Nabuurs – Dealing with double stacked pallets and double-deep
For products that are (almost) never ordered in complete pallet units, shippers nowadays often use so-called “double stacked pallets“. Two pallets of 1.20 meters high, which are delivered on top of each other. In one of Nabuurs warehouses (Oosterhout-Netherlands) they are smart with these types of units.
More and more FMCG producers (Fast-moving consumer goods) work with double-stacked pallets. Nabuurs is certainly not the only logistics service provider that processes them. In practice you often see that such units are split into individual units upon arrival. A waste of time and a waste of space, they think.
Double-stacked pallets handling for Heinz and Mars
Nabuurs WMS is fully equipped to handle double-stacked pallets properly. For example, each individual part of a double-stacked pallet has a unique number that they can track and trace. The WMS also automatically guides the forklift drivers to the top part of the double unit first. Speaking of double units: in Oosterhout, they not only put goods “two high” away on a pallet location, but also “two deep”. This ensures an even better utilization rate of their warehouse.
Not only their warehouse racks can handle two (x2) pallets at the same time; the same applies to the forklift operators. Thanks to the KOOI® ReachForks on their reachtrucks, they can transport two double-stacked pallets to the warehouse racks at the same time. Before they store the pallets into the racking, they retract the reachfork first so that one pallet remains on the forks. In this way they can neatly place the pallets one by one at the correct distance. First a pallet at the second position and secondly the pallet at the first racking position.
The way Nabuurs handles the double-stacked pallets is a major efficiency boost for their customers like Heinz and Mars. For the forklift drivers it is a nice extra challenge. For example, the turning circle of the ReachTruck is of course a lot more if you drive around with two pallets behind each other at the same time . The reachtrucks and the KOOI®Forks are also equipped with a camera to make it even easier and safer for the operators to put pallets into the racking. Remember that at a certain height the operator can no longer see where the forks are in relation to the pallets and racking.
More and more FMCG producers are working with double stacked pallets. Nabuurs is certainly not the only logistics provider that processes them. In practice you often see that such units are broken down into individual units upon arrival. A waste of time and a waste of space, is Nabuurs opinion.
