Narrow Aisle Pallet Racking & Very Narrow Aisle Racking VNA

What Is Narrow Aisle Racking?

Narrow aisle racking is a highly space efficient pallet storage system. It enables businesses to achieve increased storage capacity within a warehouse and is the perfect choice for areas where floor space is limited, while enabling efficient access to every pallet for picking, processing or retrieval.

Very Narrow Aisle Racking

Very narrow aisle racking  (VNA) is the name given to systems where racks are installed in a configuration that puts each row as close together as possible, while still providing easy access to every pallet.

The aisles between each row of racks are designed to be as small as possible, meaning maximum floor surface is available for racks to be placed, for highly dense and space efficient pallet storage.

Features of Narrow & Very Narrow Aisle Racking

Narrow aisle racking is precision designed for safe, efficient load handling within the tight confines of highly space-efficient aisles, while guidance rails or wires fitted at floor level ensure precise positioning of trucks. This has the multiple benefit of improving safety, whilst minimising the incidence of accidental damage to racking.

Using specialist equipment, including in some cases automated systems, narrow aisle racking can provide increased efficiency in accessing and moving pallets, or in picking individual items from storage.

Key Differences Between Narrow Aisle Racking and VNA Racking

• Aisle width: NAR systems have aisle widths of 2.5 to 3 metres,      while VNA racking reduces aisles to 1.7 to 2.2 metres, significantly      increasing storage capacity.

• Forklift requirements: NAR systems can be navigated using      standard forklifts, though care is needed in narrow spaces. VNA systems      require specialised VNA trucks equipped with wire or rail guidance,      designed to move within very narrow aisles without turning.

• Storage density: While NAR improves storage density over wide      aisle systems, very narrow aisle pallet racking offers the highest      density, potentially increasing storage capacity by up to 40%.

• Operational efficiency: NAR systems, though space-efficient,      can lead to slower pallet retrieval times due to careful navigation. VNA      systems are optimised for speed, using guided trucks to maximise the      number of pallet cycles per hour.

• Cost considerations: NAR systems tend to have lower initial      costs since they don’t require specialised equipment. However, VNA      systems, though more expensive upfront due to the need for specialised      trucks and equipment, offer significant long-term savings through enhanced      space utilisation and operational efficiency.