A mezzanine floor is a smart way to expand the space within your existing facility. Mezzanine floors can be used to create additional levels within a warehouse, industrial facility, or even a retail store. They allow you to do this without major structural renovation. However, the way you access your mezzanine floor can significantly impact your operation. A mezzanine floor lift is often an essential investment when planning a mezzanine floor. Here, we explain how goods lifts can transform the usability of your mezzanine floor, and positively impact your business.
Mezzanine access – The options
Mezzanine floors obviously offer plenty of additional space within your facility. However, planning on accessing them is a vital part of ensuring they work as you need them too. Considerations and challenges include:
- Manual handling – Moving goods up and downstairs to a mezzanine floor is time-consuming. Not only this, but it risks injury to your staff.
- Forklift access- It may not be possible to access your mezzanine space with a forklift truck.
- Slow movements – If it takes a lot of time to move between floors, you may experience bottlenecks in your facility. Not only can this provide a safety hazard, but it can also reduce your productivity.
Is a goods lift beneficial?
A mezzanine floor lift provides the perfect solution to the challenges we have mentioned above.
It provides efficient (and above all else, safe) transportation between floors. This will reduce the need for a forklift truck, and almost eliminate the need for manual handling.Not only this but a goods lift can help to streamline your workflow, accelerating loading and unloading and minimizing bottlenecks.
As well as this, a goods lift can come with built-in safety features. This can make moving goods and people between floors significantly safer.
How a mezzanine floor lift can benefit your business.
Installing a mezzanine floor and getting lift access to it can help to increase the benefits that come with having this extra space.
A mezzanine floor lift can help you:
Maximise storage capacity- By installing a goods lift, you will reduce the footprint needed for moving goods up and downstairs. That way, you will have more storage space and can operate more efficiently.
Streamline order fulfillment – If you run a pick-and-pack warehouse, having a mezzanine floor lift can significantly speed up your productivity, which can impact customer satisfaction.
Cater for busy times – Goods lifts can help you quickly rearrange your facility to cope with busy periods.
What types of mezzanine floor lift can I opt for?
There are various types of lift that could work well for a mezzanine floor.
Platform lifts- These can be suitable for a range of different types of goods. They can easily lift boxes, pallets and bulky items.
Mezzanine lifts- Specifically designed for the mezzanine floor, these may be lighter in capacity but will be cost-effective to integrate into your current facility.
Bespoke lifts- It is entirely possible to have a bespoke mezzanine lift to work with your facility’s unique requirements. Whether this includes adding the facility for access control, extra safety features, or other additional extras, you will be able to benefit from a floor lift that is built specifically for you.
Considerations when choosing a mezzanine floor lift
There are various considerations you’ll need to make when choosing a mezzanine floor lift. These include checking what load capacity you will need, the platform size, and safety or additional features, and the robustness of the design. Speaking to a reputable, accredited supplier will ensure that you have all the details you need to make the right choice for you.