Parcel warehouse equipment generally includes storage systems, sorting and conveying equipment, material handling and loading equipment, packaging machines, and identification and warehouse management systems. These equipment groups handle storage, internal transportation, sorting, packaging, and information tracking throughout the warehouse operation, from inbound receiving and temporary storage to outbound dispatch.
Equipment configurations vary according to warehouse size and business requirements. A small parcel depot may mainly use shelving, conveyors, hand trucks, and barcode scanners. A large distribution center may require an automated storage and retrieval system, an automated sorting system, AGVs or AMRs, DWS equipment, and centralized control systems.
Storage equipment
Storage equipment is used to organize and temporarily hold parcels after inbound receiving. Different rack systems and automated storage equipment can be selected according to warehouse floor space, building height, item dimensions, and inventory turnover requirements.
Warehouse racking
Common types include:
Selective pallet racking: Uses upright frames and horizontal beams to support palletized goods. Storage positions can be adjusted to accommodate different load dimensions.
Shuttle racking: Uses shuttle vehicles running on rack rails to move pallets within storage lanes. It is suitable for high-density storage of palletized goods.
Mezzanine racking: Uses a structural platform to create additional storage or working levels, making better use of available building height.
Carton flow or gravity flow racking: Uses inclined rollers or tracks to move cartons or totes by gravity. It is commonly used for picking operations and first-in, first-out inventory handling.
Different racking systems have different load capacities, storage densities, and access methods. Selection should consider clear building height, floor loading capacity, item dimensions, and inventory turnover.
Pallets and storage containers
Pallets, plastic totes, metal containers, and roll cages are material handling units used to support, consolidate, and transport goods.
Pallets are commonly used with forklifts, stacker cranes, and other handling equipment. Totes are suitable for organizing and transporting smaller items, while roll cages are frequently used to collect and move parcels in distribution operations.
These load carriers must be compatible with the rack dimensions, conveyors, and handling equipment to avoid problems during storage and transportation.
Automated storage and retrieval equipment
Warehouses with high storage-density requirements, a large number of stock-keeping units, or frequent inbound and outbound operations may use an automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS).
Typical equipment includes storage racks, aisle stacker cranes, conveyors, lifts, inbound and outbound stations, and control systems. The stacker crane travels within the rack aisle to store and retrieve pallets, totes, or other standardized load carriers.
These systems are suitable for goods that can be managed according to the equipment's specified load-unit requirements. The actual configuration depends on item dimensions, unit load, required storage and retrieval throughput, and building conditions.
Sorting and conveying equipment
Sorting and conveying equipment moves goods between receiving, storage, picking, sorting, and dispatch areas. It forms an important part of internal material flow in a parcel warehouse.
Automatic sorting equipment
Common types include:
Cross-belt sorter: Uses transverse belt conveyors mounted on individual carriers to discharge parcels into designated sorting destinations. It is suitable for systems with multiple destinations and high processing requirements.
Swivel wheel sorter: Changes the direction of wheel or roller units to divert items from the main conveyor to side branches. It is used for directional changes and multiple divert points along a conveyor line.
Sliding-shoe sorter: Uses sliding shoes that move along the conveying mechanism to push items toward designated outlets. It is commonly used in sorting systems with multiple destinations.
Tilt-tray sorter: Carries items on individual trays and discharges them by tilting or tipping the tray at the assigned destination.
These sorting technologies differ in load support, diverting methods, and parcel compatibility. Selection should be based on item dimensions, target throughput, number of destinations, and available space.
Basic conveying equipment
Belt conveyors, roller conveyors, chain conveyors, curve conveyors, and telescopic belt conveyors connect different operating areas within a warehouse.
Belt conveyors are suitable for cartons, mailing bags, and other items that can be stably supported on the belt surface. Roller conveyors are commonly used for cartons and totes with relatively flat bases. Chain conveyors can be designed to transport pallets and other heavier loads.
For transfers between different elevations or conveying directions, warehouses may also use lifts, pop-up transfer units, and diverting conveyors.
Automated guided vehicles and mobile robots
AGVs and AMRs are mainly used for internal material transportation within warehouses.
AGVs typically follow predefined routes or guidance systems and are suitable for repetitive transport tasks with relatively fixed routes. AMRs use environmental sensing and autonomous navigation to plan their movement according to tasks and changing site conditions. They are suitable for applications where transport routes need to be adjusted dynamically.
Common configurations include under-riding lifting robots, forklift-type robots, roller conveyor docking robots, and tote-handling robots. They can be used to move pallets, totes, racks, and materials between different operating stations.
AGVs and AMRs are not the same as automatic sorting machines. Their primary function is to transport goods between work areas, and they can operate alongside sorting, storage, and picking systems.
Material handling and loading equipment
Material handling and loading equipment transfers goods within the warehouse and between the warehouse and transport vehicles.
Forklifts
Common types include counterbalance forklifts, reach trucks, pallet stackers, and very narrow aisle trucks.
Counterbalance forklifts are used for pallet loading, unloading, and short-distance transportation. Reach trucks are suitable for storage and retrieval in relatively narrow aisles. Very narrow aisle trucks can operate with high-bay racking in warehouse aisles designed for this equipment.
In mainland China, forklifts covered by the regulations for special motor vehicles used within factory premises and designated areas are classified as special equipment. Their users and operators must comply with the applicable safety management and qualification requirements. The exact scope should be confirmed according to the vehicle type and place of use.
Manual and electric handling equipment
Manual pallet trucks, hand trucks, electric pallet trucks, and electric stackers are used for short-distance movement of pallets, totes, and smaller loads.
Compared with forklifts, these machines are generally used for shorter transport distances and transfers between nearby work areas. Selection should consider load capacity, lifting height, aisle width, and floor conditions.
Loading and unloading equipment
Parcel warehouses may also use hydraulic dock levellers, telescopic belt conveyors, and fixed loading platforms.
A hydraulic dock leveller bridges the height difference between the truck bed and the warehouse loading dock. A telescopic belt conveyor extends into the vehicle to assist with parcel loading and unloading. Loading platforms connect different transport equipment and operating areas.
Packaging and parcel processing equipment
Packaging equipment is used to seal, secure, and protect parcels. It is generally installed at packing stations after order picking or before outbound dispatch.
Carton sealing and strapping equipment
Common machines include automatic carton erectors, automatic case sealers, tape sealing machines, and strapping machines.
A carton erector forms the box and seals its bottom. Case sealers apply adhesive tape to the top or bottom flaps, while strapping machines secure cartons or consolidated loads with straps.
Stretch wrapping and pallet packaging equipment
Stretch wrapping machines apply film around palletized goods to help stabilize the load during subsequent handling and transportation. Depending on operational requirements, automatic film application and pallet wrapping systems may also be used.
Protective packaging equipment
Bubble wrap machines, cushioning material dispensers, paper cushioning machines, and air cushion machines help reduce the risk of impact and compression damage during transportation.
The choice of cushioning material and packaging method depends on item weight, fragility, transport conditions, and packaging requirements.
Identification and warehouse management equipment
Identification and warehouse management systems collect item data, track logistics status, and coordinate storage, sorting, and outbound operations.
Barcode scanners and RFID equipment
Fixed barcode scanners, handheld scanners, and QR code readers are used to read shipping labels and item codes to obtain tracking numbers and related identification information.
RFID readers collect data from electronic tags attached to parcels, pallets, or totes. RFID does not directly read ordinary printed shipping labels; it requires compatible electronic tags.
Weighing and dimensioning equipment
DWS (Dimensioning, Weighing and Scanning) equipment can collect barcode data, parcel weight, and external dimensions as items pass through the conveyor line. These measurements support shipping charges, shipment records, sorting compatibility checks, and logistics management.
Warehouse management and equipment control systems
A Warehouse Management System (WMS) manages inventory, storage locations, inbound and outbound operations, and stock records.
A Warehouse Control System (WCS) generally coordinates the operating tasks of conveyors, sorting equipment, stacker cranes, and other automated machines.
Warehouses may also use handheld terminals, industrial computers, electronic display terminals, surveillance cameras, and network equipment to support software systems and monitor operations.
It is important to distinguish the software from the physical equipment. WMS and WCS are software or control systems, while scanners, RFID readers, industrial terminals, and sensors are physical hardware components.
X-ray security screening equipment
Some parcel warehouses and logistics centers use X-ray inspection machines to examine the contents of parcels according to applicable security requirements and identify items that require further inspection.
This equipment is used for specific security and inspection needs and is not required in every warehouse. Whether it is installed and how it is operated depend on the type of business, applicable regulations, and site security procedures.
How to configure equipment for different warehouse sizes
A parcel warehouse does not necessarily benefit from the highest possible level of automation. Equipment should be planned according to operating volume, parcel types, available space, and budget.
Small parcel depots
Typical equipment includes storage racks, totes, hand trucks, belt conveyors, barcode scanners, and basic packaging machines. These are sufficient for routine parcel receiving, temporary storage, sorting, and dispatch.
Medium-sized parcel warehouses
Additional equipment may include roller conveyors, swivel wheel or other sorting machines, electric handling equipment, automatic case sealers, and weighing and scanning systems. These additions can reduce repetitive manual handling and improve material flow.
Large logistics distribution centers
Depending on operational requirements, a large distribution center may use cross-belt sorting systems, automated storage and retrieval systems, aisle stacker cranes, AGVs or AMRs, automated packaging systems, DWS equipment, and centralized control systems. These technologies can connect inbound receiving, storage, sorting, consolidation, and outbound dispatch operations.
Actual project planning must also consider capacity matching between equipment, conveyor routes, maintenance access, personnel safety, and information system integration. Otherwise, one machine may have excess capacity while another section becomes a bottleneck.
In addition to precision mechanical components for logistics conveying and sorting equipment, Hansheng Automation provides custom CNC precision machining services. We manufacture non-standard precision components according to customer-supplied drawings and support individual parts and small-batch production.
