8 types of warehouses used in USA
Articles > 8 types of warehouses used in USAWhat are warehouses?
Warehouses are very big apartments and barracks which are constructed for the purpose of storing goods like agricultural, industrial, and other types of raw and finished materials. The warehouses are generally made in the form of huge rooms under a single roof. The room may further be divided into smaller rooms and a cabin by means of partition walls. The warehouse is used by businessmen of all categories. Manufacturers, importers, exporters, wholesalers, constructors, and customs, etc used warehouses to store their goods in large quantity, in order to meet the future demand. The stored goods are then supplied as per demand. Warehouses are built for the sake of continuing an even supply of goods.
Warehousing:
The process of storing goods in large quantities under a safe and protected building for a long or short time period is called warehousing. When we purchase goods from a manufacturer in a large quantity to continue even supply as per future demand, it is called warehousing or storing. The warehoused/ stored goods are shipped gradually to smaller markets by means of middle-men to supply to the consumers. While speaking architecturally warehouses can be classified into the following eight types:
- Mezzanine Flooring:
Mezzanine flooring is an intermediate floor in a building, which is open from one side and closed on another side. It is constructed some feet above the main floor of the building. The mezzanine floors are accessed by means of staircases. The purpose of these floors is to store the goods in large quantity. The main ceiling of the warehouse building is constructed very high, and then, multiple mezzanine floors are constructed, each with a staircase. These floors are supported by means of abutments and piers. Apart from warehouses, these types of floorings are constructed in homes, for storing household goods.
- Wire Partitions:
Secure wire cages and partitions are used to secure the stored goods of a warehouse. When your warehouse requires a partition to categorize different types of goods but does not require separate rooms for categorized goods, a wire partition is used. The purpose of wire partition is to protect the different types of goods to mix with one another. The limitation of wire partition is, it does not provide multi-flooring itself, However, the wire partition system can work in combination with another type of warehouse, like mezzanine flooring, and multi-tier racking, etc.
- Climate Controlled Warehouses:
Climate controlled warehouses maintain temperature and humidity to an optimum level. Dehumidifying equipment also controls the growth of molds, dust, mildew, and mites on the stored goods. In order to create cooling effects, fans are installed. In order to protect the agricultural good from decomposition, the rooms of warehouses are deoxygenated.
- Automated Warehouses:
They are based on an automated and retrieval system. The operations like ordering of goods, storage, and compilation are carried out with the help of installed machines. Once the goods are received, the further process is carried out by the machinery installed within the warehouse. The advantage of such types of warehouses is to save labor cost and time.
- Static Shelving:
A Static Shelving Warehouse comprises many shelves within the building of the warehouse. These shelves are used for keeping goods stored. Static shelves are very strong and can bear a very heavy load in them. Static shelves are either made up of metal, wood, or concrete. Static Shelves are fixed and importable. The advantage of static shelving is, they are stronger than Mobile Shelving. The space between the two shelves is wider to accommodate forklifts. Static shelving is one of the most versatile storing-system.
- Mobile Shelving:
In this type of storage system, the shelves used for keeping goods, are mobile and can be shifted from one place to another as per need. Shelves are generally made up of metallic material. These are strong but not as strong as the static shelves are. The mobile shelves can not bear as much load as the static/ fixed shelves can.
- Pallet Racking:
Pallets are flat panels that are used to support goods. The pallets are lifted and transported by means of forklifts. As the name mentions, the pallet racking is a material handling storage aid system, which is designed to store the goods on the pallets. Pallets are generally made up of wood, but in some cases, they are made up of plastic and metal. The purpose of pallets is only to support the goods. High compilation of goods is not possible on pallets. A limited quantity of goods can be compiled on the pallets. Each pallet is then placed on the shelves. Pallets can be placed in either type of above mentioned two types, viz. the Static Shelving and Mobile Shelving warehouses. These pallets can be shifted from one place to another, from time to time, with the help of forklifts. This type of warehousing is comparatively cheap and affordable.
- Multi-tier Racking:
When the floor capacity is limited, then these types of warehouses are utilized. A limited floor area but the available height is used to compile the goods. High shelves are used to store goods. This system utilizes maximum heights with multiple floors where there are limited floor spaces.
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