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Efficient warehouse management starts with optimising your storage space, a key factor in reducing costs, increasing efficiency, and ensuring timely order fulfilment. When maximising space while maintaining easy access to stored goods, businesses must carefully balance storage density with selectivity. This article explains how to increase warehouse capacity by exploring high-density storage systems and provides expert tips to help you choose the best racking system for your warehouse.
How to Calculate storage density?
Space utilisation refers to how efficiently space is utilised in your warehouse. The goal is to maximise the number of pallets or units stored in a given area, typically measured per square or cubic metre. Calculating space utilisation involves the following considerations:
1. Warehouse Dimension
ย Understanding your warehouse’s total square footage and vertical space is critical to determining how much inventory you can store.
2. Racking System Type
The choice of a racking system significantly impacts storage density. Systems like drive-in racking maximise space but reduce access, while selective pallet racking increases access but takes up more room.
3. Aisle Width
Narrower aisles increase storage space in a compact area but may reduce maneuverability. Specialised equipment, such as narrow-aisle forklifts, might be required.
4. Pallet/Load Size
Your product’s size and weight also play a role in assessing storage space efficiency. More compact goods allow for a higher level of storage within the same footprint.
By considering these factors, businesses can calculate their warehouse’s current storage density and adjust to optimise space.
What Is High-Density Storage?
High-density storage refers to systems that maximise the number of pallets stored in a given area, enhancing space efficiency while minimising wasted space. These systems are especially useful when space is at a premium but can also reduce selectivity (i.e., the ease of accessing specific pallets). Here are a few common high-density storage systems:
Drive-In/Drive-Through Racking
This high-density system allows multiple pallets to be stored deep in the racking structure. Drive-in racking follows a Last-In, First-Out (LIFO) system, making it ideal for products with longer shelf lives. Drive-through racking, on the other hand, offers First-In, First-Out (FIFO) access, which is better for products with higher turnover. Both systems greatly increase storage density by eliminating individual aisles for each row of pallets.
Push-Back Racking
In this system, pallets are placed on a cart that moves along rails. When a pallet is removed, the remaining ones automatically roll forward. This allows multiple pallets to be stored in a deep configuration while maintaining decent selectivity at the front. Push-back racking can store up to six pallets deep, making it an effective high-density solution.
Double Deep Racking
Double deep racking stores pallets two deep, significantly increasing storage density. However, accessing the rear pallet requires moving the front pallet, which reduces selectivity. This system balances density and selectivity well, especially for products with moderate turnover rates.
How Do You Increase Warehouse Storage Space?
Increasing storage space is a priority for businesses looking to maximise space efficiency. There are several ways to improve storage space without compromising the overall functionality of the warehouse:
- Utilise Vertical Space: One of the easiest ways to increase storage space is by installing taller racking systems. This leverages vertical space and allows for more pallets to be stored per square meter of floor space, especially in warehouses with high ceilings.
- Reduce Aisle Width: Narrowing aisles between racks increases storage density by reducing wasted space. However, narrower aisles may require specialised narrow-aisle forklifts to ensure easy movement within the tighter confines.
- Adopt High-Density Racking Systems: Rack systems like drive-in or push-back racking are designed to store more pallets in less space, thus optimising storage space. These systems trade off selectivity for density, making them ideal for warehouses where maximising space is more important than frequent access.
- Optimise Warehouse Layout: Carefully planning the layout of your warehouse ensures that space is used efficiently. Grouping similar products and placing high-turnover items closer to the loading dock can help maintain workflow while improving storage density.
- Consolidate Inventory: Reducing excess or slow-moving inventory can free up space, allowing you to increase the storage density of faster-moving goods.
Balancing Density and Selectivity
When deciding on a racking system, balancing storage density and selectivity is key to maximising efficiency. High-density systems offer more storage capacity but often limit access to individual pallets. On the other hand, selective racking systems provide direct access to every pallet but take up more space, thus reducing storage density.
The optimal balance depends on your warehouse’s operational needs:
High Turnover with Few Products / SKUs
If your warehouse handles large quantities of the same products, high-density storage like drive-in racking may be the best solution. Selectivity is less of a concern when entire pallets are picked at once.
Diverse products / SKUs with Low Turnover
Warehouses storing a wide variety of products but with low turnover benefit from selective or push-back racking, which provides higher selectivity while maintaining decent storage density.
Mixed Operations
Many warehouses have both fast-moving and slow-moving inventory. In these cases, a combination of selective and high-density racking can provide the best of both worlds.
Conclusion
Achieving the right balance between storage density and selectivity is essential to optimising your warehouse operations. High-density racking systems allow you to store more inventory within the same footprint, which can significantly reduce storage costs. However, these systems may compromise selectivity, making it essential to evaluate your specific operational needs before deciding.
Total Racking Systems provides expert advice and tailored solutions for businesses seeking to improve their storage density and overall warehouse efficiency. Their team can help you design and implement a racking system that maximises space while ensuring you maintain the right level of selectivity for your operations. Get in touch with them to explore how to boost your warehouseโs efficiency today.
Next Steps
- Learn More: Read our article on How to store more products in my warehouse or Maximise Warehouse space with overhead solutions – Save & Grow or Benefits of a pallet racking system
- Get a Quote: for Sydney pallet racking or learn how to Order pallet racking
- Reach Out: For more information or assistance, contact Total Racking Systems.
