Hanel vertical lifts and vertical carousel systems are trusted options in material handling. These advanced storage units maximize vertical space, streamline workflows, and ensure that staff can retrieve items quickly, safely, and accurately. In this blog post, we’ll break down what vertical carousels are, how they’re made, and their benefits to help you determine whether they are a good fit for your storage needs.
What are Vertical Carousels & Vertical Lifts?
A vertical carousel is a rotating storage device designed to move vertically, bringing stored products directly to the user at an ergonomic height. Instead of sprawling across valuable floor space, the system organizes trays (also referred to as carriers) along a fixed frame. This system delivers requested items quickly and reduces the time employees spend searching or reaching for materials.
Vertical lifts feature trays that are picked up and deposited in bays. Two rows of supports contain the trays, and an automated elevator moves vertically to bring the tray to the operator.
How Are These Storage Systems Constructed?
Vertical carousels use a rotating chain drive to access fixed carriers. The primary design elements that make up a vertical carousel include:
- Machine storage capacity. A carousel’s capacity depends heavily on the trays (carriers), their arrangement, and their ability to hold weight and volume. While the side panels provide the structure, the carriers and how they’re configured ultimately determine how much you can store.
- Carrier width. While dimensions vary by manufacturer, carriers are typically produced in standardized widths, ensuring compatibility with most storage needs.
- Carrier depth. Depth options usually include three ranges: approximately 400 mm, 500 mm, or 600 mm.
- Carrier height (Pitch). Known as the “pitch,” this measurement sets the maximum allowable height for stored goods.
- Intermediate trays. To optimize capacity, additional trays can be inserted into carriers. These expand the number of storage locations without increasing the overall footprint.
Vertical lifts feature similar design elements, with a more modular design that allows them to be tailored to specific industries, products, and workflow needs.
Benefits and Applications of Hanel Vertical Lifts and Carousels
Hanel vertical lifts and carousel systems are increasingly common in areas that require compact, secure, and high-density storage.
Benefits
Hanel systems provide numerous advantages for organizations across industries:
- Recover floor space. By storing loads vertically, facilities reclaim floor area for production, assembly, or service operations.
- Reduce costs. Optimized space usage and faster workflows translate into lower operational expenses.
- Boost productivity. Items are automatically delivered to an ideal retrieval height. Workers can access items within seconds, reducing downtime and speeding up order fulfillment.
- Improve accuracy. Integrated controls and inventory tracking achieve over 99% accuracy.
- Enhance security. Access can be restricted with locks, passwords, or keycards, safeguarding valuable inventory.
- Support ergonomics. No more bending, reaching, or climbing ladders—trays arrive at waist height for safe handling.
- Increase safety. Reduced strain lowers workplace injuries and associated costs.
Applications
Hanel vertical lifts and carousels are used across diverse sectors:
- Industrial manufacturing.
- Pharmaceutical.
- Government/Military.
- Industrial production & maintenance. Ideal for storing and managing small parts, tools, and spare parts.
- Warehousing & logistics. High-density storage improves capacity by up to 60%, while integrated inventory management systems prevent stockouts and overages.
- Offices & administration. Vertical systems simplify file storage and small-item retrieval, keeping records organized and accessible at an ergonomic height.
Hanel Storage System FAQs
What is the difference between a Hanel Lean-Lift® and a Hanel Rotomat®? The Lean-Lift® is a vertical lift module (VLM) that stores items in trays and retrieves them using an extractor positioned between two storage columns. The Rotomat® is a true vertical carousel, where trays rotate along a fixed path to bring items forward. Both deliver goods to an ergonomic access point using different mechanics.
How much floor space can I save? Hanel systems can reduce storage footprints by up to 60%, depending on ceiling height and the type of items stored.
Which industries benefit most from Hanel systems? They excel in manufacturing, industrial, pharmaceutical, government and military.
What are the main benefits of using Hanel storage? Improved ergonomics, enhanced safety, higher productivity, better accuracy, and long-term cost savings are consistent benefits seen across industries.
Can Hanel systems integrate with WMS or ERP software? Yes. Hanel solutions seamlessly integrate with inventory control systems and warehouse management platforms, including SAP and other ERP tools. This ensures real-time visibility and streamlined logistics.
Contact the Experts at Storage Systems USA
Whether you need to optimize production space, protect sterile medical supplies, or streamline office records, Hanel vertical lifts and carousels deliver unmatched efficiency and security. At Storage Systems USA, we help businesses across industries design storage solutions tailored to their specific needs.
Ready to explore how Hanel systems can transform your operations? Contact us to get started.