Frequently Asked Questions
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What is a 4-way pallet shuttle?
A 4-way pallet shuttle is a battery-powered robot that travels along and across rails inside a racking structure, using lifts to change levels, so it can reach any pallet position without forklifts or fixed aisles. Addverb's Cruiser 360 carries pallets up to 1,500 kg at 1.5 m/s and positions them to within ±2 mm using QR code positioning and servo control. Several shuttles share the same racking, so storage and retrieval run in parallel. -
Should I choose a 4-way pallet shuttle or a stacker crane ASRS?
Choose a 4-way pallet shuttle when you need dense storage in a wide, medium-height building with throughput that can grow by adding shuttles, and a stacker crane ASRS when the building is very tall and narrow. A crane runs one machine per aisle, so its throughput and resilience are tied to that aisle. Cruiser 360 shuttles can move between lanes, so one shuttle stopping does not block access to stock. Addverb supplies both and recommends based on your building and order profile. -
What is the difference between a 4-way and a 2-way pallet shuttle?
A 2-way pallet shuttle only moves in and out of one storage lane and needs a forklift to place it, while a 4-way pallet shuttle also crosses between lanes and changes levels by lift, running fully automated. That makes Cruiser 360 suited to many SKUs and frequent movements. Addverb's 2-way Cruiser suits fewer SKUs stored in deep lanes, where a semi-automated approach costs less. -
Can a 4-way pallet shuttle operate in cold storage and freezers?
Yes, Addverb's Cruiser 360 - 4-way pallet shuttle operates from -25 °C to +45 °C, so the same system can run in ambient, chilled and frozen storage. Automating a freezer means operators no longer drive forklifts in sub-zero aisles, and dense racking reduces the volume of air you pay to keep cold. Doors open less often because pallets enter and leave through fixed infeed and outfeed points. -
When is a 4-way pallet shuttle not the right choice?
A 4-way pallet shuttle is a poor fit when you store only a handful of SKUs in large quantities, where a semi-automated 2-way shuttle or a mother-child system gives similar density for less investment. It also needs consistent pallets within its rated range of up to 1,200 x 1,200 mm and 1,500 kg, so damaged or oversized pallets must be handled outside the system. Lift capacity, not shuttle count, usually caps peak throughput.