Selective Rack + Carton Flow Rack + Cantilever Rack – A Case Study 

Solution at a Glance: 

• Services Provided: Assessment, Design, Project Management, Installation  
• Products Provided: Selective Rack, Carton Flow Rack, Cantilever Rack
• Location: Medina, OH

Concern: Inadequate Storage System for Diverse Inventory 

An auto component manufacturer was moving their storage system to a newly built extension of their building. The new expansion provided 7 ft. more vertical storage than their existing space. 

The company stocks a high number of SKUs that range significantly in size and shape. The company’s material handling system in their existing space was not customized to properly store this range. This caused wasted ‘air space’ in many of the selective rack bays. They wanted to eliminate this issue by building a new material handling system in their new space that better suits their range of products. 

Additionally, the company predicted growth over the next five years. However, their budget only allowed them to address their immediate needs.  

Solution: Layout Options 

REB designed several layout options with different elevations to maximize the company’s vertical storage and accommodate the various sized products. The company reviewed the designs with REB to determine which is ideal for them. 

Additionally, REB included a design option for future reconfiguration to a very narrow aisle (VNA) layout. This design gives the company the option to stay in the same facility when they need to expand. To execute this design, the system will need to be removed and reinstalled with narrower aisles. This will shrink the footprint of the existing racking and allow for additional new racking to be installed. The result will be a denser system.  

Solution: Material Handling System Specific to Diverse Inventory 

REB project managers executed the project in two phases so the company could maintain operations.  

The first phase included standard selective rack for palletized items, as well as double deep selective rack for longer palletized products. Carton flow was implemented at hand-picking levels for smaller inventory. 

Phase two required a storage solution for longer products such as flat sheet steel. Due to the height restriction of their overhead crane, REB designed a double-sided cantilever system with seven storage levels on each side. Each level supports a maximum weight of 6,000 lbs. 

Outcome: Optimized Storage Facility  

The company’s new material handling system is now uniquely designed to maximize their increased vertical storage capacity. Integrating selective, carton flow and cantilever racking systems allows for products of varying sizes to be easily stored and accessed faster. Because of the very narrow aisle design REB project designers provided, the company is reassured that they will be able to accommodate for future growth without needing to relocate. 

How You Can Improve Productivity in Your Facility  

If you need to update your storage facility to increase your storage density and throughput, contact REB today.   

Our dedicated team of material handling experts will work with you to provide a solution that optimizes your storage and distribution operation. We are highly experienced in identifying inefficiencies and implementing improved systems.  

We’d appreciate the opportunity to help you further, whether that be more information or a quote. Fill in the contact form on this page or call us at (800) 252-5955 to get in touch with a REB representative.