VNA Pallet Racking Uses And Applications in Warehousing

VNA pallet racking is a solution recommended for businesses that need to make the most of available space and maximize capacity. Additionally, to achieve continuous, error-free operations, this storage system can be automated by incorporating AS/RS trilateral stacker cranes.

What is VNA in warehousing?

The concept of VNA (very narrow aisle) racking refers to selective pallet rack units that are positioned closer to each other in a warehouse.

VNA pallet racking combines the characteristics of both conventional and high-density systems. It achieves significant space savings while ensuring direct access to products stored.

Employing this storage solution requires special forklifts such as trilateral or bilateral turret trucks. You can also automate operations by implementing AS/RS trilateral stacker cranes.

Handling equipment for VNA pallet racking

Companies with moderate warehouse flows generally rely on narrow aisle forklifts to insert and remove items from their locations:

• Trilateral. These VNA trucks have a rotating head that supports their forks, enabling them to handle goods on either side of the aisle as well as frontally. They are capable of depositing pallets directly onto the floor.

• Bilateral. These trucks have a cradle that houses their telescopic forks. While they can't place pallets on the floor or position them frontally, they can operate in even narrower aisles.

These machines primarily operate within the aisles, only switching from one to another when necessary. If your flow of incoming and outgoing goods is high, you can use other types of handling equipment to bring products closer to or remove them from the ends of the aisles. Options include counterbalance forklifts and reach trucks, autonomous mobile robots, automated guided vehicles, and pallet conveyors. You can also install pick and deposit (P&D) stations to facilitate the exchange of pallets.

When operating in such narrow aisles, trilateral and bilateral forklifts need to be guided to enable their safe movement. In warehouses, two guidance systems are generally used:

• Mechanical. Metal profiles are anchored to the floor on both sides of the aisle. Profiles are L- or C-shaped.

• Wire-guided. A wire buried in the floor produces a magnetic field. The machine detects it and follows it as a guide.

Automation of VNA pallet racking

Warehouses with narrow-aisle racking can be automated relatively easily by incorporating AS/RS trilateral stacker cranes. This automated storage and retrieval solution (AS/RS) is designed to perform these tasks with complete autonomy. Thanks to their rotating head, these machines can pick up and place pallets in the racking in three positions: one frontal and two lateral.

They have the advantage of being compatible with manual warehouses already run with operator-driven trilateral or bilateral forklifts. With only four points of support on the ground, AS/RS trilateral stacker cranes don’t have an upper guide rail, so they can adapt to warehouses that use forklifts.

Their implementation is easy because the racking structure doesn’t need to be modified. Another feature is their quick return on investment.

Advantages and disadvantages of VNA pallet racking

VNA racking systems provide the following benefits:

• Space optimization. They require less width between aisles, resulting in a larger storage area.

• Versatile system. They can accommodate various items, including pallets of different sizes and small boxes.

• Higher productivity. The racks offer direct access to products, speeding up operations such as product putaway and order picking.

• Easy automation. AS/RS Trilateral stacker cranes can be used to automate storage tasks, thus ensuring a higher flow of pallets in and out.

One disadvantage of this solution is that it calls for specialized handling equipment to maneuver in such narrow aisles. Additionally, both bilateral and trilateral forklifts need to recharge their batteries and follow a guide to travel along the aisles. However, you can replace them with AS/RS trilateral stacker cranes, which optimize and accelerate movements in the warehouse.

Applications of VNA pallet racking in warehousing

VNA pallet racking is ideal for businesses with limited storage space in their logistics facilities and that need to make the most of every available inch to achieve the highest storage capacity. Generally, VNA systems comprise high-bay pallet racking, which allows you to house more items.

This solution is also common in the warehouses of organizations that manage high-turnover items and that seek to expedite the goods-in/goods-out process. The direct access facilitates the work of the operators performing storage and picking tasks.

High storage capacity and versatility

Companies from all sectors equip their warehouses with VNA pallet racking. It leverages available floor space and provides greater storage capacity. This racking can be used with forklifts that are safely guided inside the aisles. Alternatively, you can employ AS/RS trilateral stacker cranes to streamline the inbound and outbound flow of goods.