How to Optimization Pallet Storage and Picking

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World-Class Warehousing and Material Handling

Figure 5.29 Sit-down counterbalance lift truck

for longer moves than walkie stackers. Counterbalance trucks also offer the flexibility to retrieve/put away a pallet and load/unload a truck in the same move. This flexibility, coupled with the vehicle’s relatively low cost, makes the counterbalance lift truck the benchmark for all other pallet-retrieval vehicles. Multiload counterbalance trucks can be used to increase the overall productivity of lift truck operations (Figures 5.30 through 5.33). The major drawback of counterbalance lift trucks is the wide turning radius required to turn the vehicle in an aisle. As a result, an11- to 12-foot storage aisle width is typically required. This aisle width requirement is the justification focus of alternative vehicles. As we proceed through the remain ing list, the vehicles will offer progressively narrower storage aisles (hence the reference to narrow-aisle vehicles ) and progressively taller reach heights.

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