If you’ve worked in a warehousing environment for some time which has both cold storage and ambient storage areas, you may be aware of the problems this can pose to lifting/moving equipment. The reason being that when it comes to this kind of warehousing, the single most common cause of equipment failure is the way in which the constant moving from cold to warm environments leads to the build-up of condensation. And for obvious reasons, the fact that condensation is composed of moisture means it’s not exactly the best of friends with heavy-duty electrical equipment.

But it’s not just electrical equipment that can potentially suffer, when exposed to these constantly changing conditions. Even things like manual trolleys and hydraulic lifters can soon succumb to all kinds of damage. Seized joints, rust and the kind of slow but steady erosion that can really do a number on their performance. Not to mention, their overall safety.

The question being therefore – what can be done to help prevent these kinds of problems in the first place? It’s not exactly plausible for you to change your entire business model or keep replacing the most expensive equipment in the warehouse, so how can you protect your devices and machinery from damage caused by condensation?

A Simple Solution

The answer could potentially lie in moveable storage solutions. Quite simply, the kinds of shelving units and racking systems that are designed to be portable and can be moved from one place to another manually. Of course, the plausibility of this particular solution will come down to the scale of the facility and its daily operations. But if there’s a way of swapping out the current static shelving units for mobile alternatives, it could be that you’ll never have to use your electronic/hydraulic lifting equipment in there again!

But it’s not just in preserving the life and performance of your equipment that movable storage solutions can prove beneficial. Quite the opposite, as when you begin installing and working with movable storage around the warehouse, you suddenly find yourself with plenty of opportunity to improve the efficiency of the way you do business. Rather than taking deliveries received to 8 different racks to store the items, bring the racks over and stack them all at once. Use moveable racks to store your most popular items and keep them within easy reach at all times.

Moveable racks also make it exponentially easier to give your warehouse a comprehensive clean, including those areas you wouldn’t normally be able to get to. And should you make the decision to completely reorganise the way in which your warehouse is laid out, moveable racks can transform an epic challenge into a simple one-day job.

Once again, the suitability of this kind of racking will be determined by a multitude of factors, with regard to your current setup. Nevertheless, it’s definitely an option worth considering if you are looking to improve both convenience and efficiency.