The forklift has become a vital piece of equipment able to raise and move things and heavy supplies with both efficiency and speed. The way a company utilizes this machinery could considerably affect its profitability.
A common storage technique is Free Stacking Pallets. This is a way to use your forklift that is economical and easy. Free Stacking Pallets involves placing one pallet over another to make a stack of products. This is a stable storage system and is suggested when dealing with numerous pallets of the same height and dimensions or large amounts of the same product. The disadvantage of this method is that it only enables access to the objects put last, so it does not enable a First In First Out system.
Pallet Racking is a system which involves the stable storage of different sized pallets. Any pallet could be accessed at any time, that enables a Last In First Out or First In First Out technique. It allows the rack to change shape and grow depending upon daily needs. This system needs aisles which are wide enough to allow a forklift to freely access the racks and maneuver easily. The disadvantage is that this particular technique means less pallets can be handled within the setting. This might not make a difference if there is adequate space available.
Similar to Pallet Racking, the technique called Narrow Aisle Racking allows a Last In First Out or First In First Out system. It varies in that a special narrow forklift is utilized. This means that smaller spaces are required between the aisles of pallets than in the Pallet Racking technique. The advantage is that a lot more product can be stored in the same space. The disadvantage is that you will have to transition to a different type of truck if you already own a standard lift truck. The expenditure of acquiring special equipment may be a deterrent to implementing this particular system of storage.
Using your lift truck to its fullest capability is vital as it pays to consider your retrieval costs and storage costs of pallets. Afterward you can determine whether there are more effective means to use your forklift to increase the usable space of your units or to accelerate the process. Greater efficiency means bigger productivity.