FEATURE |
INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN |
racking look into – they look at the types |
“ The ‘ right solution ’ is always driven by the |
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of connections that are available and |
customer and their individual requirements |
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rather than throwing out all the existing |
starting with elements like expected output , |
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racking they already have , they seek to |
what the customer is willing to invest , their |
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add onto their systems . Although racking |
business strategy or model and risks . Many |
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literally holds a store ’ s value to their |
customers today show a liking towards |
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customer , it can be considered a grudge |
mobile racking solutions because it saves a |
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purchase where clients don ’ t necessarily |
significant amount of space in the facility . |
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want to spend money on good quality . |
With cold stores and warehouses , every |
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This is unfortunately the case across many |
cubic metre that can be utilised makes a |
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sectors and is not just limited to racking |
difference . However , in South Africa we |
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systems and is a particular challenge |
don ’ t always have certainty about what is |
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suppliers constantly battle . |
going to happen with the electricity supply |
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Some companies are now designing
mobile systems with mobile banks which
can be used for case picking . The one
full access aisle is split into 2 or 3 case
picking aisles using pallet jacks or cages .
The rear cantilevers are widened slightly
to allow pickers plus pallet to move from
one picking aisle to the next around the
back of the mobiles . This means you can
have several pickers in an aisle at the
same time .
DETERMINING THE RIGHT SOLUTION PER APPLICATION
When determining the right solution , a
number of factors need to be taken into
account from a totally new development
and installation to a revamped facility .
Speaking to a number of companies you
would find that the best solution to access
a client ’ s needs is to do a walk-through
of their ideas , or existing operation from
goods receiving to goods dispatched .
Thereafter solutions would come from
an accurate base , and can take into
account the types of forklifts , reach
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and this is one of the major considerations for customers opting to install static racking to store their goods .”
Mobile racking solutions open up a particular aisle for picking as mentioned , however even though technology has advanced and this racking type has gained the same structural sturdiness as static solutions , it does have some disadvantages , one being reliant on a power supply and this is extremely important in any operational environment with perishable products , and secondly you have access to far less aisles to pick from at any given time , possibly slowing down loading and unloading . This then ties into the customer ’ s output requirement .
Electrical requirements for mobile racking are normally low . Almost 700 tons of frozen product can be moved with the same current that boils an electric kettle . Most freezer stores now also have generators installed .
Lack of access aisles doesn ’ t tend to be a major problem if the mobile banks
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Cold Link Africa Cold Link Africa |
Mobile racking being installed at a cold store facility .
This mobile racking solution shows the aisle request button to gain access to the required aisle for picking .
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trucks or conveyor systems that may form |
are kept to a reasonable size . In fact , |
Another major consideration in choosing |
the volume of stock keeping units or SKUs |
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part of the facility and that need to be |
since the store footprint is compact , |
a solution is the sort of product being |
are next on the list of considerations to |
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incorporated . |
travel times for the materials handling |
storing and how quickly you need to be |
choose the appropriate racking . Stock |
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Enrico Moya , international business |
equipment is significantly reduced on the |
able to get to the stock . Palette type , |
control methods have also moved higher |
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development manager at Acrow says , |
plus side . |
palette dimension , average weight and |
on the list as a very important part of the |