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Reaching new heights in the warehouse
By Alexander Baal, director of sales operations, Jungheinrich UK
Warehouses are required to store more products
than ever, but with limited space, facilities cannot expand and go out much further – the only solution is to go up. Over time and through advancements in technology, the heights within reach are growing higher and higher. 15 years ago, the highest reach would have been 11.5 metres, but now it’s possible to store at 13 metres. Who knows what the future may bring in terms of developments? There’s a clear demand for this evolution to create better space optimisation, but balancing this with safety is crucial.
M
oreover, warehouse operations are already being shaped
by the current pandemic as businesses are under increasing pressure to operate faster and at higher capacity than ever before, even with a reduced workforce. Advances in automation technology can not only drive businesses through the tough times, but also provide a solid foundation to weather the storms of the future. But what must businesses consider in order to pinpoint the tools and technologies that can help them to optimise value and space most effectively within their organisations?
The considerations For reach trucks and warehouses to go higher, there are a number of variables that must be assessed, for example, in order to maintain stability at height, the floor conditions must be to a good enough standard. The higher the lift height required, the greater the need for control over lift and reach functions to ensure stability and safety.
Typically, the operator wants the forks to reach the pick destination as quickly as possible, but with a load on, the movement needs to be controlled to reduce the
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amount of sway. Intuitive technology that recognises the weight of the load, the height of the mass, and knows when to move fast and when to slow down for the operation of the operator can not only address safety points, but also add speed, value and efficiency.
During mast manufacture, hot steel is rolled to form the sections of the mast for stability. There are extra steps however that can be ensured to achieve maximum safety, for instance Jungheinrich pioneered an additional process called Cold Rolling, that is completed after the sections have cooled down. By rolling the sections again when cold, it increases the strength and reduces tolerances which create flex or movement when fitted to the truck. This results in less sway or movement and so forth contributes towards a greater stability at height.
Another consideration is the ratio between the length of time of each shift and how tight the aisle is. Typically, businesses have their warehouse already set up and know how wide or narrow their aisles are. A common mistake some organisations make is thinking that a bigger battery will solve their
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