FIFO Racks

FIFO racking is widely used in manufacturing, supply and food storage, where stock rotation has to be enforced rather than hoped for. Items are stored in bins or cartons arranged one behind the other; as the front unit empties it is removed and the next one takes its place.

The method works best where stock movement is high and where a continuous feed of raw material or part-finished product is needed at the line — which is why assembly and manufacturing units get the most out of it.

Carton flow storage brings a further economic advantage: cartons are held at high packing density, which releases floor space compared with traditional storage, while travel distance and time between stock shelves and the picking face both fall.

Key features

• Enforced stock rotationThe structure itself makes first-in-first-out the only way to pick, which matters for dated and batch-controlled stock.
• High packing densityCartons are stored densely, releasing floor space compared with conventional shelving.
• Shorter pick travelSeparate load and pick faces cut the distance and time between replenishment and picking.
• Suited to line feedIdeal where manufacturing or assembly needs a continuous supply of raw material and part-finished goods.