Tips for Handling Fragile Materials and Inventory
Glassware. Musical instruments. Tech products. Goods that come into your warehouse must be safely and securely stored, packaged, and, eventually, shipped. While many orders may not require much tender love and care, some do – and it’s your reputation and profitability that could be at risk if you mishandle these items. The good news is there are various strategies that you can implement to ensure the safe handling of fragile inventory. In this post, we’ll take a closer look at some of them.
Packing Fragile Items for Shipping
This is an important consideration – and not just when it comes to storing fragile inventory, but when it comes to securing it during transport too. You’ll need packing materials for fragile items, and it’s worth taking the time to explore and assess the various options you have to protect these fragile valuables. From bubble wrap to newspaper, foam inserts to fragile shipping boxes, there is a range of options to choose from to ensure any breakable inventory stays guarded.
Don’t Elevate Fragile Items
While many warehouses store items vertically to maximize warehouse space, you don’t necessarily want to do this with breakable inventory – especially heavy goods. When fragile inventory is stored at high elevations, there’s a greater likelihood that it will get damaged when you’re putting it away or retrieving it. It’s always best practice to elevate inventory, but breakable items should be stored relatively close to the ground and shouldn’t have any excess weight placed on top of them.
Select the Right Storage System
There are plenty of storage options to select from to suit your inventory. There are pallet racks, pallet and carton flow racks, mobile aisle shelving, steel shelving, wire decking, and more. Make sure you pay close attention to all of the solutions at your disposal and base your choice on what’s best for your employees, inventory, and warehouse. There’s no right or wrong answer when it comes to storage solutions; it’s all about finding what works best for you.
Utilize Intelligent Mechanical Lifting Devices
Taking the potential for human error entirely out of the equation can help ensure that your fragile items remain secure and intact. One way to do this is by adopting intelligent lifting devices into your operations. Intelligent lifting devices aren’t just able to operate at both high and low speeds, but they’re ideal for applications that require precise movements in the lifting cycle. For instance, when handling fragile inventory, the lifting device can work slowly to finesse inventory into a specific, safe place.
Contact A-Lined Handling Systems Today
Contact A-Lined Handling Systems today for more information about how to ship fragile packages, manage inventory in your warehouse, and select the right storage systems and lifting devices.