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Logistics warehouse shelves are specialized shelf systems designed to store, arrange and manage goods in warehouses, distribution centers or factories. The characteristic of logistics warehouse shelves is the ability to optimize space, help take advantage of warehouse height, and at the same time support the process of loading, unloading, and importing and exporting goods quickly and safely. This is considered an important solution in the supply chain, helping businesses improve inventory management efficiency, reduce operating costs and better meet market demand.
In the modern supply chain, logistics warehouse shelves are not only a storage solution but also play a strategic role, helping businesses improve management efficiency and create competitive advantages. Specifically, warehouse shelves bring the following important values:
In the logistics field, choosing the right type of warehouse shelf plays an important role in optimizing space, increasing storage capacity and improving the efficiency of goods management. Each shelf model has its own characteristics, suitable for different storage needs, warehouse scales and goods properties. Below are popular warehouse shelf models, widely used in modern logistics warehouse systems:
Cantilever racks are specially designed to store long, bulky goods such as steel pipes, wood, construction materials or furniture. With a structure without columns on the front, this type of rack makes it easy to load and unload goods by forklift or manually. The big plus point of Cantilever is its flexibility, the length of the support arm can be customized to meet many different sizes of goods. This is an effective storage solution for material warehouses or heavy industry distribution centers.
Push back racks use a system of slides or rollers that allow multiple pallets to be stacked in depth, when the front pallet is taken, the back pallet automatically slides out. This type of rack is suitable for LIFO (Last In – First Out) storage method, making better use of space than Selective racks. Push Back is often used in warehouses with homogeneous products, short storage time and fast rotation requirements, typically fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG).
Narrow aisle racks (VNA – Very Narrow Aisle) are arranged with narrow aisles, usually only about 1.6 – 2 meters, helping to increase storage density by up to 40% compared to conventional Selective racks. This type of rack requires the use of specialized forklifts with the ability to rotate horizontally to operate in narrow aisles. This is the ideal choice for logistics warehouses with limited space but want to optimize storage capacity while still ensuring management of goods according to each individual pallet.
Double deep rack is installed with two rows of Selective racks connected back to back, allowing storage of two pallets in depth. The advantage of this rack is to increase storage density, reduce aisle space, but still maintain relative selectivity. However, to retrieve the pallet inside requires a specialized forklift with long forks. Double Deep is suitable for warehouses with homogeneous products, moderate rotation, helping to balance investment costs and storage efficiency.
Drive in rack is an optimal solution for high storage space by allowing forklifts to go directly into the rack to load and unload pallets. With a "tunnel" design, this type of rack has a storage density 2-3 times higher than Selective racks. However, the limitation is the low level of product selectivity, only suitable for homogeneous products, stored in large batches. Drive In is often used in the frozen food, beverage, and chemical industries.
Selective racks are the most traditional and popular type of racks in logistics warehouse systems. The advantage is the ability to directly access 100% of pallets, making it easy to manage goods with many different product codes. However, the storage density is not high due to the need for many aisles for forklifts. With the advantages of low investment costs, easy installation and flexibility, Selective racks are always the solution chosen by many businesses for general distribution warehouses.
Mezzanine racks allow you to take advantage of the warehouse height by creating additional floors, turning vertical space into storage or working areas. This type of rack has the ability to increase the usable area many times without having to expand the floor space. Mezzanine is suitable for warehouses of light goods, bulk goods or businesses that want to combine storage and office areas right in the warehouse. This is a cost-saving solution, improving the efficiency of space management.
Medium-duty shelves are often used to store goods with average weight, ranging from 200 - 500kg/floor. With a sturdy structure and easy disassembly, medium-duty shelves are suitable for both logistics warehouses and supermarkets and retail stores. The advantage is high flexibility, height and number of floors can be customized to meet many different needs. This is a balanced choice between investment costs and storage efficiency, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises.
In today's transport warehouses, pallets are an indispensable tool to support storage and transportation. The most popular on the market are three main types: wooden pallets, plastic pallets and steel pallets. Many businesses also combine pallet types in parallel to optimize costs and efficiency of use.
This is the type of pallet with the lowest cost, suitable for businesses that need to save on initial investment costs. However, wooden pallets have many limitations such as low load capacity, only suitable for goods with light to medium weight. In addition, wooden pallets are easily affected by humid environments or temperature changes, leading to rapid damage and reduced lifespan.
Plastic pallets stand out thanks to their good load capacity and moderate investment costs. The advantage of this type of pallet is that it can be used both indoors and outdoors, providing flexibility in storing goods. However, in the long run, plastic pallets can become brittle, cracked or rotten when exposed to direct sunlight, rain and harsh weather factors.
Steel pallets (or iron pallets) are highly appreciated for their outstanding durability and ability to withstand heavy loads. With sturdy steel material, this pallet is not only durable in closed warehouse environments but also resistant when used outdoors. In addition, steel pallets also have antibacterial properties, contributing to ensuring hygiene for goods. Although the initial investment cost is higher, the long life and reusability help businesses save significantly on operating costs in the long run.
In the logistics warehouse system, in addition to choosing the right pallets and shelves, auxiliary equipment plays an important role in increasing operating speed, optimizing space and improving management efficiency. Commonly equipped equipment includes carts, forklifts and mobile ladders.
Goods trolleys are one of the basic but extremely useful equipment in logistics warehouses. Due to the limited number of forklifts, businesses cannot rely solely on forklifts to handle all transportation stages. In many situations, especially in small, narrow areas or outside the operating range of forklifts, goods trolleys maximize their usefulness by supporting flexible and fast movement.
Forklifts are considered essential equipment in any logistics warehouse, with the main task of loading and unloading and transporting goods in and out of the shelf system. Depending on the characteristics of each type of shelf, businesses must choose the appropriate forklift: for example, Drive In shelves require forklifts with long reach to retrieve goods deep inside, while VNA shelves require vehicles with the ability to rotate in narrow aisles and lift high. In addition, the load factor is also very important: electric forklifts often meet basic needs well with the advantage of simple operation, while products with extremely large volumes must use diesel forklifts to ensure safety and efficiency.
In addition to forklifts, mobile ladders are also necessary equipment to support access to shelves. Although most of the loading and unloading process is handled by forklifts, mobile ladders help personnel easily move up and down on low shelves or when quick operations are needed without using forklifts. This is a complementary solution to help the warehouse operate more flexibly and safely.
In the context of increasing demand for goods management and storage, the smart warehouse model is becoming one of the optimal solutions chosen by many logistics businesses. The highlight of this model is the application of the AS/RS (Automated Storage and Retrieval System) automatic shelf system - a modern technology that allows the automation of the entire storage and import-export process.
The AS/RS system includes many coordinated components such as: racking system, automatic picking and storing robots, and a remote-operated central control unit. Thanks to that, businesses can significantly shorten import-export time, increase accuracy in goods management, and minimize dependence on human resources.
In particular, this automatic shelf system is suitable for large-scale warehouses that need to handle goods continuously and require a high level of safety. Maximizing the warehouse height helps expand capacity without increasing floor area. Moreover, remote control technology and AI support help the operation process run smoothly, ensuring safety for both goods and employees.
Some typical solutions in the AS/RS automatic import and export system include:
Currently, many large enterprises in Vietnam have been implementing smart warehouse models, in which INPA Vietnam is one of the pioneers. With this solution, businesses not only optimize their storage and warehouse operations but also enhance their competitiveness in the volatile logistics market.
See more: The most commonly used types of FMCG warehouse shelves today
Logistics warehouse shelves are not simply a place to store goods but also a powerful support tool to help businesses improve productivity, save costs and ensure smooth operations. With a variety of types and features, choosing the right type of warehouse shelves will create a great competitive advantage for businesses in 2025 and the following years. INPA hopes that through this article, you have a comprehensive view to make effective warehouse shelf investment decisions, accompanying the sustainable development of businesses.
INPA Vietnam is the leading manufacturer and supplier of warehouse shelf solutions and smart warehouse shelves in Vietnam.
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