Containers help get the most from vertical carousel

Facing a near-universal challenge in the materials handling industry, a New Jersey automotive parts manufacturer sought to store more in less space. The company had already deployed a vertical carousel and vertical lift to help achieve this goal. By installing a series of right-sized containers, the company further reduced wasted space within its carousels.

Without the correct size container that fits both the unit and the products to be stored, the company found that the vertical carousel solution could waste just as much space as standard shelving. The new containers (Flexcon Container, flexcontainer.com) helped the manufacturer organize its parts and increase storage capacity by more than 19%.

The company chose a 24 x 4 x 2-inch tote that could hold as many as 12 different small parts. For larger parts it chose a 24 x 9 x 8-inch container with a closed front.

“It worked out great and was totally adjustable with no danger of part migration,” said an operations manager at the facility. “This gave us the ability to load the containers up with no danger of product falling out of the front. We love the carousel, but the secret to the success of this system was to use perfectly sized containers.”