Warehouses need the right equipment to run efficiently. There should be equipment for storing inventory, lifting and moving things around, and both packaging items and disposing of waste. If you’re organizing a warehouse for the first time or you need to make sure that you have everything that you should have, there are some essentials that you should put on your checklist. Take a look at the suggestions below to stock your warehouse well.

Storage Systems

Of course, any warehouse needs plenty of storage. The storage systems that you use will likely depend on what it is you’re storing and how much warehouse space you have. You will want to store large items differently to lots of small items, for example. There are shelving units, pallet racks, flow racks, cantilever racks, and other types of storage that may be useful. Consider how to store as much as possible and have the access that you need.

Lift Equipment

Lifting and moving things around are essential parts of processing things in your warehouse. Firstly, you may need hand trucks and service carts to move things manually through the warehouse. A heavy duty trolley can do a lot of work, and you can find them in a variety of sizes. Pallet jacks are useful for lifting and moving pallets around, while you might want to consider the use of forklifts too.

Dock Equipment

When you are receiving materials and products, you need to move them quickly from your dock doors and through your warehouse. Dock equipment helps to improve efficiency, often by making the transition between different levels easier to manage. You can use dock plates and boards, edge-of-dock levelers, yard ramps and other docking equipment that will help you to make your docking area more efficient and a safer place to work.

Conveyors

Conveyors make it faster and easier to move things through your warehouse. They help to increase efficiency and can be used to move items both horizontally and vertically. Flexible conveyors can be used to help maximize the use of space. They can be expanded while in use and made more compact when you want to put them away. Gravity conveyors use gravity to move things around, while motorized conveyors add more power.

Bins and Containers

Keeping your warehouse neat and tidy is important. It ensures your warehouse workers are safe, as there is less risk of tripping over anything, and it makes your warehouse more efficient. Bins and containers in strategic positions help to ensure employees throw things away into the correct containers, instead of dropping things on the floor. As well as using them for waste, you might use them for the storage of packaging materials.

Packaging Equipment

Packaging equipment makes it possible to package orders more efficiently. It can be useful to have a range of equipment, including packing tables, scales, stretch wrap machines, and strapping and banding equipment, depending on what type of products you are packaging.

Get your warehouse in order by making sure that you have all of the above equipment for a more efficient space.