An essential tool in the day-to-day operation of a warehouse is the pallet. However, there is a problem when it comes to storing them. It isn’t unusual for even the tallest order pickers to have difficulty
(Courtesy: Unex)
reaching or bending to fetch these bulky items resulting in ergonomic issues that threaten the health of workers. Moreover, the size of a pallet makes it necessary to store in overhead locations where there are no beams that could become a hazard when grabbing one.
UNEX, a company that offers order-picking solutions headquartered in Lakewood, New Jersey, has introduced Pick-Plank.
Pick-Plank serves as a transportation device for pallets. It is designed to allow a warehouse labor force to pull SKUs forward with better visibility and ergonomics as well as safety. It is ideal for use with partial pallet positions to increase space utilization and pick accessibility.
Pick-Plank is a durable all-steel constructed item that retrofits on to any GMA pallet. Made in the USA, it is a solid carrier surface that attaches to any standard 40-inch x 48-inch pallet with lag screws that rides on steel roller bearings to allow optimal picking of difficult to transport products. It can handle 1,500 pounds of product per pallet and is designed to improve productivity, space utilization and ergonomics on the pick floor. It includes a self-locking handle that stabilizes loads during transportation.
Benefits of the device include:
· The ability to slide the plank to allow the rear half of a load to move forward.
· The ability to pick products faster and more ergonomically with minimal reach.
· Reducing back injuries due to awkward and strenuous picks.
· Eliminating the need for entry clearance, which helps maximize storage density.
Capital Candy, a wholesaler that offers thousands of products for convenience and grocery stores in Vermont, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and New York, uses the device to transport
(Courtesy: Unex)
perishable foods on pallets. Jim Thibeault, operations manager of the company, noted that it helps transport more than 12,000 SKUs at its distribution center and offers the best use of space and gives workers an easy, safe way to reach heavier SKUs. According to Thibeault, use of the devices allows a gain of room in one aisle alone for 24 additional pallets of products. He also pointed out the device has reduced the amount of reaching and bending required to pick bulkier items.
The device attaches on to pallets easily and quickly. Once a worker picks items closest to an aisle, the picker simply disengages a latch and, in one smooth motion, slides the back half of the pallet to the front position of the Pick-Plank. All products are accessible from the aisle.
The product pulls from the front and minimizes pulling effort by 3%.
When Capital Candy performed pilot tests on the Pick-Plank, they discovered that each pick was performed in almost 2 seconds faster than picks from a standard pallet.