Integrated Systems Design (ISD), a leading manufacturer, systems consultant, designer and integrator for order picking, packaging, shipping and assembly operations for warehousing, manufacturing, distributing and retailing organizations in North America, has created a new pallet rail-shuttle system. The patent-pending UltraRail LIFO pallet rail-shuttle system integrates the benefits of push back, drive in and shuttle systems to give organizations a cost-effective way to augment capacity and advance productivity in pallet storage applications.
Eliminating aisles, the UltraRail system alters the end of each lane into an active storage and retrieval position. With each lane capable of holding up to 10 positions or more, the system offers 100 percent increased selectivity over drive in systems. Able to eliminate up to 50 percent of existing floor space requirements, it can also double pallet storage capacity and improve productivity up to 75 percent.
Using mechanical force instead of gravity, the UltraRail system moves pallets in or out on rails. Once the first pallet is loaded, the second loaded pallet pushes back on the first, turning the UltraRail chains. When the pallets are detached, the chains move in the opposite direction. The lift truck lifts the front pallet, and as it backs up, the weight of the pallet being removed moves the chains. When the front pallet is removed from the system, other pallets in the lane automatically move forward on the chain, positioned for sequential retrieval.
The UltraRail pallet rail-shuttle system can be installed on new or existing pallet rack and drive in systems, and it can be expanded, shortened or moved. Typical applications include high bay storage, pallet picking, buffering and sequencing, and truck loading and staging.
