Companies requiring deep lane storage in order to maximize density select FRAZIER’s Mole IQ. Unlike competing shuttle systems, Mole IQ has the ability to handle the workload and abuse present in the busiest warehouse environments. There are three reasons why companies select FRAZIER’s Mole IQ and never look back…
Reason 1 – Mole IQ Productivity and Density
Companies with high volume and low Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) counts have improved their productivity by over 30% through use of Mole IQ. It has the ability to move up to 50 pallets per hour versus the 8 to 10 pallets per hour throughput of traditional deep lane Storage Solutions like Drive-In. This rapid pallet movement allows companies to reduce the time it takes to load or unload a truck by more than 50% and save up to 40% on labor costs.
When compared to other dense Storage Solutions such as Drive-In, the Mole IQ boasts numerous advantages:
- Nearly unlimited lane depth; more space used for storage and far less for aisles
- Increased productivity via simultaneous movement (Mole IQ and fork truck operating different tasks at the same time)
- Reduced fork truck travel distances and cycle times
- No time spent navigating through Drive-In racking
- Reduced rack and product damage
Mole IQ can provide an additional 40%-50% pallet positions when compared to such solutions. Companies that typically have high SKU counts or utilize a Pickup and Delivery strategy for staging outbound truckloads ahead of actual ship dates should strongly consider Mole IQ. The ability to use the Mole IQ for First-In First-Out (FIFO) or Last-In First-Out (LIFO) scenarios plus an optimal battery life for Refrigerated Warehousing affords it the ability to serve over 16 Industries.
Reason 2 – Mole IQ’s® Unique Engineering
What makes the Mole IQ so durable is its robust and reliable mechanical design – two large axles bear 100% of the weight on the system. Unlike Mole IQ, many competing shuttle systems’ units transfer weight through their bodies, with the result that minor body damage can impair proper operation. While the body of Mole IQ is designed to be as rugged as its mechanics (an approximately half-inch thick side plate of steel protects the system’s inner workings), it is not bearing any weight. Bumps or dents to its exterior will not affect lift system performance. Further complimenting the engineering is a heavy-duty chain driven four-wheel drive system, which is unique to the industry.
Another key to Mole IQ’s® engineering is a sophisticated lifting system. Using a controller, the system’s operator can instruct or program an electro-mechanical platform to lift pallets of product; four heavy duty ball bearings on each corner of the platform working with a screw-drive lift system respond to raise the deck lid up. The deck lid as a whole picks up the load, so that center stringers or blocks on pallets directly transfer the lifting force to the entire pallet. Other manufacturer’s units use front to rear bars that push up against pallet bottom boards, and the air cavity directly above, to lift their loads. Pallet bottom boards are the weakest part of any pallet. They are designed to prevent pallet stringer or block rotation, not to directly support the full pallet weight. Relying on pallet bottom boards only to support the full load weight, can result in damaged pallets and products.
Mole IQ’s® unique design is not limited towards just improving performance – it was also engineered with the user in mind for ease of maintenance. A single twenty-four volt DC lithium battery powers each unit. While Frazier provides complete spare parts support for Mole IQ, the majority of components in each unit are non-proprietary and readily available from industrial supply outfits. To ensure everything is fully functional before handoff to the customer, each unit undergoes a thorough commissioning process, and is installed onsite by dedicated Mole IQ technicians.
Reason 3 – Mole IQ’s® Sensors, Magnetic Latching and Safety Systems
Mole IQ contains a series of sensors that position the unit with products stored in the racking. Each end of the shuttle contains a sensor angled upward to detect stored pallets as the unit approaches them, and a sensor to scan down the lane of racking. Collectively, they locate the next load of product positioned on the racking to pick up and index to the appropriate destination.
Additional sensors on Mole IQ are used to tell the unit when it has reached the end of the rack system and how to properly position itself. Once properly positioned, the fork truck operator has easy access to place pallets without any concern that the fork truck mast can make impact with Mole IQ. From this position, Mole IQ then can move forward to pick up the pallet, with pallet placement sensors centering the deck lid perfectly with the pallet.
Making loading and unloading even safer is an industry-unique electromagnetic safety latching system. Two magnets, each rated for 1200lbs of strength, latch the unit to the fork truck in order to prevent dislodgement. The same sensors used for positioning control the latching mechanism. Operation of the electromagnetic safety latching system is fully automatic – the system will automatically engage when lifting units from the storage system and will automatically disengage upon placement back into the system.
