This specialized style of rack is intended for high volume fast moving SKU's packaged in boxes or stored in bins and is intended for an order picking or assembly environment.

Carton Flow rack can be described as shelf or "bed" of rollers, wheel tracks or skate wheels set at a slight pitch in which product to flow via gravity from one side of the rack to the other. The idea is to always have product presented to the order picker for smooth, quick work flow, bring the product to the picker and not have the picker going to the product.

Normally the high side is called the "charge", "replenish" or in-feed side and the low end in considered the discharge or "pick" side. Carton Flow rack arranged in this way is considered "FIFO" or first in first out. The makes for automatic inventory rotation.

Carton Flow shelves are divided up into lanes intended to store one SKU per lane. Generally enough lanes are dedicated to one SKU for at least one shift of order fulfillment. Often high volume products will require more than one lane.

Alternately, there are applications where the slow moving items are stored on case flow shelves. For example, in the beverage industry, order picking is done directly from the floor stored pallets. The slow moving products are more efficiently stored in case flow so a partially loaded pallet does not take up valuable floor space from the fast moving items.

Generally, Carton Flow Rack is designed around the size, weight and quantity of the items to be stored. This will determine the shelf size and capacity rating. The height of the items will help determine the spacing between shelf levels. Carton Flow is discussed and described in sections or "bays". A further breakdown of the description is how many shelves per bay and then how many lanes per shelf. This helps your material handling design professional determine the quantity of components required.

Generally carton flow shelves can be sized to suit existing conditions and available space. There are several styles on the market today designed to be installed in existing rack systems.

Carton Flow shelves can be re-configuration as your business changes. Shelf elevations and lane arrangements can be moved to suit changing product.