Very-narrow-aisle (VNA) pallet robot
Stores and retrieves pallets at height in aisles of about 1.75 m, narrower than an autonomous reach truck needs; for warehouses that want more pallet positions without building more.
Stores and retrieves pallets at height in aisles of about 1.75 m, narrower than an autonomous reach truck needs; for warehouses that want more pallet positions without building more.
A reach truck usually needs an aisle of 2.7 m or more. A very-narrow-aisle pallet robot uses side forks or a reach mast to store and retrieve pallets at height in aisles of about 1.5–1.8 m. Narrower aisles mean more pallet positions in the same floor area. The robot navigates by laser and runs automatically, working with autonomous forklifts for floor transport and with pallet conveyors for inbound and outbound. Several Chinese manufacturers launched new narrow-aisle models at CeMAT ASIA 2025 in Shanghai. Narrow aisles need a flatter floor and more accurate racking than a standard warehouse, so we measure the site first and then choose the model and the racking layout.
Typical uses
- More pallet positions without extending the building
- High-bay storage of raw-material and finished-goods pallets
- Pallet buffer stores running several shifts
- Automatic inbound and outbound with autonomous forklifts and pallet conveyors
Key figures
| Aisle width | About 1.5–1.8 m, confirmed by model and pallet size |
|---|---|
| Lift height | Typically about 4.8 m; high-lift models up to about 11 m (load about 600 kg) |
| Load | Per the model's load chart: about 1.5 t at low lift, about 1 t at 4 m |
| Pallets | 1,200×800 / 1,200×1,000 mm; 1.2 m deep pallets confirmed per model |
| Navigation | Laser navigation; vision checks the pallet and the slot when picking and placing (depending on the model) |
| Safety | Safety laser scanners; site risk assessment to ISO 3691-4, people kept out of the aisles |
| Floor | Flatness requirement higher than a standard warehouse; measured on site |
| Dispatch | Multi-vehicle dispatch, linked to your WMS |
Figures are typical configuration ranges; exact specifications are set per project.
Options
- Feasibility check for converting existing racking to narrow aisles (by racking and column grid)
- Aisle-end transfer stations and pallet conveyors
- Mixed fleet with autonomous forklifts for floor transport
- Unmanned night shifts
Scope of supply
- Machine, drives and control cabinet, assembled and dry-run tested before shipping
- The equipment's own control and fleet software; interfaces to your existing WMS / ERP as the project requires
- Drawings: general arrangement, foundation and anchor plan, electrical schematics
- Conformity documents for the equipment and the whole line, the split of responsibilities and the acceptance criteria are set out in the contract according to the project scope
- Spare-parts list and wear-part recommendation; a first batch can ship with the equipment
- Factory acceptance (FAT): attend in person or follow by live video
- Installation, commissioning and operator training can be included in the offer
What we need for an offer
- Site plan, column grid, clear height and current racking
- Pallet sizes, pallet weights and top storage height
- Pallets in and out per hour
- Floor flatness (any survey report)