When you’re weighing your options for the best way to utilize the total square footage in your warehouse or fulfillment center, SKU storage is a significant element of the decision. There are various industrial shelving types available, each with limitations that may offset their strengths when it comes to your unique application.
Aside from basic static industrial shelving that we’re all familiar with in warehousing and fulfillment facilities, a new type of industrial storage solution offers a genius way to organize and pick inventory—SpeedCell dynamic high-density storage. Beyond the ability to boost your storage density by up to 60% over static storage, what are some other considerations when comparing SpeedCell with static shelving for your business? Let’s dive in and find out!
How Is SpeedCell Dynamic Shelving Different?
Facilities for warehousing, fulfillment, and retail can benefit tremendously from the higher storage density and more efficient access for team members that a dynamic system provides. So how can dynamic shelving do what static shelving can’t?
Unlike static shelving, a dynamic system like SpeedCell is made up of suspended columns of high-strength storage cells mounted within a bay of industrial pallet rack. No additional racks or other shelving units are needed to implement the system. Each column is mounted to the rack using a steel track system that enables workers to slide individual columns side to side. Even better, SpeedCell installs easily, requiring only simple tools and hardware.
Because less rack space is wasted, warehouses and backroom storage areas can be far more space-efficient, along with more labor-efficient, enabling an increased profit per square foot across the entire facility.
The SpeedCell storage system provides far more SKU density—up to 60 percent more! When inventories on a static shelf run out in the reachable picking face, the shelf must be restocked from another location, rather than a deeper part of the shelf. This increases the number of touches required on the SKU before it’s eventually picked for order fulfillment. SpeedCell allows access to the entire space, reducing the need to shuffle inventory around as much.
Static Shelving is Stuck in Place
As the name implies, static shelving is unmovable, leaving you locked into whatever setup you install. While this type of shelving can be beneficial in some scenarios, each shelf is designed to remain in place long-term, without any easy way to move them around for better access to inventory by warehouse staff.
Dynamic Shelving Provides Easier Access
On the other hand, dynamic shelving is easily moved by hand by warehouse staff without the need for tools or additional equipment. If a worker needs access to a SKU stored deeper in the rack, all they have to do is scoot the other dynamic shelves to the side and grab the item they’re after. Items positioned in the deepest rows are still easy to access. No reaching, bending, or taking unsafe measures just to pick an item.
Better Utilization of Existing Pallet Rack Space
Even if you already have existing pallet rack with static shelving in place, you can still benefit from SpeedCell—no need for all-new equipment! You can still increase efficiency, save space, and lower labor costs without entirely replacing your existing structures. If you already have pallet rack in your warehouse or back storage room, you’re set to install SpeedCell, as it seamlessly integrates into existing structures.
By enabling you to fit more SKUs in less space, SpeedCell achieves astonishing density levels for your inventory compared to static industrial shelving, and all within your existing footprint. This helps save a significant amount of usable space for stocking additional SKUs or other more profitable purposes.
Warehouse and retail backroom operations can substantially improve their pick speed and accuracy for valuable time and cost savings day after day. This type of system pays back dividends over the course of its lifespan, making it an invaluable addition to any warehouse or storage room.
Should You Choose SpeedCell Over Static Industrial Shelving?
Whether you’re looking to add more SKU storage for your warehouse or considering expanding to a larger space requiring more shelving, dynamic industrial shelving like SpeedCell offers remarkable economies of scale for a wide range of businesses. Let’s cover some of the reasons why dynamic industrial shelving delivers more for your warehouse or fulfillment center than static industrial shelving can.
SpeedCell Helps To Better Organize Inventory And The Overall Operation
Up to 50% of labor costs in a warehouse can be for order picking and replenishment alone, so even small efficiency gains make a massive bottom-line difference. The better organized your inventory, the faster workers can access the SKU they’re picking, saving you labor costs on every single item that goes out the door.
SpeedCell Dynamic Shelving Dramatically Increases Pick Facings
Perhaps the most notable way SpeedCell improves operations is how it dramatically increases pick facings, making it measurably more efficient for your team members to pick SKUs for order fulfillment, packing, and shipping.
Static shelving physically limits workers from accessing SKUs deep within the shelf. In contrast, SpeedCell makes it possible to compress 200’ of rack or shelving space into 40’ of highly organized and accessible storage space that saves time and labor costs, along with providing a far more ergonomic environment for staff. This is what Overton's, the world’s most extensive watersports and marine accessories dealer, was able to achieve after implementing SpeedCell. Read the complete Case Study at the link below.
Compared with static shelving, SpeedCell can:
- Transform space from dead and unusable to fully utilized and profitable
- Improve storage density by 40-60% over static shelving
- Increase workplace ergonomics, reducing injury risk
- Deliver a highly efficient and more accurate pick
- Add dramatically more SKUs in less space
- Reduce labor costs by up to 40%
Storage That Boosts Throughput
Apart from increasing pick facings, it's important to remember that organizing your SKUs based on throughput is the best way to determine which storage mediums are right for your particular needs.
Storing SKUs based on throughput has a very large impact on reducing walking time. Faster-moving SKUs are best left on pallets or placed into a pallet flow system like Pallet Track. Medium-moving SKUs are better for carton flow systems such as SpanTrack lane or SpanTrack wheel bed. For increasing storage density for slower-moving SKUs, high-density storage solutions such as SpeedCell are the best option.
With SpeedCell, products are organized into labeled storage cells within moveable columns that are integrated into existing pallet rack. By increasing pick facings in a single area, SpeedCell enables greater SKU density that reduces travel for order pickers.
Organizing SKUs based on throughput will fully optimize the cubic space in the warehouse, minimize time spent searching for misplaced SKUs, and ensure that pick paths are as efficient as possible while driving down costs.
Decreased pick and search times, boosted employee morale, lower overall costs, and bolstered bottom-line profit. What could be better? Once your facility is set up with these core principles of efficiency, all that’s left to do is process optimization—even the smallest of tweaks add up hour by hour!
Can SpeedCell Help Your Business?
UNEX SpeedCell comes in a variety of cell sizes, styles, column depths and widths, and total cells per column. This flexibility means you can design a solution that perfectly meets your needs to more efficiently store and organize your inventory.
Whether you’re using pallet rack storage in facilities for warehousing and fulfillment or in a retail backroom, SpeedCells can integrate neatly for smarter utilization of your space.
Designs range from 1-3 rows deep and up to 12 columns wide (144” wide bays). SpeedCell is ergonomically designed, resistant to fire and mold, and can hold up to 35 lbs in a single cell and 240 lbs in a single column. With an operating temperature range of -20° to 180°F (-29° to 82°C), SpeedCell performs flawlessly in almost any type of inventory storage space.
Contact Us Today
Unex offers a total solution, including free engineering support for your SpeedCell project. When you’re ready for more efficient use of your space and lower labor costs, we’re here to help you make it happen. Contact us today to get started!
Curious About The Simplicity Of Switching To SpeedCell?
Use our custom configurator tool to envision how much more efficient your warehouse or fulfillment center could be. Check out the configurator here http://speedcell.unex.com/ and realize the possibilities.
