Sometimes bigger is not always better. Larger warehouses can cost more in rent, storage, and running costs. If you’re running out of space, there are other things you can do to make the most of your warehouse capacity without moving to a bigger warehouse, including making your aisles narrower.
Narrow aisle pallet racking
Using a combination of features, narrow aisle pallet racking gets the most out of your warehouse capacity by narrowing the aisles between racking. This, of course, frees up more space for additional rows of pallet racking.
Compact, flexible and efficient, it’s a construction set-up used in a wide variety of industries where warehousing space is limited.
The pallet racking used in narrow aisle warehousing is only one pallet deep, meaning every pallet is instantly accessible, perfect for the FMCG industry among others.
If operated correctly it offers all the same advantages of a standard pallet racking system – just on a more compact scale.
The only issue some warehouses might have with it, is that larger forklifts might not fit, and the use of specialist forklift equipment is needed.
Aisle Master Forklifts
Forklifts specifically designed for narrow aisle warehousing should be thought of as an investment rather than an additional cost.
The money saved adding further storage capacity will soon offset the initial expense of the forklift.
The Aisle Master articulated forklift increases and maximises storage capacity, working in aisles as narrow as 1600mm!
Each truck lifts to heights up to 15m and has an impressive load/lift capacity of up to 3 tonnes. They work indoors or outdoor in temperatures as low as -30 degrees.
The Aisle Master is the perfect articulated forklift for order picking in narrow aisles and is designed for operator comfort with ease of access on both sides.
Other ways to optimise warehouse capacity
Go vertical
Obviously, if you can’t spread out with your storage, then the next best thing is to go up.
Depending on the height of your ceiling, the type of product you store, and the capability of your equipment, adding extra height to your pallet racking is the next best option to increase storage capacity.
Re-evaluate your warehouse
Sometimes the answer is the simplest. How long has it been since you installed your current pallet racking? Is it as efficient as it could be? Can you add more without having to change the entire warehouse?
And have a good look at unused space. Perhaps when you first set up you didn’t need as much storage space, but now you’ve grown, the loading dock could be modified to add a few extra pallet racks in? There’s usually space to be found if you look carefully.
We can help with your narrow aisle pallet racking
In almost every warehouse and business storage space is at a premium.
If you’re running out of room there are usually only two options; move to a bigger warehouse or extend the one you have. Unfortunately, these options usually aren’t financially realistic for a business.
Narrow aisle pallet racking gives you a third option.
Most businesses can’t afford to relocate or add an extension, so optimising your storage capacity is the next best thing.
Narrow aisle pallet racking system is ideal where a business requires a high degree of flexibility and access to stock at all times, and yet floor space is limited.
By optimising your racking layout and reducing aisle widths down to as little as 1.6 m, you can dramatically increase your storage capacity within your existing facility, usually anywhere up to 40%!
We can help with all of it.
From planning a new system to dismantling the old one, planning permission and new, smaller forklifts, we’ve got you covered.
Contact us today if you would like to know more about narrow aisle pallet racking or how we can help you and your business.
Pallet Racking Solutions designs, supplies and installs quality pallet racking and warehouse storage solutions, New Zealand wide. Follow our blog for the latest innovations, new tech, safety and compliance, case studies and in-depth explanations of our solutions.