Maximizing Unused Vertical Space with a Vertical Lift and Mezzanine Is the Key to Better Productivity and Safety

Today, companies need to be as efficient as they can be. Whether it’s the speed at which orders are turned, cutting production costs, or adding new equipment to improve productivity, companies need to be lean and mean to compete.

In most cases, any of the above could be hindered by floor space constraints. After all, one cannot add new equipment if there is no room to do so. One cannot improve productivity if workers are processing orders while running an obstacle course of boxes and equipment on the warehouse floor.

Historically, to address these problems, business owners would hire a construction crew to expand their facilities. This can prove to be a costly and time-consuming endeavor.

A better and more cost-effective alternative—in many cases—is simply to go up with a Vertical Lift and Mezzanine.

So, what is a Vertical Lift and Mezzanine?

Mezzanines

A Mezzanine is an intermediate floor in a building that is partly open to the double-height ceilinged floor below, or which does not extend over the whole floor space of a building. A Mezzanine provides space for storage or production, which frees up working floor space down below.

In some cases, a Mezzanine can more than double the available floor space. Freeing up available workspace allows for more staff, production lines, machinery, etc.—thus, improving productivity.

Vertical Reciprocating Conveyor (VRC) Lift

Vertical Reciprocating Conveyors are a classification of Material Lift and are a perfect complement to a Mezzanine.

VRCs are used to move products and other goods from one level to another. They provide an efficient, convenient, and safe way to transfer materials to and from mezzanines, basements, and between levels in multiple story buildings.

How Does a VRC and Mezzanine Improve Productivity and Safety?

A VRC takes things to the next level, literally. A VRC improves productivity by saving employee energy from manually moving materials to different levels, in greater bulk and much faster.

I think the Center for Construction Research and Training puts it best: "Productivity drops and schedules get delayed when workers must wait for materials to be delivered or spend time and energy locating and manually lifting and carrying materials around a job site."

VRC Lifts also improve safety by eliminating situations that can lead to a potential injury. Studies tell us that 20% of all workplace injuries are caused by slips, trips, or falls. Sixty percent of elevated falls are from heights of less than 10 feet, such as from stairs or ramps. The average cost of a VRC Lift is less than the average cost per injury incident

In Closing

As stated earlier, so much of success today is based on an efficient operation that results in productivity. Efficiency starts with an organized and free flowing work area. A Mezzanine and Vertical Reciprocating Conveyor (VRC) might be the perfect place to start making your operation as efficient and productive as possible.

---

To learn more, feel free to contact our Solutions Specialists at 321-728-3355.