Gravity Flow Racking: The Benefits Of Gravity Flow

Gravity Flow Racking: The Benefits Of Gravity Flow

21 May, 2019

‘Gravity Flow Racking’ is a storage system that relies on gravity flow to load, organize, and retrieve stored cartons or pallets within a warehouse. Maximizing space and efficiency, gravity flow racks will save your business money, improve your productivity, and increase safety for your employees.

In this article we will go over some of the major benefits of using a gravity flow racking. If you have any questions or would like to receive a free gravity flow installation quote, please contact us today!

How Does Gravity Flow Racking Work?

Gravity flow racks act as non-powered, downward-sloped storage conveyors, which allow for all subsequent pallets or cartons to move to the forefront, once the preceding item has been removed, otherwise known as first in first out (FIFO) racking.

Items are loaded into the high end of the rack, one by one. Within a confined lane, the product then travels forward over a deck of wheels or rollers, down the shelf, filling the structure from front to back end.

In utilizing gravitational forces, pallets and cartons naturally find their path, filing in an orderly fashion, while consistently refilling the forward-most position for easy retrieval.

Why Choose Gravity Flow?

Gravity flow racking uses space efficiently providing high density storage. The FIFO aspect of gravity flow racking and the natural flow of product makes it easier for workers to access the stock they seek, either by forklift or manual picking for smaller items.

How is Gravity Flow Racking Applied to Pallet and Carton Flow Racking?

Gravity Flow Pallet Racking

Gravity flow pallet racks are perfect for companies looking to integrate a highly efficient pallet storage system into their warehouses. These systems use wheels or rollers, combined with gravity to accumulate stored pallets. With a slight slope downward, from the load end down to the unload end, this system reduces the need for forklift travel.

Gravity flow pallet racking systems can be configured from 2 to 30 pallets deep to allow for optimizing the structure to the space available and the inventory on hand.

Gravity Flow Carton Flow Racking

Gravity flow carton flow racks are the essential solution for companies looking to increase stored product accessibility. In each storage bay, many levels of carton flow racking can exist – each individually customizable.

Cartons are sent down the shelf’s slope categorically, each lane containing a specific product, easily identified by its fore-facing label. By organizing cartons in this fashion, with the foremost carton consistently revealing exactly what that lane contains, pickers can select specific cartons with greater efficiency.

This gravity flow system allows for full carton and single item picks, perfect for applications with numerous SKUs.

It’s important to remember that the type of gravity flow racking applied to both carton and pallet racking depends on the size and weight of the case, as well as the operating environment.

Key Benefits of Gravity Flow Racks Include:

  • Saves time, space, and labour
  • Provides high density storage
  • Cost efficient
  • Shelves can be adjusted to meet product dimensions
  • Reduces loading and unloading congestion
  • Application Examples

Who Should Use Gravity Flow Racking?

Gravity flow racking can benefit a number of industries, including:

Food and Beverage Industry

Gravity flow racking systems provide the fast paced and readily available turnover of perishable and date sensitive food and beverage products. They are also especially effective in the meat packing industry, as large quantities of product must be stored and retrieved with speed, maintaining a frozen state.

Automotive Supplies

Gravity flow racks are highly beneficial for the automotive supply industry, largely due to the system’s ability to adjust and expand to specific part dimensions. Storing heavy automotive parts on an angled, gravity-driven slope allows workers to retrieve various supplies with ease, while also reducing handling risks.

Are you in need of a Gravity Flow Racking solution?

3D Storage Systems are your high-density storage solution experts. Whether you require gravity flow pallet racks or carton flow racks, or aren’t sure what you need – 3D Storage Systems will be able to analyze and identify the specific requirements of your project, helping to design and provide the perfect system for you.