The figures are in, and narrow aisles are becoming increasingly popular in warehouses across industries. So why is this? What are the advantages of narrow aisles and is it worth making the change?
Increasing warehouse costs
According to CBRE, the world's largest commercial real estate services and investment firm, warehouse leasing is at a record high.
Part of this is the knock-on effect from the pandemic, with demand for goods, delays at ports and increases in fuel, all adding to the supply chain price tag.
The cost of shipping a 40-foot container via sea from Shanghai to New York is up an enormous 262% compared to the previous year. This has resulted in outsourcing of distribution and warehousing, with 3PL businesses nearly doubling their market share at the same time.
This means more demand for warehouses, fewer options, and rising rental prices, which is why operators are looking at other ways to save money.
Narrow aisle warehousing
One way in which companies are fighting the additional overheads is by switching to narrow aisle warehousing.
Reducing the size of your aisles means more room for storage without the need to move to bigger premises.
The pallet racking used in narrow aisle warehousing is only one pallet deep, meaning every pallet is instantly accessible, and if operated correctly, offers all the same advantages of a standard pallet racking system, just on a more compact scale.
Narrow aisle warehousing has been used for years, but does come with its own issues, the obvious one being the maneuverability of forklifts and operating vehicles.
Making the switch to narrow aisle warehousing
Optimising your storage capacity isn’t something you can simply do overnight. It takes time and planning, with careful consideration of layout and material flow.
Shortening your aisles is the goal, but you need to see the whole picture before you start. A CAD drawing of the layout, calculations of inbound and outbound flow, and how materials will physically move are all things to think carefully about.
The transition itself to narrow aisles can be phased in, meaning your downtime is kept to a minimum, but as long as it’s all planned beforehand, there should be nothing to worry about.
The real issue is getting forklifts in and out. Narrow aisle warehousing reduces your aisle width from around 3.5 metres to maybe two, so new, specialist equipment is needed for the job.
Aisle-Master Forklifts
Forklifts specifically designed for narrow aisle warehouses may seem like an additional expense, but with the money saved from the extra storage space, they can pay for themselves soon enough.
We recommend Aisle-Master Forklifts, the best articulated, narrow aisle forklifts for build quality, reliability and driver satisfaction.
Each truck lifts to heights up to 15m, has an impressive load/lift capacity of up to 3 tonnes, and can work in aisles as narrow as 1600mm!
By using one, single truck, users can increase productivity and eliminate time-consuming double handling, and speed up “truck to rack” operations.
Watch the Aisle Master in action here:
AC Electric Aisle-Master
All Aisle-Master’s electric-powered models now benefit from AC technology as standard. This puts the company firmly at the forefront of battery powered technology in the articulated sector.
Benefits include enhanced performance levels, leading to increased pallet movements for greater productivity and improved acceleration and gradeability. There are also fewer wearable parts resulting in low maintenance and reduced downtime.
Features
Quick & easy battery removal
AC Traction motor (19.5 kw)
A choice of 620/775/930 amp-hour capacity batteries
Ergonomically designed operator’s cab
Reduced energy consumption
Aisle-Master LPG
Aisle-Master is acknowledged as the pioneer of LPG (liquid petroleum gas) power in the articulated forklift sector. Aisle-Masters are fitted with a closed loop fuel system as standard, to improve emissions and fuel economy whilst a specially designed engine bay cooling system ensures the effective running of the engine for maximum uptime and reliability.
The main benefit of LPG is reduced emissions levels, ideal for indoor and outdoor operation, making it useful for trucks that are used in almost all industries, even the most emission conscientious. LPG power also offers 24/7 operation with no loss of power.
Features:
Hydrostatic drive
Closed loop fuel system as standard
Engine bay cooling system designed to effectively cool the engine compartment, for maximum reliability
Cold Store Aisle-Master
The cost of cold store and temperature-controlled warehousing operations is much higher than that of ambient warehousing, making space saving more crucial than ever.
Aisle-Master’s collaboration with some of the major names in the industry has resulted in the cold store model, developed specifically for this sector’s exacting requirements whilst guaranteeing optimum storage density. The fully enclosed, high visibility cab keeps drivers warm, reducing the time needed for breaks and increasing productivity.
Features:
Allocated areas in the cab for a bar code scanner
Low energy LED work lights as standard
Heated cab windows which eliminate the build-up of condensation when driving between different temperatures in a building.
We can help you
Switching to narrow aisle warehousing is a big decision and one that shouldn’t be taken lightly, but it’s also one that could save you thousands down the line.
We have helped warehouse operators make these kinds of decisions before, offering advice and helping to connect with professionals who plan and build pallet racking systems.
If you do decide to go to a narrow aisle system, then our Aisle-Master forklifts are here when you need them. Whether you’re buying brand new, second-hand, leasing or renting them, we’ve got the right narrow aisle forklift for the job.
Contact us today on +64 9 438 8047 if you would like to know more about narrow aisle forklifts or if there is anything else we can help you with.
One of our experienced and friendly team members will be happy to help in any way they can.