Apex Safety Spotlight Shines on Empty Pallet Return Lanes & More Seamless Case Picking
Less Risk, More Productivity – Case Picking with Empty Pallet Return Lanes
Case picking directly from pallet flow storage lanes is a productive, space-saving way to meet the demand for fast- & medium-turn inventory. Pallet flow relies on slightly pitched wheeled or roller rails to propel pallets from a loading side to an opposite pick aisle. Your system can be several pallets deep, giving your team a constant stream of inventory to keep the process moving.
Pallet flow lanes automatically feed inventory to the pick aisle saving downtime waiting for replenishment. Additionally, pallet flow lanes are organized by SKU to help ensure accurate loading and selection. However, the reality of case picking from pallets is that many empty pallets are left behind. A smart, simple, and safe solution is installing empty pallet return lanes within your pick line. They are your best defense against the safety issues caused by pallet pile-ups and crowded pick aisles.
Empty Pallet Return Lane Advantages
- Protect pallets from damage –easier to reuse or return
- Efficiently restock empty pallets
- Free-up pick aisle floor space
- Improve pick area safety
Empty pallet return (EPR) lanes are essentially reverse-engineered flow lanes. By positioning an EPR lane every few pick lanes, you create a more efficient and productive workspace. Workers remove the empty pallet from the pick lane and walk it a few steps to place it on the EPR lane. You can design your EPR lane to accumulate several pallets or simply flow one at a time. You can also create vertical EPR lanes that take up less line space. Forklifts already there to deposit pallets can easily remove the empties for restocking or return.
Empty Pallet Return Process
- Reverse flow lanes are built right into your case pick design
- Empty pallets are placed in the pallet return lane
- Workers release the hold-back mechanism
- Pallets flow to the opposite aisle for forklift extraction
Risk Averse is Cost-Conscious — So Let Us Help Save You Money!
Apex dedicates substantial resources to helping customers achieve safer operations. Whether case picking, pallet storage, dock staging, etc., our Apex PROs evaluate rack damage and identify facility risks. We also repair pallet racking and offer cost-effective ideas to help prevent accidents.
The Apex Rack Repair App is a helpful tool we share for FREE with warehouse professionals. With the App, you can take pictures of rack damage and capture all the specs we would need if a repair kit is necessary. It’s the best way to address forklift accidents promptly.
Our team evaluates the photos and information you share from the app and quickly returns with any next steps or an “all clear.” We offer the most cost-effective, long-lasting, independent solution if a repair or replacement is needed.
Call the Apex rack safety specialists for more information or to schedule your warehouse inspection.
Give the Rack Repair App a try! Download it today from the App Store.
