A well-organized warehouse can boost your business to new heights, unfortunately organizing a warehouse efficiently is easier said than done.
Most warehouse operations are continuously looking for methods to optimally store and protect their products. The objective has always been to maximize the effective storage space without jeopardizing safety. One of the items commonly used to achieve these goals has been plastic containers and today, more than ever, with the pickup in the e-commerce business and introduction of automation, these containers are becoming a ‘standard’ in most facilities.
Plastic containers vary depending on the storage volume requirements, transportation methods utilized, weight capacity limitations, temperature & hygiene restrictions, identification rules, types of products to be stored, ‘empty’ container storage needs, operator interaction, as well as storage and material handling equipment deployed. They are typically classified into the following groups: shelf, stackable, nestable, collapsible, special-purpose, as well as open-hopper containers among others.
The basic economy shelf bins allow for the efficient storage of items on shelves. They typically do not stack on each other; however, they can be nested into each other when not being used to conserve space. In most cases, they have divider slots that enable for the storage of multiple SKUs within the same container. They can be effectively deployed in ‘forward picking areas’ where a small quantity of a large number of SKUs is required. The open-hopper plastic storage boxes are perfect for separating material in neatly stacked configurations and typically feature double front walls for maximum stacking stability.
The stackable containers on the other hand are highly adaptable to the customer’s specific warehousing applications that can range from self-storage to customer delivery. Due to their reusability and excellent degree of safety and resistance, they offer a great alternative to corrugated packaging when transporting, shipping, and storing goods. They can be offered in different configurations of both the sidewalls (solid, perforated, or slotted) as well as base (solid, gridded, or ribbed) in order to cater to the different functions and handling requirements. These variations allow them to be utilized on conveyors, to interact with automated systems, and to be stored efficiently within the different storage solutions deployed.
As for the nestable containers, which offer a significant reduction in space requirements when empty, are becoming a norm for the transportation of items within a semi or fully automated facility. Their design allows for ‘nesting’ several empty boxes into one another which results in up to 75% space savings. This allows for the optimal use of space in the warehouse as well as during transport. Foldable containers on the other hand are most commonly used within operations that require container recycling after being emptied at the site. Since they can be reduced by up to 25% of their original size when empty, it enables the reduction of the reverse transportation costs accordingly.
There are also containers that are designed for ‘special purpose’ functions such as temperature control and electronic parts protection. Insulated containers allow for the safe handling and transportation of items within the cold chain. They are designed in a manner to conserve the temperatures at the required levels during transportation avoiding any sudden fluctuations that can damage the products. These are typically utilized in the F&B as well as pharmaceutical industries. The conductive containers on the other hand are typically utilized in the electronics industry to protect the goods during storage and transportation from damages that might occur from electrostatic or induced fields.
The above only highlights a small range of the totes, bins, and plastic containers available; however, it should give a decent idea of the wide range of areas/functions where they can be utilized. Storage bins can be a powerful tool to create an organizationally optimized warehouse, which will serve the operation well for many years. If only one message is to be taken from this article, it is not to take totes and containers for granted, these seemingly simple products are key components in the materials handling process, ensuring a smooth, efficient and safe flow of goods through the entire supply chain.
