Vertical Lift or Vertical Carousel: Which One is Right for Your Business?

Using automated storage has slowly become a standard for every storage and retrieval facility, whether big or small. They cut down human errors, boost productivity levels and have virtually zero down time with 24x7 operation. One of the most popular storage systems for small to medium warehouses are vertical storage systems, which stack up things horizontally, saving a lot of space in terms of floor space.

Now they are available in two flavors: vertical lift modules and vertical carousels. Both have a different method of storage and retrieval, and both have their advantages and disadvantages. So the main question now is, which one should you buy?

Vertical Lift Modules

They consist of two similar tray columns with a mechanical arm placed at the center. This arm is responsible for inserting stuff into the storage and for extracting stuff from the storage. When the commands are given, the arm moves to the specified location, withdraws an item and dispatches it to the retrieval area. It moves like an elevator.

Vertical Carousels

Here, a series of trays are fixed around a rotating chain that is moved around a pair of pulleys powered by a motor. When the command is given, the appropriate tray rotates around and moves to the desired location for retrieval. It moves like a Ferris wheel.

The Differences

The way they store and retrieve stuff is one of the main differences between both the sets of vertical storage modules. In case of vertical lifts, the storage trays remain fixed in their locations, and a mechanical arm moves around and retrieves the desired item. Because of no particular consistency in the size of trays, vertical lifts are beneficial for storing items of different sizes.

In case of vertical carousels, the entire arrangement rotates around a pair of pulleys, hence the size of storage trays need to be uniform. So carousels are perfect for storing items of similar sizes. They are also slightly cheaper than vertical lift modules, and often require slightly more space than vertical lifts.

In short, different business needs call for different types of vertical storage systems, so you can choose one that fully complements your work flow.