Recover Space, Improve Productivity, and Prepare for Growth with Vertical Lift Modules
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Learn how Modula Vertical Lift Modules help manufacturers, distributors, and automotive dealerships maximize storage capacity, improve inventory accuracy, increase productivity, and recover valuable floor space. As an authorized Modula partner, Werres helps businesses identify the right automated storage solution for their operation.
Warehouse and production facilities are under pressure to do more with the space, labor, and inventory systems they already have. For many organizations, the next opportunity is not adding square footage. It is making better use of vertical space.
Vertical Lift Modules, often called VLMs, help manufacturers, distributors, dealerships, and service organizations store inventory more efficiently, improve picking productivity, and create a more organized workflow.
Wondering if a VLM is right for your facility?
Our automation specialists can help evaluate your storage goals, available space, inventory profile, and workflow needs.
Why More Companies Are Looking Up
Operations teams are facing a familiar set of challenges: limited floor space, rising labor costs, inventory complexity, and pressure to improve throughput. Traditional shelving often creates more walking, more searching, and more opportunities for error.
A VLM helps solve these issues by using the full height of a facility to store inventory in enclosed trays. When an item is needed, the system automatically retrieves the tray and presents it to the operator at an ergonomic access point.
Common Storage Challenges VLMs Help Address
Five Ways Vertical Lift Modules Improve Warehouse Performance
1. Recover Valuable Floor Space
Floor space is one of the most valuable assets inside any facility. By using vertical space, a VLM can dramatically reduce the amount of traditional shelving required.
In automotive parts applications, one 18-foot Modula VLM can replace approximately 75 to 90 traditional shelving sections and recover more than 1,500 square feet of floor space.
75-90
traditional shelving sections can be replaced by one 18-foot Modula VLM in some automotive parts applications.
1,500+
square feet of floor space may be recovered, depending on the application and layout.
2. Increase Productivity
Time spent walking aisles and searching bins is time that could be spent completing work. Because inventory is delivered directly to the operator, employees can stay focused on picking, replenishment, kitting, and fulfillment tasks.
3. Improve Inventory Accuracy
VLM software can support barcode scanning, inventory tracking, and integration with existing business systems. Better visibility helps reduce picking errors, misplaced inventory, stock discrepancies, and production delays.
4. Create a Safer, More Ergonomic Workplace
Traditional shelving often requires employees to bend, reach, climb, or manually handle parts throughout the day. A VLM presents inventory at an ergonomic working height, helping reduce unnecessary strain while supporting a safer workflow.
5. Protect Valuable Inventory
Parts stored inside an enclosed VLM are better protected from dust, debris, damage, and unauthorized access. This is especially valuable for high-value parts, maintenance inventory, tools, components, and controlled stock.
Why Automotive Dealerships Are an Ideal Fit
Vertical Lift Modules provide value across manufacturing, distribution, maintenance, and service environments. Automotive dealerships represent a particularly strong opportunity because parts departments are often under pressure to operate more efficiently within limited space.
Parts and service departments can represent more than 60 percent of dealership revenue, making efficiency in these areas especially important.
How VLMs Help Automotive Parts Departments
- Free up floor space for additional service bays
- Keep parts employees closer to the counter
- Improve technician productivity
- Increase inventory accuracy
- Reduce order fulfillment errors
- Protect valuable parts inventory
- Support cleaner, more organized parts storage
Modula solutions can also integrate with several leading Dealer Management Systems, including Reynolds & Reynolds, Dealertrack, Tekion, and Karmak. This helps dealerships improve storage efficiency while maintaining connected inventory workflows.
Automation That Works with Your Existing Operation
Warehouse automation should support the way your operation works today while preparing it for where it needs to go next. VLM solutions can integrate with ERP systems, warehouse management systems, barcode scanning, and connected inventory processes.
That makes vertical storage a practical first step for companies exploring automation without completely redesigning their facility.
Is Your Facility a Good Candidate for a VLM?
Your operation may benefit from a Vertical Lift Module if you are experiencing any of the following:
- Storage space is becoming limited.
- Employees spend too much time walking to retrieve inventory.
- Inventory accuracy is difficult to maintain.
- You are planning a facility expansion or renovation.
- Labor productivity is a growing concern.
- You want to improve throughput without increasing your building footprint.
Find the Right Storage Solution for Your Operation
Every facility stores materials differently. Werres can help evaluate your workflow, available space, inventory profile, and automation goals to determine whether a Modula Vertical Lift Module is the right fit.
