The forklift has become a vital piece of machine able to raise and transport products and heavy materials with both efficiency and speed. The way a business uses this machinery could considerably affect its productivity.
A popular storage technique is Free Stacking Pallets. This is a way to utilize your forklift that is both easy and economical. Free Stacking Pallets involves positioning one pallet over another to make a stack of products. This is a stable storage method and is recommended when handling huge amounts of the same goods, or many pallets of the same dimensions and height. The disadvantage of this method is that it only allows access to the objects put last, so it does not allow a First In First Out system.
Pallet Racking is a method which involves the stable storage of various sized pallets. Any pallet can be accessed at any time, that enables a Last In First Out or First In First Out method. It allows the rack to change shape and grow depending upon daily requirements. This specific method requires aisles which are sufficiently wide to allow a forklift to maneuver easily and to freely access the racks. The disadvantage is that this technique means less pallets can be handled within the setting. This might not make a difference if there is adequate space available.
Narrow aisle racking is like pallet racking in that it allows for a Last In First Out or First In First Out technique. The difference in the technique is how the special narrow lift truck is utilized. This means that smaller spaces are necessary between the aisles of pallets than in the Pallet Racking technique. The advantage is that more goods can be stored in the same area. The disadvantage is that you will have to transition to a new truck if you already own a standard forklift truck. The expenditure of acquiring special machines might be a deterrent to adopting this specific method of storage.
Using your forklift to its fullest capability is essential since it pays to analyze your storage costs and retrieval costs of pallets. Then you could determine whether there are more effective means to utilize your forklift in order to increase the usable space of your units or to accelerate the process. Greater effectiveness equals bigger profitability.