New technology from Dematic offers distribution centers several options for high-density pallet storage. The company, a supplier of logistics and material handling technologies for distribution centers, says the technologies provide warehouses a way to receive, store, and ship full or mixed-case pallet loads. According to the company, the technologies lower operating costs by reducing labor and damage. They also reduce building and land costs by providing increased storage density.
The technology is available in three variations. The first, "deep-lane pallet storage on the floor," uses automatic guided vehicles (AGVs) equipped with forks to stage pallets in lanes multiple pallets deep. Pallets can be stacked up to 24 feet high in each lane. The AGVs use a periscope design to move a laser head above load obstructions and adjustable forks for precise placing and picking of pallets.
The second is "deep-lane pallet storage in racks," which uses fork-equipped AGVs and Dematic's satellite shuttle device to move product to the racks, which can be up to 40-feet high. The shuttles lift and transport pallets to positions in the deep-lane rack.
Third is "deep-lane pallet storage in racks using a dedicated storage and retrieval machines" (SRM) in each aisle. Dematic says this variation improves density and throughput versus the pure AGV-based solutions. It allows for minimal aisle widths, and the height of the rack structure can be increased to 110 feet. The SRM can access loads on both sides of the rack.
