Chapter 4: Warehouse Equipment | Descartes Sellercloud

Guide to Moving Warehouses

Chapter 4: Warehouse Equipment

Before planning your move to your new warehouse, you must consider whether you need to invest in new equipment.

It may even be that your move to a new warehouse is motivated by a need to use more updated equipment to improve efficiency.

In this chapter, we’ll look at the different types of equipment you should consider when moving a warehouse and the best practices you should follow.

What Equipment Does My New Warehouse Need?

If you are an already established ecommerce company, you probably already have much of what you need, though there may be some specific piece of equipment you might need to invest in.

Alternatively, if this is the first warehouse you’ve ever owned, you will need to invest in quite a lot of equipment.

If you plan to move to a more modern facility (or one bigger where you can better use modern tools), some things may be new.

If you don’t consider what equipment you need, you could find yourself unprepared when you move. You may miss things or find that what you currently have is unsuitable.

Furthermore, large machines like conveyor belts, automated guided vehicles (AGVs), and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) need significant space.

Conversely, if you don’t want to disrupt too many processes when moving from one warehouse to another, you might not want to invest in too much equipment and have to train employees, as it will be time-consuming.

The types of equipment your warehouse will need can be broken down into several categories.

Material Handling (Lifting) Equipment

This is the equipment you need to move inventory around your warehouse.

Pallet Carts

Pallet carts are electric carts that slide under the pallet. All an employee needs to do is press a button, and they can pull it along.

Pallet carts are good to have because no labor is required by the operator. They have less strain on workers, and they can do more, and if the battery runs out, the carts can be pulled manually.

Pallet Jacks

Also known as a ‘high lift’, pallet jacks make moving pallets significantly easier. You may need to invest in new pallet jacks if you need them to be more maneuverable, particularly if the space in your new warehouse is tighter than the previous location.

Forklifts

Forklifts are often one of the first things you think of when you think of warehouse equipment. You may need to invest in new forklifts if your current warehouse has higher ceilings or they are not maneuverable enough for your new location.

Docking Equipment

Docking equipment is important for incoming and outgoing docks. It helps stabilize trucks or trailers as they dock at your warehouse, making receiving and shipping orders without accidents easier.

Wheel Chocks

Blocks that sandwich truck wheels into place so they don’t roll by themselves.

Truck Restraints

Hold a truck or trailer at the loading dock to prevent accidental movement during loading or unloading.

Dock Boards and/or Dock Plates

Dock boards and plates bridge the gap between a loading dock and a truck, differing in weight capability for various loads.

Dock Bumpers

Bumpers on the edges of the dock to protect the truck (and warehouse dock) as it backs into the dock.

Safety Equipment

Warehouse equipment is not just about efficiency; it’s also about keeping employees safe.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Fire Safety Equipment

First Aid Kits

Should be in practical locations and contain kits with bandages, antiseptics, and other emergency materials.

Spill Control Kits

Useful for businesses that handle items that can spill, preventing slips, exposure to dangerous chemicals, and damage to products.

Emergency Eyewash Stations and Showers

Consider if you will need to invest in eyewash stations and showers for hazardous materials.

Electronic Equipment

Electronic equipment plays an increasingly large role in warehouse management operations.

Computers, Monitors, and Peripherals

You will need computers to use your ecommerce solution.

Scanners and/or Mobile Devices

Used in modern WMSs ( Warehouse Management Systems).

Packing Equipment

Used to prepare and pack orders before shipping.

Product Label Printer

Designed to print labels for packages.

Packing Tools

Include items like tape dispensers and box cutters.

Void Fill Machines

Used to produce packing materials that cushion and protect items in packages.

Shipping Equipment

All the equipment you will need to ship products once they have been packed.

Scales

Invest in a smart scale that weighs and measures packages simultaneously, reducing human error.

Shipping Label Printer

Designed for printing shipping labels, separate from product labels.

Best Practices for Warehouse Equipment

Have at Least Two Forklifts and Shipping Label Printers

Having backups is vital to fulfill orders.

Ensure Everything Is Properly Labeled

Labeling will assist employees in learning where everything is and how to use it.

Ensure You Have Appropriate Wi-Fi Coverage

A good internet connection is vital in a modern warehouse for many tools you will use.

Key Points