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Warehouses handle a wide range of goods every day. Each product type needs the right handling and the right system. This is why racking and storage decisions shape warehouse design and performance. The nature of the load determines how goods are received, checked, moved, and stored. It also influences order picking and dispatch. When the team understands the load type, they can plan efficient operations. Better planning helps reduce waste and improve safety. Modern systems utilise automation and engineered layouts to facilitate faster and more efficient movement of goods.

What is a Unit Load?

A unit load is a group of products placed on a stable support. The support can be a pallet, box or container. The aim is to reduce handling time. It allows goods to move as a single group. This keeps storage simple and protects the products.

Types of Load by Recording Method:

General Load

These goods need individual packaging. Some units can be moved one at a time. Others are grouped on pallets or in containers. Their quantity is recorded as units.

Bulk Load

Bulk loads do not use small packaging. They move directly inside tanks, silos or special containers. Liquids and gases fall into this group. They are measured by mass and volume.

Types of Load by Volume:

Small Loads

These goods are light and easy to hold. Items like food packs or small cartons belong here.

Medium Loads

These weigh up to 10 kg. They are still easy to handle by hand. Both small and medium loads fit well in picking systems. Long-span shelving and carton flow racks are suitable for these loads. These systems offer easy access and steady movement.

Large or Pallet Loads

These goods need pallets for support. Forklifts or stackers handle them. They are suitable for selective pallet racks, double-deep racks, shuttle racks, and other high-density storage systems. The choice depends on access needs and available warehouse space.

Bulky Loads

These goods are large and hard to stack. Appliances and steel beams fall into this group. Cantilever racking is ideal for such items.

Special Size Loads

These loads are extremely large and heavy. They need special transport and support vehicles.

Types of Load by Weight:

●    Light loads under 5 kg
●    Medium loads between 5 and 25 kg
●    Heavy loads between 25 kg and one tonne
●    Very heavy loads above one tonne

Each weight category needs a suitable handling plan. Safety becomes more important as weight increases.

Types of Load by Useful Life:

Perishable Loads

These products have expiry dates. They need fast movement. Stock rotation is important. Cold storage and controlled environments protect these goods.

Non-Perishable Loads

These items do not depend on expiry dates. They allow flexible storage and handling.

Types of Load by Resistance:

Resistant Loads

These goods can support weight on top. They allow stacking.

Light Loads

These can be stacked with limits. They need clear rules to avoid damage.

Fragile Loads

These loads need gentle handling. They cannot be stacked. They must be stored on shelves that offer individual support.

Types of Load by Dangerous Property:

Dangerous goods need special rules. They include gases, explosives, flammable liquids and corrosive substances. Each class requires a safe storage plan. Racks must allow ventilation, stability and easy access for trained staff.

Types of Load by Batch

Some products move as single units. Others move in packs with many units. Batch size depends on the product type.

Choosing the Right Storage Method

Load type controls the layout and equipment used. A well-designed warehouse creates a smooth workflow. This reduces time and cost.

Storage for Small and Medium Loads

Shelving systems give direct access. Carton flow racks work well for fast-moving goods. They reduce walking time and save effort.

Storage for Pallet Loads

Selective pallet racking offers direct access. It suits operations with many item types. Drive-in and shuttle racks are ideal for bulk storage. They save space and increase density. Very narrow aisle racks maximise height with guided trucks.

Storage for Bulky and Special Loads

Cantilever racking is designed to hold long and heavy items. It keeps aisles clear. Large loads need cranes or special lifting tools.

Storage for Mixed Loads

A flexible system helps when goods vary in size. Many warehouses utilise a mix of pallet racking, shelving and automated zones.

Using Multi-Level Solutions

Large warehouses often use a mezzanine floor to increase space. This converts unused height into new storage areas. It supports light loads, picking zones and packing stations.

Role of Smart Systems and Automation

Automation improves speed and safety. It also reduces damage. Some systems use sensors to monitor movement. Others manage inventory with high accuracy. A crane-based Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS) support smooth pallet handling. It reduces manual work and improves order accuracy. Automated systems protect fragile loads and reduce forklift traffic.

Why Load Identification Matters

Knowing the load type helps avoid damage. It also helps in planning safe movement. With correct information, the team can plan for forklifts, conveyors and racks. This reduces risks and improves output.

Conclusion

Every warehouse handles a unique mix of loads. Each type requires the right plan, the right support, and the right movement method. Reliable racking and storage systems protect goods and increase efficiency. They also help teams manage work safely. When storage aligns with product needs, operations run smoothly. Leading companies like the Godrej Enterprises Group offer solutions for a variety of loads. From crane-based pallet ASRS to cantilever racks, these solutions help businesses stay ready for the future. A smart warehouse grows with the business and creates more usable space through simple, well-planned design.

Local authorities say the Israeli military has expanded the so-called “yellow line” truce demarcation in Gaza City and repositioned its forces deeper into the territory in violation of a ceasefire agreement that came into force on October 10, besieging dozens of Palestinian families.

Gaza’s Government Media Office announced in a statement on Thursday that Israeli forces widened the boundary by shifting the markers, and advanced roughly 300 meters (984 feet) into the neighborhoods of Ash-Shaaf, An-Nazzaz and Baghdad Street.

The move pushed further into civilian areas, trapping families who were unable to flee as tanks rolled forward, it added.

“The fate of many of these families remains unknown amidst the shelling that targeted the area,” the office said, adding that the expansion of the yellow line shows a “blatant disregard” for the ceasefire deal.

On Friday, sources said the Israeli military carried out continued air and artillery strikes inside the so-called “yellow line” east of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.

According to the reports, Israeli warplanes and tanks targeted areas within the zone. One Palestinian was reported killed and several others wounded in the strikes, the sources said.

The fresh aggression came only a day after 25 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City and Khan Younis on Wednesday.

The media office reported that Israel has consistently violated the truce deal since its implementation last month, with near-daily attacks by air, artillery and direct shootings.

The office said over 400 violations have been documented. These breaches have resulted in the deaths of more than 300 Palestinians and left hundreds injured.

The Government Media Office in Gaza urged the guarantors of the ceasefire — the US, Egypt, Qatar and Turkey — to take swift action to halt the ongoing violations and facilitate the delivery of food, shelter materials, medical aid, and infrastructure equipment.

The so-called “yellow line,” set out in the agreement between Israel and Hamas resistance movement, refers to a non-physical partition where the Israeli military repositioned itself when the truce deal took effect.

It has allowed Israel, which routinely fires at Palestinians who approach the line, to retain control over more than half of the Gaza Strip.

International bodies, including the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry, the International Association of Genocide Scholars, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, B’Tselem, and other rights groups, have concluded that the Israeli war on Gaza amounts to genocide.

In the attacks in Gaza since October 2023, Israel has killed at least 69,546 people and injured 170,833 others, leveling large swaths of the territory and displacing almost all of the population. 

Bengaluru, Nov 21: The Karnataka government is facing pressure to overhaul its employment system after a high-level Cabinet sub-committee recommended the complete phase-out of job outsourcing in government offices, boards, and corporations by March 2028. The move is aimed at tackling a systemic issue that has led to the potential violation of constitutional reservation policies and the exploitation of workers.

The Call for Systemic Change

With over three lakh vacant posts currently being filled through private agencies on an outsource, insource, or daily wage basis, the sub-committee highlighted a significant lapse. "As a result, reservations are not being followed as per the Constitution and state laws. It’s an urgent need to take serious steps to change the system. It has been recommended to completely stop the system of outsourcing by March 2028," the panel stated in a document.

The practice of outsourcing involves private companies hiring workers to perform duties for a government agency. Critics argue this model results in lesser salaries, a lack of social security benefits (otherwise available to permanent government employees), and a failure to adhere to the provisions of Articles 14 and 15 of the Constitution, which guarantee equality before the law and prohibit discrimination.

The 'Bidar Model' as a Stop-Gap Solution

To regulate the current mode of employment and reduce worker exploitation until the 2028 deadline, the government plans to establish workers’ services multi-purpose cooperative societies across all districts, following the successful "Bidar Model."

The Bidar District Services of Labour Multi-purpose Cooperative Society Ltd., which operates under the District Commissioner, is cited as a successful example of providing a measure of social security to outsourced staff. Labour Department officials argue this society ensures workers receive their due wages and statutory facilities like ESI (Employees' State Insurance) and PF (Provident Fund), in exchange for a 1% service fee collected from the employees.

legislative push and Priority Insourcing

The recommendations, led by the sub-committee headed by Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil, are set to be discussed at the next Cabinet meeting. The committee has proposed the introduction of the Karnataka Outsourced Employees (Regulation, Placement and Welfare) Bill 2025.

In a move addressing immediate concerns, Labour Minister Santosh Lad, a member of the sub-committee, has reportedly assured that steps will be taken over the next 2-3 years to insource workers in "life-threatening services" on a priority basis. This includes essential personnel like pourakarmikas (sanitation workers), drivers, electrical staff in the Energy Department, and Health Department staff handling contagious diseases. The transition aims to grant these workers the long-term security and benefits they currently lack under the outsourcing system.