What Is A Vertical Carousel?
A vertical carousel is a high-density storage solution that operates on the vertical axis. The mechanism that drives a vertical carousel is similar to the mechanism that drives a Ferris wheel; however, rather than rotating on a circular path, as a Ferris wheel would, the shelving units move up and down vertically, following an elongated oval path. This configuration means that vertical carousels can more than double the storage capacity of ordinary static shelving units. In addition, vertical carousels can significantly improve warehouse performance. That’s because a vertical carousel’s internal mechanism is integrated with computer software, creating a true “goods-to-person” delivery system. When a certain product needs to be picked, it is the software that directs the carousel to present the correct tote to the operator at the work counter. This accelerates pick speed, improves picking accuracy, and enhances workplace ergonomics.
Components Of A Vertical Carousel System
Carriers
As mentioned above, carriers are attached to the drive chain of a carousel. The carriers provide the vehicle for your stored materials: inventory, supplies, raw materials, textiles, etc. Carriers come in all different sizes and configurations to accommodate the items they are storing. All carriers on a carousel are uniform in size and are attached in fixed locations. You can reposition a carrier on a carousel however it is not a simple procedure, so you want to make sure you put carriers in the correct position right from the start. However, you can modify and configure each carrier in many different ways depending on the size and type of your storage items by adding storage bins, boxes, dividers, etc.
These carriers show how they can be configured for specific needs (not comprehensive):
Carrier Load Capacity
The average overall load capacity of a Vertical Carousel ranges from 13,000 to 39,000 pounds. Individual carrier capacity ranges anywhere from 750 to 3,000 pounds.
Integrated Software
There are optional inventory management systems which will interface with ERP, WMS, barcode, and RFID systems
Security
Carousels secure your stored items preventing loss and theft. Security gates and locker configurations are further options for securing your storage.
Dimensions
Vertical Carousels generally range in height anywhere from 7 feet to 30 feet. Widths range from 6 feet to 21 feet. Note: Dimensions will vary by manufacturer.
Build to Fit
Some vendors offer build to fit specifications to fit your specific storage needs.
Benefits of Vertical Carousel
Vertical carousels use automation to direct a pathway of standard shelves inside a single storage unit. Vertical carousels are ideal for storage of items in totes or of similar heights.
Vertical Carousel benefits include:
- Improved flexibility and efficiency in picking and fulfillment
- Fast ROI – companies can often recover their investment in less than 12 months
- Reduced labor – save up to two-thirds of previously required man-hours
- Optional totes, bins, and drawers for small and large components increase storage flexibility
- Easy integration – interface with WMS, ERP, and ERP systems