1) Horizontal Carousels
As a storage device, a horizontal carousel consists of a fixed number of adjacent storage columns or bays that are mechanically linked to either an overhead or floor mounted drive mechanism to form a complete loop. Each column is divided into a fixed number of storage location or bins which in most applications are constructed of a welded wire frame. Loads consisting of containers or totes may be inserted and retrieved either manually or by an automatic inserter/extractor mechanism. However, rotation of the carousel, whereby a specific storage location is brought to the picking location, is almost always controlled automatically. See also Vertical Carousel , Vertical Lift Module , Rotary Rack , and/or AS/RS .
2) Industrial Shelving
Shelving made from heavier gauge materials and designed to provide storage for heavier weight materials and packages. Often can accommodate weights of 750# or more.
3) Integrated mezzanine
A mezzanine storage system built as an integral part of a building's structure. Generally put into the initial design of a building to serve a specific purpose. This type of mezzanine can utilize the building's structure for support and therein can incorporate wider span between support columns and thereby increasing the clear span of the system.
4) Honeycombing
1. The practice of removing merchandise in pallet load quantities where the space is not exhausted in an orderly fashion. This results in inefficiencies due to the fact that the received merchandise may not be efficiently stored in the space which is created by the honey-combing.
2. The storing or withdrawal or supplies in a manner that results in vacant space that is not usable for storage of other items.
3. Creation of unoccupied space resulting from withdrawal of unit loads. This is one of the major hidden costs of warehousing.
5) Integrated Systems & Controls
Integrated Systems and Controls (ISC) refers to a product section of the Material Handling Industry of America. An integrated system is a desired state that generally refers to at least one of the three possible characteristics of an installed material handling system. First, although mechanical automation of the material flow properties of a system may be evident, it is the automation of the information flow associated with what is taking place, concurrently with the physical flow, that is the most defining characteristic. Secondly, an integrated system can be characterized by an unbroken, highly coordinated material flow link between successive stages in a manufacturing or warehousing operation where continuous flow is emphasized, and delays, waiting and intermediate storage minimized. Thirdly, an integrated system characteristically interfaces two or more material handling devices in order to form the bridge between work stations or other discrete points of origin and destination within the material flow cycle, with the goal being a high degree of mechanical coordination and the precise timing of movements. See also System Integrator , Consultant , and Controls .