Used Vertical Carousel Systems

While you might see the terms used interchangeably, you’ll find vertical carousels and VLMs are quite different. It’s true that they both accomplish a similar task — that is, getting products to workers in an efficient and space-saving manner — but they handle this job differently.

A vertical warehouse carousel system operates similarly to a Ferris wheel. Workers load items onto trays, and those trays rotate inside the carousel housing. For VLMs, an inserter/extractor grabs individual trays from their location in the machine without rotating everything stored inside — similar to a vending machine.

Vertical carousels and VLMs are actually quite versatile in terms of what you can store in them. In most cases, you’ll still want to stick to smaller to standard-sized parts and products. Some vertical carousel systems can work well with heavier items, but you’ll need to source a system to accommodate the extra weight.

Additionally, you may find vertical carousels meant to meet specific product requirements. Some examples include the following:

• Textile carousels
• Wire carousels
• Garment carousels
• Paint can carousels
• Other custom options

You already have a good idea of some of the amazing benefits of a vertical carousel system. When comparing vertical carousels and VLMs to static warehouse shelving, one advantage often gets overlooked: how vertical systems affect warehouse traffic. Not only do they offer a more consolidated footprint, but they reduce the need for extra space in static shelving configurations. Instead of dead space needed for forklift and worker traffic, you can utilize this open space for more storage. This greatly increases your overall warehouse storage efficiency.