Reach vs. Deep Reach Trucks: Which Is Better for Mississauga Warehouses?

Warehousing businesses work hard to expand their operational capability while embracing the changing market trends. Now, this is where they encounter the most serious challenge, which, if not addressed immediately, could ruin any plan of future growth. The real estate costs are rising exponentially, which has created a major challenge for warehousing businesses to expand their storage facilities. Buying or renting a new facility will incur heavy expenses that most companies cannot put up with. 

That’s why utilizing the existing facility’s layout seems to be the most feasible option. Most warehouses have an exceptional height, which, if harnessed, can increase the storage space significantly. It won’t increase the footprint but rather help in establishing an orderly stacking or shelfing system. However, to do so, you will need more than a plan! Reach and deep reach trucks will play a significant role in helping you utilize your facility’s full height safely and securely.

That being said, let’s explore which option will be most practical and feasible for your warehousing business.

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What is a Reach Truck?

Warehouses having narrow aisles and tall racking shelves can utilize the reach truck to streamline storage operations. Every equipment unit is reinforced with stable, extendable forks that can reach into the racks to retrieve the pallets. Thanks to the high lift capacity, reaching the top shelves won’t be a hassle any longer. What’s more, the wheel footprint has been minimized to ensure superior maneuverability in tight, confined spaces. 

Key Features

1. Precision load handling capability with high lift configuration
2. Best-suited for narrow aisles 
3. Will improve efficiency in warehouses having a moderate racking system
4. Can be maneuvered easily in tight warehousing layouts
5. Has low emissions and quiet operation, thanks to the electric configurations

What is a Deep Reach Truck?

A deep reach truck, on the other hand, is designed to access double-deep pallet positions with ease. In other words, it can help store merchandise in two-pallet deep positions instead of the regular single-pallet one. Storage density per unit volume will be greatly enhanced, ensuring minimal aisle requirement and maximum warehouse capacity. 

Key Features 

1. Designed uniquely to reach positions having a depth equivalent to two pallets
2. Maximizes pallet density on each shelf, thereby lowering the need for multiple aisles
3. Best-suited for storing pallets carrying merchandise from the same SKU
4. Helps reduce aisle space and increases the overall storage capacity of a warehousing facility
5. Ideal for high-turn inventories and cold storage units

Key Differences at a Glance

Feature	Reach Truck	Deep Reach Truck
Aisle Width Needed	Narrow	Slightly Wider
Racking Depth	Single	Double
Load Access	Direct	Limited (inner pallet)
Visibility	Higher	Moderate
Use Case	General warehousing	High-density storage

Which is Better for Your Mississauga Warehouse?

Since both the material handling equipment units serve different purposes, you need to be very selective. There is a borderline difference between them, which, if not addressed properly, can slow down your business operations. The overall efficiency and productivity will take the hit, something that you cannot afford in the fast-paced warehousing sector of Mississauga. So, here’s a guide we have crafted for you!

When to Select the Reach Truck?

The following are the situations where a reach truck will prove to be extremely beneficial and efficient. 

1. The warehousing facility has narrow, tight aisle widths, and you need an equipment unit with superior maneuverability.
2. Shelves have a standard selective racking system where the forks can reach the maximum depth easily.
3. Your inventory comprises multiple SKUs with different product sizes. 
4. Speed and access will be delivered at optimal levels via a reach truck, allowing you to meet the standards of a high-turnover business.
5. Space constraints exist at multiple locations, owing to which a reach truck will help in quick direction changes. 
6. Indoor usage will require an electrical model of the equipment since it has a low emission rating and won’t make any disturbing noise. 
7. You can leverage the reach trucks to introduce cost-effective solutions and eliminate the need to reconfigure the existing racking system. 

Reach trucks are extremely beneficial for general distribution centers, e-commerce warehouses, and retail centers all across Mississauga. 

When Will the Deep Reach Truck Be Most Feasible?

A deep reach truck is designed to reach a depth equivalent to two pallet positions. As a result, opt for this material handling equipment only if the following conditions are met.

1. You have plans to introduce double-deep racking systems to your existing warehousing facility. 
2. The inventory comprises a large merchandise volume belonging to the same SKU.
3. You can invest in a deep reach truck if accessing every pallet isn’t possible. Rather, the racking system only allows the last-in, first-out technique. 
4. If you want to reduce the aisle requirements while maximizing the pallet density in every rack, this material handling equipment is the most feasible. 
5. Your facility needs to have a high ceiling and proper clearance for allowing deep racking operations without compromising the stability of the forks.
6. A deep reach truck is best-suited for environments where temperature is controlled thoroughly, like a cold storage unit.

Let us assess your warehouse layout and recommend the best fit.

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Popular Models Available at Zenith Canada

At Zenith Canada, we have stocked reach trucks from some of the most notable brands in the material handling equipment industry. These names are known for manufacturing safe, stable, and easy-to-use models with diverse configurations. So, with us, you can rest assured that finding a premium-grade reach truck to suit your business needs won’t be difficult. 

Before moving ahead, here’s a brief glimpse of our inventory. 

1. Crown reach forklifts
2. Toyota reach trucks
3. Deep reach units

Buying vs. Renting: What’s Right for Your Operation

When to Invest in Ownership?

Buying a new reach truck is only feasible when:

1. You have a year-round need for the concerned equipment unit, and that too in a consistent manner.
2. The warehousing facility is being scaled steadily. 
3. Your goal is to avoid the long-term rental fees and build an equity plan for the equipment unit.
4. You want to customize the regular or deep reach truck to suit your warehouse layout, SKU handling needs, and aisle configurations.
5. More focus needs to be put on minimizing the per-hour operational costs. 

Flexible Rental Options for Seasonal or Pilot Operations

In cases when you have short-term requirements, go for the rental plans. Here, you won’t have to bear the huge upfront costs and can get easy access to the reach truck without any hassle. Whether it’s a temporary warehousing facility or a pilot operation launched recently, this option is the most feasible. 

Trade-In Support for Upgrading from Standard Forklifts

Sometimes, you can leverage the trade-in option to upgrade the fleet from a regular forklift to a specialized one. Here are some of the benefits you can reap. 

1. Upgrading to an energy-efficient, low-emission equipment unit will become much easier.
2. You can offset the initial cost of the rental agreement or the purchase by trading in the old forklift. 
3. When you have a high-density storage requirement, trade-in is the best option. It will help you clear out space to accommodate the new model. 
4. You can easily increase the ROI and modernize your warehousing fleet without having to bear the replacement costs. 

Why do Mississauga Warehouses Trust Zenith Canada?

Zenith Canada is one of the reputable dealers of reach trucks across Mississauga. We offer expert guidance to different warehousing businesses so that they can choose the best reach truck model according to their facility needs. From sourcing the best equipment to repairing the damaged parts, we will be here to support your ongoing business workflows. What’s more, you can avail the trade-in or flexible leasing option with us to support any type of temporary or high-turnover operation.

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