Know Your Warehouse - A Guide to Warehouse Storage Systems

Today's importing/exporting, wholesale, and freightstorage systems formed near the top of the building
shipping industries need storage space to protectwhere buildings are taking advantage of the storage
valuable merchandise, and they need it fast. Handingspace near their tall roofs. Warehouses work hard to
logistics from freight receipt to freight ship oftenmaximize each square foot of their storage facility
includes a brief period of non-movement for whichand mezzanine systems are ideal.
finding the right warehouse space to rent is a chiefCantilever storage systems are racks made up of a
concern. Today there are options to securingvertical column, a base, arms, and a horizontal
temporary storage, and facilities to solve any uniquecross-brace. Made from roll formed structural steel,
shipper's need. From refrigerated units toyou'll most find this storage system in place where
temperature-controlled warehouses; thewarehouses see a lot of plumbing material storage.
best-informed shippers know their options and areIndustrial shelving storage systems are your typical
successful at storing their freight properly until timewarehouse shelves. Mostly made from metal and
to move.steel, although some include wood materials, this
Locating the right warehouse to store your goodssimple solution to storage creates organized systems
means the difference between your product beingwith easy cataloging.
placed in consumers hands, to ruined merchandiseAutomated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS for
and costly dips in profit. Before you begin checkingshort) are single masted, double masted, or
for warehouses, get to know the types ofman-aboard types and it's important that you know
warehouses available and their storage system sowhich one your warehouse uses if it has an ASRS
you can be sure the location is a proper fit. Easilysystem in place. These computer-controlled storage
damaged merchandise will require special handling, asmethods automatically place and retrieve loads from
will raw materials and finished goods.programmed locations, and are best used in high
The most common warehouse storage systemsvolume stowing and retrieval demands are present
include: pallet racks, mezzanine, cantilever, industrialwithin tight space constraints. With vertical or
shelving, and automated storage and retrievalhorizontal carousels, vertical lift modules, and the
systems. We'll discuss each option briefly so you canability to retrieve loads of any weight, ASRS
get an idea of your ideal storage. Remember, whensystems are highly-efficient because they can reach
in doubt, contact the warehouse directly to answeras far up and out as the warehouse space requires
any questions particular to the goods that you will bethereby maxing out the square footage of the
sending in for storage.building.
Pallet racks are probably what you think of firstGet to know the types of storage used in
when you think warehouse storage, and thesewarehouse facilities today and as you secure
include double-deep, pushback, and gravity flowtemporary homes for your goods be sure that you
pallets as well as selective, drive-in and drive-thru.are aware how your selection will be packing and
Mezzanine storage systems are structural, rollretrieving your merchandise. Knowing this factor will
formed, and rack or shelf-supported and generallykeep you in control of how your merchandise is
made from steel, fiberglass, or aluminum. Inhandled, and allow you to make the best decision.
warehouse storage, you'll typically find mezzanine