As the backbone of modern commerce, logistics plays a vital role in ensuring the seamless movement of goods from manufacturers to businesses and consumers alike. Running a logistics operation is fraught with difficulty, and nowhere is there more evidence of this than in the warehouse environment.
There are many lifting and loading solutions that can be employed in the warehouse to streamline operations, improve safety and productivity. When it comes to warehouses with more than one level, whether integral or mezzanine, using a goods lift is a popular choice.
With this in mind, we take a look at the integral role that good lifts play in the logistics industry, describing the benefits of having freight or industrial goods lifts installed in such facilities.
What is a goods lift?
Freight or goods lifts allow loads to be moved seamlessly between floors. In a warehouse, this can mean that storage space can be optimised, and the flow of goods throughout the warehouse can be improved. It also allows warehouses to make use of dead space in the higher areas of the warehouse, allowing for mezzanine floors to be created with a seamless method of moving goods to and from such a level.
The benefits of goods lifts
There are various ways in which a goods lift can benefit a warehouse operation, which include:
- Loading and unloading assistance – with a high volume of goods arriving and leaving the average logistics warehouse, goods lifts are able to streamline the processes of loading and unloading. warehouse owners will be able to quickly organise the movement of pallets, crates and other materials between floors. This not only enhances the efficiency of the warehouse; it also reduces the risk of damage during manual handling operations.
- Accessibility improvements – Being able to access goods all across the warehouse, including on various levels can significantly improve the accessibility of the materials stored and distributed. It can allow for employees to travel with the cargo between levels if need be, or for loads to be seamlessly moved to a level where another employee can be waiting to offload on the other end.
- Safety improvements – A goods lift can also improve the safety of the warehouse environment. In logistics, particularly where FMCG are involved, the warehouse is a busy place, full of staff and machinery. This means it can be a risky environment for workers to be in. Not only can a goods lift reduce the manual handling activities workers undertake, but it can contribute to fewer people being in a position where they could be injured by moving vehicles, as the flow of the warehouse can be improved.
- Space optimisation – A good warehouse is only as good as its capacity for storage. It is vital space is optimised within such an environment, and care must be taken to ensure that the amount of dead space in the warehouse is reduced as much as possible. It is therefore vital that goods are able to be moved between floors in a dynamic warehouse to allow for more space in areas where loads are being received.
- Security – A good lift can also ensure that any high value items are out of reach of anybody who is able to access the warehouse through the main doors. You can even install security features on the goods lifts that only allow access to those who are meant to use them.
As you can see, a goods lift can play a vital role in the logistics industry. If your current lift is not working for you, or you haven’t thought of installing one, it may well be worth trying to see if you could have a bespoke lift in your warehouse to reap the benefits mentioned above.
