Picking Bins

Picking bins, pick bins, picking containers, or even stacking boxes are generic terms given to storage containers used in warehouses and fulfilment centres. They keep contents safe and allow for easy “picking” of inventory to fulfil customer orders. Picking bins are exceptionally popular with eCommerce businesses and 3PL fulfilment companies.

Lin bins or linbins is a brand name for moulded plastic shelf bins. They are available in ten sizes and five colours. These bins are a good option if a very cheap solution is required. GWP allow you to source a range of Linbin alternatives and custom-sized Correx® picking bins with equivalent performance.

As with Lin Bins, K Bins is a brand name for a range of shelf bins. K Bins, however, are manufactured from corrugated cardboard material and are available in a range of stock sizes. You can source all of the standard-sized cardboard picking bins from GWP Correx®, as well as custom sizes tailored to your specific requirements.

Correx® picking bins are one of the more versatile options for shelf or stacking bins. They can offer similar strength to moulded plastic containers and complete size flexibility. They are also considerably more robust than corrugated cardboard pick bins yet can be comparable price-wise. However, if you are unsure of their suitability for your specific application, a member of the team at GWP can assist.

Cardboard picking bins are the lowest-cost option for order picking. The competitive price points make them quite versatile if you need to change inventory – and hence the bin sizes – relatively often. They offer excellent scope for printing and branding too. However, they are arguably not as cost-effective as plastic picking bins in the mid to long term due to their shorter lifespan.

You can choose to customise most picking bins in several ways. Options include external printing, labelling, adding internal dividers and inserts, and whether they have stacking features or even louvres for wall hanging. Correx® picking bins take this further by offering complete control over the size, shape, style and functionality.

In practice, there is no difference between a shelf bin and a parts bin. Both are used on shelves or racking to store, protect and organise your inventory. The significant difference between varying types of picking bins is whether you use them on racking and shelving units or whether they are free-standing and stackable.

Stacking pick bins are free-standing containers that, as the name suggests, you can stack upon each other. These are particularly useful for creating additional storage space during busy times or where no racking or shelving is available. The “Euro” element of the name means that they conform to a range of standard stock sizes (e.g. 600 x 400mm, 300 x 400mm etc.). Stackable shelf bins are also available.

A pick face wall is essentially a group of storage bins used in conjunction with one another to create a bank or wall of picking locations. Making a pick wall can involve adding parts bins to existing racking locations or stacking picking containers alongside each other to create your pick face wall.