Vertical warehouses

What are vertical warehouses?

Automated vertical warehouses are storage modules designed to handle stocks of small bulk products automatically. They operate by height, i.e. making more use of vertical rather than horizontal space.

This automated warehouse system uses vertical lift technology. Gears, conveyor belts and a small lifting platform are used to reach each of the compartments in the storage block to pick the goods previously ordered.

Which sectors use automated vertical warehouses?

Vertical warehouses are designed for industries using traditional manual clad-rack warehouses in which there is relatively constant turnover and a specific volume of goods for both raw materials and small processed or semi-manufactured products. Vertical storage is also an outstanding logistics solution for picking long order runs consisting of few units.

Advantages of automated warehousing

Our logistics facilities in Madrid and Barcelona have automated vertical warehouses. Their main advantages are:

1. Less horizontal floor space required. This type of warehouse makes it possible to store a large number of SKUs in a small amount of horizontal space; for example, goods which would require 126 m2 in conventional racking can be stored in 9 m2.
2. Shorter order picking times. These warehouses operate with software which groups orders by waves, thus fully optimising the movement of their trays. The software is integrated with our WMS and linked to a pick-to-light system which allows six orders to be processed at the same time. It also positions the product in front of the person getting the orders ready which means they do not have to go through the aisles equipped with manual picking lists.
3. Above-zero temperature control option also available.
4. Fewer administrative errors due to the guided picking system: the machine performs the picking operations and the operator only has to pick up the items which have been moved mechanically.