Stock is assigned to trays
Products, parts, tools or totes are stored in tray locations suited to their size and load.
Modula · automated vertical storage
Use the height you already have.
Modula’s automated vertical storage systems store products in trays or bins, then bring the requested stock to an operator at a working-height access point.
They may be worth exploring when storage is spreading, walking is consuming time or frequently used stock is difficult to access consistently. Product mix, building height, load, throughput and integration still determine whether the fit is practical.
Image: Modula
01
Store verticallyUse building height instead of extending rows of shelving.
02
Bring stock to the operatorReduce repeated walking, searching and ladder access.
03
Control accessUse software and scanning to guide storage and retrieval.
The basic storage cycle
Goods come to the person.
A vertical lift module (VLM) is essentially a tall, enclosed bank of trays with an automated lift in the centre. The important change is not the machine itself; it is the removal of repeated travel between the operator and the stock.
The operator requests an item
A touchscreen, barcode scan or connected warehouse system identifies the required tray.
The tray is retrieved
The internal lift brings the tray to an access bay at a consistent working height.
The pick is completed
The operator picks or replenishes the item, then the tray returns to storage for the next request.
The Modula range
Choose the format that matches the pressure.
All four models use vertical space and bring stock to an access point. The main difference is what each one is designed to prioritise.
The broad starting point
Modula Lift
A configurable vertical lift module (VLM) for mixed inventory such as components, spare parts, tools, cartons and totes.
Best considered when: general storage is consuming floor area and repeated travel to stock is part of the daily workflow.
- Stores different item sizes and weights across configurable trays.
- Brings the requested tray to a consistent operator access point.
- Can be configured around the available height, access bay and workflow.
Vertical storage in less floor area
Modula Slim
A narrower VLM designed for sites that want automated tray storage but have very limited floor space.
Best considered when: a full-size VLM is difficult to place, but storage density and access still need to improve.
- Uses a compact format that can be as shallow as approximately 1.6 metres.
- Dynamically positions trays around the height of the stored items.
- May suit smaller warehouses, workshops, retail storage or pharmacies.
Access to the correct compartment
Modula Next
A controlled-access VLM that presents the tray but only opens the specific compartment required for the pick.
Best considered when: similar, sensitive or high-value items need tighter picking control and traceable access.
- Restricts the operator to the intended compartment.
- Helps reduce selection errors between similar items.
- May suit medical, electronics, defence, jewellery and high-value parts.
Higher-volume bin presentation
Modula Flexibox
A bin-based rather than tray-based system designed for faster, repeated picking where order volume and access to many SKUs are the main pressures.
Best considered when: distribution or fulfilment work needs bins presented quickly and in a sequence that supports ongoing order picking.
- Can retrieve several bins within one cycle.
- Supports picking, order fulfilment and production kitting.
- Can integrate with warehouse software, conveyors, AGVs or AMRs.
Product images: Modula Asia.
A quick fit check
Space, walking or control?
A vertical lift module (VLM) is worth a closer look when at least one of these is a real operating constraint, not simply because there is unused height.
Floor space is tight
Storage is consuming area needed for production, dispatch or more inventory.
Retrieval takes time
Walking, searching, bending or climbing repeats throughout the shift.
Access needs control
Picking errors, security or traceability matter for the items being stored.
A stronger case usually exists when one or more of these pressures is recurring, measurable and costly enough to solve. If they are minor, another approach may be more practical.
Software and planning
The hardware is only half the workflow.
Modula systems can be operated through a touchscreen and barcode scanning. Modula warehouse software can manage item locations, picking, replenishment and inventory, with integration into existing business or warehouse systems where required.
The exact control and integration approach should be scoped early. A useful first conversation needs only a few practical inputs:
- What is being stored, and what are the typical sizes and weights?
- How much floor area does the current storage consume?
- How often are items picked or replenished?
- What clear height, access and floor conditions are available?
- Which inventory or warehouse system needs to remain in the loop?
Commercial disclosure
A product page, not a product verdict.
Atomic Inertia can introduce Modula when a vertical storage system appears relevant. If an introduced Modula opportunity proceeds, the supplier pays Atomic Inertia a referral commission from its normal price; Atomic Inertia does not add a separate fee to the warehouse. The next step is to test the fit against the operation, not assume the product belongs there.