Criteria for use

-          Palletisable goods

-          Low to moderate turnover frequency

-          Large stock of pallets per article

-          Large quantities loaded/unloaded per operation

-          FIFO less important

Advantages

-          High filling level

-          Intensive utilisation of storage space

-          Faster loading and unloading due to shorter routes

-          Separate routes for restocking and order picking

-          Shorter distances travelled by trucks

-          Reserve stock behind floating stock

Disadvantages

-          High investment per pallet space

-          Only useful if one type of article stored per channel

-          Precision required with forklift trucks, so working speed relatively low

-          Risk of low capacity utilisation if wrongly used

Type of truck

-          Forklift truck, stacker or reach truck