WAREHOUSE SPACE & HANDLING
Carton Flow Rack
Carton flow rack is gravity-fed storage that uses sloped tracks or wheels to present cartons toward a picking face.
CARTON FLOW RACK IN PRACTICE
- Load at the rear
- Present at the pick face
- Replenish the lane
A WORKED EXAMPLE
One lane. A controlled carton sequence.
Four cartons of one SKU are loaded in receipt order at the rear of an approved lane. When the front carton is removed, the next advances toward the picker. Adding newer cartons at the front would bypass that sequence. Keep different SKUs and incompatible lots separated according to the lane plan.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOUR QUOTE
Make the requirement explicit
Use the same scope and units when comparing providers. Put the agreed responsibility, included work and exception process into the service description.
A LITTLE MORE CONTEXT
Questions about Carton Flow Rack
Does carton flow guarantee FEFO?
No. FEFO needs expiry-based selection; the physical lane sequence may not match expiration order.
Can any carton use a flow rack?
No. Suitability depends on the equipment specification and actual carton characteristics.
Source & example notes
MHI: storage racks and material handling. Further reading on storage equipment and load characteristics. Confirm actual site dimensions, approved equipment limits and storage design with the responsible parties.
Definitions and worked examples are prepared by 3PL Hub. Numbers are illustrative, not provider rates, operating targets or guarantees.
Last updated: · 3PL Hub
