- +234 8022215962
- 17, Igbasan Street, Off Church Street, Opebi, Ikeja Lagos
The Orbiter System consists of the special steel construction for the Channel Storage System, a channel vehicle, also known as the shuttle vehicle, and the corresponding docking station. The rack channels, in which the shuttle system is utilized, are equipped with a centering bracket at the front.
The shuttle vehicle and docking station are inserted into the patented centering bracket of the desired rack channel by a forklift. The centering bracket prevents incorrect positioning and material damage while also saving time.
To this end, it is standard practice to install these space-saving compaction storage systems because they maximize room and, therefore, fit a larger number of pallets.
These high-density systems include traditional solutions (drive-in, push-back, live or semi-automatic Pallet Shuttle racking) and automated solutions (Pallet Shuttle system with stacker cranes or transfer cars). Each of them has its own unique features, advantages and applications, although they share some common traits:
• They utilise the warehouse area by reducing the number of aisles and, as a result, achieve greater storage capacity.
• They are often used for storing multiple pallets of the same SKU.
• Each lane (in the drive-in racks) or each level of a lane (in the push-back, live and Pallet Shuttle racks) is assigned the same SKU.
• They only give direct access to the pallet that coincides with the working aisle.
• In traditional solutions, counterbalanced forklifts and reach trucks are used to handle goods.
When choosing which compact storage system to install in the warehouse, one must assess not only the storage capacity, but also the flows, the number of available SKUs and the company’s logistics requirements. Each system has specific characteristics that must be understood if you want the right solution to solve a problem in a particular warehouse and to get the most out of the chosen solution.
The evolution of high-density pallet storage systems: greater capacity, speed and throughput
The Pallet Shuttle is a semi-automated high-density storage system in which a shuttle with an electric motor runs along rails within the storage channels to load and unload pallets. The process is controlled by an operator, who places the shuttle in the racking using a forklift and controls it via a tablet.
Compared to other high-density solutions, e.g., drive-in racking, the shuttle rack system increases storage capacity, goods-in/goods-out flows and the number of products to be stored. The system is also available in a fully automated version, which features either stacker cranes or transfer cars.
ADVANTAGES OF THE PALLET SHUTTLE SYSTEM
• Time savings and productivity gains: the shuttle executes orders speedily, and the forklift operates in the aisle without entering the racking. This shortens loading/unloading times and raises the number of cycles/hour.
• Space savings: storage channels can exceed 60 m in depth, while clearances between levels are minimal, increasing storage capacity.
• Cost savings: the optimal use of space reduces the system’s footprint, thus keeping down land costs. And in cold storage warehouses, this means less surface area to be cooled, resulting in lower energy consumption.
• Multiple SKUs: grouping SKUs by channels as opposed to complete lanes allows for greater product diversity in the storage system.
• Compatible with LIFO and FIFO: the system can operate in line with the LIFO (last in, first out) or FIFO (first in, first out) inventory management strategies.
• Easy to use: all system functions are activated from the control tablet, which is equipped with an intuitive user interface.
• Safety: as the forklifts do not operate inside the racking, the metal structure remains free from damage, and the risk of accidents is minimized.
