Carton Flow
Flow
Systems are a Step Up from Shelving
Flow rack is a mechanized improvement over static storage methods. It uses the same
upright and shelf components as rack, with this exception: rollers are placed on
a slant under the product, causing any item input at the high end to "flow" down
to the low end of the shelf. Each new item lines up behind the first one. Without
adding costly automation, control is greatly improved.
Flow
Systems Are Dense Systems
The flow rack was designed for order picking and is the undisputed leader in warehouse
cube utilization. Flow systems "stack" several cartons or pallets of product one
behind the other, as floor stacking does, but without blocking access to other SKU's.
Each part number has its own lane(s). Racks can be designed to hold extra pallets
of the most popular items in static locations above the pickline, ready to refill
the hot slots. Because the products slide in and out rather than being lifted clear,
tolerances are tight and little space is wasted. A large number of well-organized
product is presented to the picker over a short span, condensing an entire pick
area, increasing order picking efficiency, and resulting in faster response to your
customers.
Flow
Rack Creates FIFO Distribution
A "flow" system is designed to ensure that the first item put into the lane will
be the first item taken out upon demand (FIFO). This is especially crucial in industries
such as fresh and frozen food distribution, pharmaceuticals, and computer components
distribution, where each item has a shelf-life that must be tracked.
Flow Systems Have Hidden Benefits
A flow system utilizes two distinct aisles: one at the front side for picking, and
one at the rear end for replenishment. Stock is usually input in unit loads, requiring
a forklift, while orders are usually picked by hand in case loads, revealing a true
benefit of flow rack: when vehicle traffic is separated from human traffic, congestion
is relieved, and plant accidents are much less likely. Multi-level pick lines are
possible where flow rack is limited only by the reach height of the replenishment
vehicle. What is more, two banks of flow rack can easily share picking or replenishment
aisles, making routings shorter and dramatically reducing travel times.
Wynright Represents Kingway Flow Systems
Wynright is proud to be the nation's largest Master Distributor of flow rack made
by Kingway Material Handling Systems.
