor space, growing warehouses don’t need to acquire additional space. According to Albrecht, “Some facilities using the Movirack have benefitted from an 80 to 120% increase in pallet positions, substantially improving warehouse performance.” 

Maximising capacity also has the benefit that greater pallet volumes help to maintain lower overall warehouse temperatures, reducing per-pallet energy as well as floor space costs. In the context of escalating electricity costs, clever lighting, which turns itself on and off depending on the aisle selected, also contributes to overall energy savings. 

The Movirack system features a number of smart innovations and tested technologies.  The parking option, for example, helps improve air circulation by creating equal spaces between each racking base when warehouse function is low. 

“Since only one or two access aisles are open at any moment during operation, fewer people need to be moving in and around the warehouse and this lowers the risk of injuries,” Albrecht adds. 

Most warehouse operators rely on conventional forklift trucks to reach each pallet. The Movirack system uses low-heat drive wheels and guide rails to open access aisles for forklifts. This movement is controlled by an operator who selects where an access aisle should be, using either a wall-mounted panel or a remote control. APC Storage Solutions SA can further automate the picking process by integrating conveyor systems, providing further time and energy savings. 

Designed to reduce the risks associated with cold storage, the Movirack has built-in safety features. Safety barriers, re-arm buttons, emergency mushroom buttons and lighting installations all help to keep storage items and operators safe. 

APC Storage Solutions SA designs and tests various warehouse configurations to provide an optimum layout that meets specific requirements, including the number of access aisles required, the type of forklift trucks used, and other factors that influence operating costs, efficiency and long-term durability. A Movirack system ensures a return on investment as well as providing warehouses with a new level of operational efficiency and long-term profitability.