Vertical Lift Storage

VLM Solutions for Small Parts Storage

Reclaim your valuable floor space while keeping your small parts storage accessible and organized. The AutoCrib® VLM vertical lift module uses high-density storage and takes advantage of vertical space above your floor. A single system alone can save over 1,400 square feet of floor space in your production facility, warehouse or distribution center. The base of the AutoCrib® VLM small parts storage system (SPSS) unit requires only 47 square feet on the floor but allows for up to 800 cubic feet of total storage volume. An average user can recover 30-80% of floor space!

Goods-To-Person
Stop long walks around the warehouse and scavenger hunts for inventory. Your pick rates can be increased significantly by 20-40% with goods-to-person systems. VLM storage solutions are fully automated and bring inventory to the user. This means inventory can be retrieved quickly and routed in sequence to your order pickers.

Gentle Handling
Unlike vertical carousel systems and horizontal carousel systems which move all items at once. VLM systems have items stored in trays that remain stationary on shelves until an operator calls for that specific tray. This eliminates unnecessary handling and potential load-balancing problems. Plus, you have a significantly lower power bill from the energy savings!

Floor Space Savings
Your organization can directly impact the bottom line by improving the efficiency of your existing warehouse floor space. Leasing warehouse space or moving your facility is very expensive. Vertical lift storage systems can reclaim 30-80% of your floor space. This provides more floor space for value-added activities and eliminates the need for expensive construction.

Reduced Labor Costs
Inventory items are automatically delivered to the operator with goods-to-person picking, eliminating wasted walk and search time.

Ergonomics
Item trays are delivered to the operator at an ergonomically correct workstation. There is no need for employees to bend, reach, climb stairs/ ladders, or operate forklifts. Users can simply push a button to get any item they need.

Security and Accountability
Vertical lift modules control access to items and monitor employee transactions. Enclosed storage protected inventory items and the system can be physically locked.

VLM (Vertical Lift Modules)

Every industry with high-volumes of parts, components, or tools understands floor space is premium real estate. The AutoCrib® VLM vertical lift module is designed to optimize your facility’s layout by taking advantage of unused overhead space. Items are automatically retrieved and delivered to the ergonomically positioned access window for the user.

The result: You get the maximum utilization of floor space with minimal labor required for retrieval. See a sustainable 20-40% increase in picking productivity and up to an 80% increase in reclaimed floor space.

The VLM180 is easy to implement, practical, affordable, built on proven technology, and will provide years of trouble-free service.

Vertical Lift Modules (VLMs) are widely used in manufacturing facilities and warehouses to reduce the amount of valuable floor space required for inventory storage. This provides more space for revenue-generating activities and may even eliminate the need to relocate your facility due to tight space limitations.

Vertical lift storage systems have towers of stationary trays on vertical racking with an automated robotic extractor device in the center. The racking is assembled vertically in modules from floor-to-ceiling maximizing all of your available space.

This automated storage system uses proven goods-to-person technology to retrieve inventory items for you automatically. What previously took 15 to 30 minutes to find… may take less than 1 minute with automation. All supplies are entered into an automated, computerized inventory management system. It’s easy to search for what you need by item or by shelf.

Vertical lift storage solutions provide employee accountability for inventory with advanced permissions-based access controls. This lets you decide what items or spending limits employees or departments have available. You can track individual warehouse transactions to specific employees, departments, and cost centers.

Reclaim valuable floor space and increase your productivity using VLM (Vertical Lift Module) technology for inventory storage. Vertical lift modules are secure enclosed systems with an automated lift system that delivers trays of items to the operator at an ergonomically correct workstation.

The VLM system provides greater flexibility and storage space than standard shelving. It’s ideal for storage of small parts, bins of items, and large bulky items that wouldn’t normally fit in other automated storage solutions.

Vertical lift modules allow a large inventory of goods to be stored with less floor space and still be quickly accessible for picking. During order fulfillment process, users select the desired products and the VLM system automatically retrieves the products and delivers them to the operator. VLM systems eliminate unnecessary user handling steps and movement.

Vertical lift systems can be built to match your available overhead space in your facility. Multiple vertical lift module systems can be placed where a single operator can retrieve items from one unit while the other units are moving. Further reducing picking times and labor required for operation. Unlike other large ASRS systems that require a complete overhaul of the warehouse or production area VLM systems are modularized and easy to implement. This means you can easily integrate into an existing system or gradually expand your automated storage solution over different phases.

Your small parts inventory will be secured, accessible, and organized. Your otherwise wasted space is eliminated providing you space for value-added operations.

Key Benefits:

• Reclaim Significant Floor Space
• Reduce Labor Costs
• Security and Employee Accountability for Inventory
• Worker Safety Reduction of Injuries
• Order Picking Accuracy
• Flexibility
• Modular Height
• Easy to Learn and Use
• No Repackaging Required
• Enclosed Inventory Stays Cleaner
• AutoCrib® Industrial Vending Integration

Automated Storage

VLM (Vertical Lift Modules)

Vertical Lift Modules are automated parts storage machines that maximize storage floor space and increase revenue generating activities for manufacturing. It’s called a vertical lift because it has an automated lift retrieval system that moves trays to the workstation. Unlike a vertical carousel that rotates trays, a vertical lift module has trays that remain stationary on vertically arranged racks.

You can select the stored parts using the touchscreen or scan of a barcode and the vertical lift modules will automatically retrieve the items for you at an ergonomic work counter. This makes it easy to pick parts and items and optimize your warehouse space with deep storage that’s secure and enclosed. These automated parts storage machines can store your inventory with 30-80% less floor space, because they store parts vertically and eliminate the need for typical warehouse aisle space. You maximize cube utilization by converting unused overhead space into productive storage space.

Your workers can be more productive because you eliminate travel and search time. You will see a 20-40% increase in picking productivity using vertical lift modules vs traditional shelving. You can also reduce your labor costs because a single operator can manage multiple vertical lift storage systems at the same time to significantly reduce picking times.
Key Benefits:

• You save valuable floor space for revenue generating activities.
• Prevent the need for costly building expansions or offsite storage facilities.
• Employee Accountability for Inventory
• You reduce labor costs and increase worker productivity.
• You create a safe and ergonomic work environment.
• Fast return on your investment.
• Stores a wide range of parts sizes
• Enclosed storage keeps inventory secure and clean.
• Streamline the flow of materials and eliminate bottlenecks.
• No Repackaging Required
• AutoCrib® industrial vending integration.

Vertical Lift Storage Systems

The AutoCrib® VLM automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS) is an economical solution for high-density vertical storage. Make the best use of every square foot of your manufacturing floor space with vertical storage. Reclaim 30-80% of your floor space!

Modular Storage

• VLM systems can be built as low as 12.6ft or as high as 40ft!
• Height can be chosen in 6in increments for floor-to-ceiling space utilization.
• Can be adapted to new locations by adding or removing modules.

High-Density Storage

• Recover 30-80% of your floor space!
• Deep storage space with visibility of every item.
• Vertical lift module system requires only 47 square feet.
• Save up to 1,400 square feet per VLM system compared to traditional shelving.
• Up to 800 cubic feet of storage volume.
• Heavy-duty shelving withstands up to 500lbs of inventory per shelf!
• Use your existing bins, containers, and totes.

Goods-To-Person

• Have inventory come to you!
• 20-40% increase in picking productivity.
• Workers don’t have to spend time walking the aisles or locating items.
• All items are easy to see in a well-lighted area.

Reduce Workplace Injuries

• Enclosed storage reduces danger of objects falling on employees.
• Ergonomically correct workstation.
• No need for employees to bend down or reach up.
• No forklifts or climbing ladders required.

Secure Access

• Control access by employee or department.
• Control access to specific trays or items.
• Easy to monitor “choke point” for surveillance.
• Lockable access doorway.

Why Warehouse Rack Systems Waste Your Space.

Floor space is a fundamental necessity for manufacturing. If you don’t have floor space in manufacturing than you don’t have space to increase production or grow the company. Many manufactures are shocked to see up to 80% of warehouse or tool crib storage space is wasted or empty. Here are 5 ways your valuable floor space is wasted by using warehouse rack shelving:

1. Fixed-Height Shelving.
When you have fixed height shelving most of the space in-between the item and the next shelf is empty air space.

2. Unoccupied deep shelving.
When you have a shelf that is too deep the items and bins are up-front and all of the space behind them is empty.

3. Shelving that doesn’t go floor-to-ceiling.
Often even though manufactures have high ceiling clearance standard shelving doesn’t go up high enough to use all of the space available.

4. Empty aisles between shelving.
Most shelving setups have a significant amount of empty aisle space.

5. Employees can’t find or immediately get to items.
Difficult to inventory shelving means obsolete inventory. This requires space for storage and ties up your cash flow!

How to solve your storage space problem:

Vertical lift modules (VLM) the ideal solution to fully utilize your existing overhead space so you can operate more profitably. It’s fraction of the cost of new building construction or leasing! By expanding upwards rather than outwards, you can significantly grow manufacturing at minimal costs per square foot.

What is a vertical lift module?

Vertical Lift Module or VLM is a “goods to person” automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS). They have a series of trays are stored vertically on stationary racks. They have a shuttle device running in the center that retrieves the trays and delivers them the operator at an ergonomically positioned work counter.

You can optimize your warehouse space using vertical lift modules.
They use vertical space instead of spreading out horizontally like rack shelf on the warehouse floor. This means they can save up to 80% of your floor space vs. traditional warehouse rack systems. Vertical lift storage systems are also very secure because your inventory is enclosed and you can control employee access to the machine by department, employee, and item.

Vertical lift module solutions are very simple and intuitive.
The operator selects the desired product on the touch screen and the vertical shuttle automatically moves to the level the shelf is located, it retrieves the corresponding tray and carries the tray to the ergonomically correct workstation. Unlike a vertical carousel system the mechanics are simplified and trays don’t rotate in a closed loop. This also allows for loads of different heights to be stored in the same unit.

Vertical lift solutions are flexible and responsive.
Things often change. If you require a system that needs flexibility than a vertical lift system is your ideal solution. Unlike other systems that will only allow very specific product dimensions or uniform bin sizes. Vertical lift module systems have the ability to reconfigure to a wide-range of products, boxes, bins, and totes. This provides you with more flexibility for your often changing storage needs.

Modular construction.
Vertical lift modules feature modular construction that allows the location, height and configuration to be easily modified. It’s adaptable as business processes and storage needs change.

Single picking point, for faster picking.
This easy-to-operate system uses modern computer-based technology to organize your storage and provide a single picking point for fast and efficient order picking. This means users can select items on a touch screen and have them quickly delivered to a safe, well-lighted, comfortable work environment without having to search for item locations.

Vertical Lift Storage Benefits:

• Floor Space Savings – Store more in less space!
• Employee Accountability for Inventory
• Monitoring Inventory Levels
• Increased Productivity and Labor Savings
• Ergonomic Design
• Secure Enclosed Storage
• Increased Picking Speed and Accuracy

Small Parts Storage

Vertical Lift Storage Modules (VLSM)

Vertical Lift Storage Modules (VLSM) or Vertical Lift Modules (VLM) are point-of-use storage systems with vertically arranged trays with an automated shuttle extractor device in the center. Using the “goods to person” or “product to operator” principle, stored items are automatically delivered to the operator at an ergonomic workstation. The vertical lift storage system brings parts to the operator on heavy-duty storage trays.

Saves floor space for value-added manufacturing.
The vertical lift storage system turns your otherwise wasted overhead air space into useful storage space. Because the footprint of the storage system is small this can free up a significant amount of floor space for other activities. You can save up to 80% of your floor space vs. traditional rack shelving. Improve your efficiency for storage, retrieval and distribution of your parts inventory.

Optimized storage density.
The height of every shelf can be assigned by the user. The smallest storage spacing is achievable using a vertical lift module because trays are retrieved automatically. All stored goods are measured automatically with a light curtain to detect products taller than the shelf.

Flexible storage strategy.
The modular design of vertical storage systems ensures almost unlimited flexibility. Because the trays can be spaced and arranged in a variety of different ways you have a lot of flexibility if you decide to change the items you want in the system. You can dispense boxes, bins, totes, individual products. Vertical lift systems don’t require uniform product dimensions. This means you have the flexibility to dispense almost any type of item efficiently.

Automated Parts Storage Machines
The AutoCrib® VLM vertical lift module system is an automatic vertical storage system designed to optimize your warehouse space and increase worker productivity. This is the ideal solution for problems concerning inventory management, and increasing the amount of your usable floor space. This is a revolutionary system for automatic order pricking based on the goods-to-person principle.

What is a VLM systems?
VLM systems have vertically arranged trays in an enclosed system. Computerized controls allow the operator to select items and have the stored parts automatically delivered to an ergonomic work counter. The automated storage system will locate and retrieve any item in the machine increasing efficiency and productivity with reduced errors. Industrial vertical lift modules are commonly used in tool cribs, warehouses, factory floors, machine ships, parts departments, assembly cells, etc…

Why Vertical Lift Storage?
The main reason for justifying the investment in vertical lift modules is to free up valuable existing floor space for value-added activities. Because vertical lift modules store inventory vertically, they convert your otherwise unused overhead space into productive storage space. They can store the same amount of parts and inventory as traditional shelving in up to 80% less floor space.

Increase warehouse storage space
Vertical lift storage saves floor space, allowing users to either store more inventory with less warehouse space or free up floor space for more profitable value-added activities.

More Productivity
Through quick and easy picking operations, inventory is retrieved and brought to the operator automatically. Since, items within the vertical lift module are delivered to the user, this eliminates time spent walking rows of shelving to locate and retrieve items. Items are pricked with greater speed and accuracy.

Improve inventory control
Automated computer-based controls and powerful inventory management software generates actionable inventory reports and reduces inventory errors.

Ergonomic
Inventory is delivered to the operator at an ergonomic workstation.

Enhance inventory security
Enclosed storage secures inventory. Locking doors and advanced user permissions provides you with significantly increased inventory control.