UNEX SpanTrack Wheel Bed Carton Flow
Full-width wheel bed carton flow that drops into any pallet rack — handles every carton size, improves pick speed, and maximizes SKU density without shelves or intermediate supports.
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What Is UNEX SpanTrack Wheel Bed?
A universal carton flow bed that drops into existing pallet rack beams — no shelves, no intermediate supports, no special hardware.
UNEX SpanTrack Wheel Bed is a gravity-fed carton flow solution engineered to fit inside standard pallet rack bays. The full-width hex hub wheel design provides 300% more product contact than plastic wheel rails, eliminating hang-ups and ensuring smooth, reliable flow for cartons of virtually any size, shape, or weight class. When a carton is picked from the front, the next one rolls forward automatically — keeping every SKU at the pick face at all times.
SpanTrack Wheel Bed is the flagship carton flow product from UNEX Manufacturing, a New Jersey-based company that has been engineering dynamic storage and flow solutions for warehouses, distribution centers, and manufacturing facilities for decades. Material Handling USA is proud to supply, design, and install SpanTrack Wheel Bed systems as part of our comprehensive carton flow rack solutions nationwide.
Unlike static shelving where pickers waste time searching, bending, and reaching for products, SpanTrack Wheel Bed creates organized, gravity-driven lanes that present inventory at the pick face automatically. The result is faster pick rates, reduced labor costs, automatic FIFO rotation, and a safer, more ergonomic working environment — all without motors, electricity, or complex maintenance.
How SpanTrack Wheel Bed Works
SpanTrack Wheel Bed carton flow beds install directly between the front and rear beams of any standard pallet rack bay. The drop-in design requires no tools, no drilling, and no modifications to your existing racking. Each bed spans the full depth of the rack bay and uses precision-engineered hex hub wheels to create a continuous flow surface.
Here is how the system operates:
- Load from the rear: Replenishment workers place cartons on the back (high) end of the flow bed.
- Gravity does the work: A slight incline (typically 3–5°) uses gravity to roll cartons forward on the hex hub wheels toward the pick face.
- Pick from the front: Order pickers pull the front carton. The next carton immediately rolls into position.
- Automatic FIFO: First carton loaded is always the first carton picked — critical for date-sensitive inventory.
SpanTrack Wheel Bed is available in light-duty, standard-duty, and heavy-duty capacity options to handle cartons ranging from a few pounds to 75+ pounds each. The beds come in to-the-inch increments for a precision fit, and the full-width wheel design means you can place cartons of any width on the same bed without lane dividers or guides.
Shark fin infeed guides are available as an accessory to help workers quickly and accurately position cartons during replenishment. Interior notching saves vertical space between beam levels, and knuckled end treatments create a smooth transition at the pick face for ergonomic each-pick applications.
SpanTrack Wheel Bed Benefits
Why leading warehouses, distribution centers, and manufacturers choose SpanTrack Wheel Bed carton flow.
Eliminates Hang-Ups
The full-width wheel design provides 300% more product contact than plastic wheel rails, virtually eliminating carton hang-ups and jams. Every carton flows smoothly from load to pick face.
Universal Carton Compatibility
Handle cartons of any size, shape, or weight on the same flow bed. No lane dividers or reconfiguration needed when product sizes change. Maximum left-to-right flexibility for easy re-slotting.
Drop-In Installation
SpanTrack Wheel Bed drops directly into any new or existing pallet rack system with no shelves, no intermediate support, and no tools required. Install in minutes, not hours.
Automatic FIFO Rotation
Gravity ensures first-in, first-out inventory rotation — critical for food, beverage, pharmaceutical, and any operation with lot-tracked or expiration-dated inventory.
Reduced Travel Time
Pickers work a single aisle face and pull exactly what they need in sequence. Pick rates increase 2–3× compared to static shelving, dramatically reducing labor costs per order.
Freezer & Cooler Rated
SpanTrack Wheel Bed is rated for freezer and cooler environments below zero degrees. The hex hub wheel design performs reliably in cold storage where plastic rails can become brittle and fail.
Technical Specifications
SpanTrack Wheel Bed is engineered-to-order for your exact rack configuration and product mix.
| Specification | SpanTrack Wheel Bed | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Wheel Type | Full-width hex hub wheels | 300% more contact than plastic wheel rails |
| Capacity Options | Light, Standard, Heavy Duty | 5 to 75+ lbs per carton |
| Lane Width | Full-width bed (no lane dividers) | Any carton width on the same bed |
| Bed Length | To-the-inch increments | Custom-fit to rack bay depth |
| Incline | 3° to 5° typical | Adjustable for product characteristics |
| Temperature Rating | Freezer/cooler rated (below 0°F) | Ideal for cold storage applications |
| Installation | Drop-in, no tools required | Fits any new or existing pallet rack |
| End Treatments | Standard, knuckled, custom | Knuckled for ergonomic each-picks |
| Accessories | Shark fin infeed guides, dividers | Snap-on guides for fast replenishment |
| Warranty | 7 years | Industry-leading manufacturer warranty |
Real-World Results: Wellston Center Food Pantry
How SpanTrack Wheel Bed transformed a community food bank serving 800 families every month.
Every month, volunteers at the St. Augustine Wellston Center in Florida distribute food and household items to up to 800 families facing food insecurity. For years, the center relied on an outdated storage system built from pallets and static shelving that made picking slow, physically demanding, and inefficient. Volunteers had to bend, lift, and reach repeatedly to pull items from disorganized shelves — leading to fatigue, potential injuries, and wasted time.
Wellston partnered with UNEX and Industrial Shelving Systems to replace the mixed storage setup with SpanTrack Wheel Bed carton flow across seven rack bays. The new system brought immediate, measurable improvements:
- Safer picking: Gravity-fed lanes eliminated excessive bending, lifting, and reaching. Volunteers work at an ergonomic height with products presented at the pick face.
- Automatic FIFO rotation: Perishable food items are always picked in the order they were received — no manual date-checking or stock rotation needed.
- Improved product presentation: Every SKU has a dedicated lane with the item visible and accessible at the front. No more searching through stacked pallets.
- More families served: The organized system helps volunteers work more efficiently, allowing the center to prepare for serving even more families in the future.
The Wellston Center case study is a powerful example of how carton flow is not just for large distribution centers. SpanTrack Wheel Bed delivers real ROI for any operation — from food banks and nonprofits to retail backrooms and e-commerce fulfillment centers. Read the full case study on our blog.
Industries That Benefit from SpanTrack Wheel Bed
SpanTrack carton flow beds serve warehouses and facilities across every sector.
Order Fulfillment & E-Commerce
SpanTrack Wheel Bed enhances order picking processes by presenting every SKU at the pick face and eliminating wasted steps. In high-volume e-commerce fulfillment centers handling multi-SKU orders, the improvement in pick speed and accuracy translates directly into higher throughput and lower labor cost per order.
Food & Beverage Distribution
Freezer and cooler rated to below zero, SpanTrack Wheel Bed is the go-to carton flow solution for cold storage environments. Automatic FIFO rotation is critical for perishable goods, and the hex hub wheel design performs reliably in temperatures that would damage plastic wheel rails. Companies like Fresh Direct and major grocery distributors have deployed SpanTrack to improve pick rates and add hundreds of SKU locations.
Manufacturing & Assembly
Manufacturing facilities use SpanTrack Wheel Bed to create efficient lineside storage stations and manufacturing supermarkets. Parts flow from the replenishment side to the production side automatically, supporting lean manufacturing principles and just-in-time production. Automotive suppliers like Diversity Vuteq have used SpanTrack to deliver 6,500 parts per day seamlessly.
Third-Party Logistics (3PL)
3PL providers need flexible, reconfigurable storage that can adapt quickly to changing client contracts and product mixes. SpanTrack Wheel Bed’s universal design — no lane dividers, easy re-slotting, to-the-inch sizing — makes it the ideal carton flow solution for 3PL operations where inventory profiles change frequently.
Retail Backrooms & Omnichannel
Retail backrooms and distribution centers benefit from SpanTrack’s organized FIFO rotation, improved SKU accessibility, and space-efficient design. Whether fulfilling BOPIS (buy online, pick up in store) orders or restocking sales floor displays, SpanTrack keeps inventory flowing and accessible.
Nonprofits & Community Organizations
As the Wellston Center case study demonstrates, SpanTrack Wheel Bed is not limited to corporate warehouses. Food banks, community pantries, and nonprofit distribution centers benefit from the same organized, ergonomic, gravity-fed picking that large-scale operations enjoy — often with volunteer workforces that have limited training or physical capability.
SpanTrack Wheel Bed vs. Other Carton Flow Options
Understanding the differences between carton flow technologies helps you choose the right solution.
| Feature | SpanTrack Wheel Bed | Plastic Wheel Rails | Full-Width Rollers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product Contact | 300% more than plastic | Limited contact points | Full contact |
| Carton Size Flexibility | Any size — no lane guides | Fixed lane widths | Any size |
| Hang-Up Risk | Virtually zero | Common with irregular cartons | Low |
| Cold Storage Rating | Below 0°F | Can become brittle | Varies |
| Installation | Drop-in, no tools | Clip-in | Bolt-on |
| Warranty | 7 years | 1–3 years typical | Varies |
SpanTrack Wheel Bed combines the full-width contact area of roller conveyors with the easy installation and versatility that warehouses need. It is the preferred choice for operations that handle mixed carton sizes, require cold storage capability, or want to eliminate the maintenance and hang-up headaches associated with plastic wheel rail systems. For a complete overview of all carton flow options, visit our carton flow rack systems page.
Related UNEX Solutions from Material Handling USA
SpanTrack Wheel Bed is part of the UNEX dynamic storage product family. Pair it with these complementary solutions.
UNEX SpeedCell
High-density vertical storage that fits inside pallet rack bays — compresses rows of shelving into efficient pick zones.
UNEX FlowCell
Modular flow rack workstations for lineside storage, sub-assembly, and mobile carts — assembles in under an hour.
Carton Flow Rack
Full carton flow rack systems — design, supply, and installation for distribution, fulfillment, and manufacturing.
How to Get Started with SpanTrack Wheel Bed
Material Handling USA handles the entire process — from initial design to installation.
Consultation
Tell us about your operation, product types, rack configuration, and throughput goals.
Design & Quote
We design the SpanTrack layout for your specific rack bays and provide a detailed quote.
Manufacturing
UNEX builds your SpanTrack beds to-the-inch in their New Jersey facility with 7-year warranty.
Installation
Drop-in installation — no tools, no drilling. Your team can install or we can handle it.
Frequently Asked Questions
SpanTrack Wheel Bed uses full-width hex hub wheels that provide a continuous flow surface for cartons of any size. SpanTrack Lane uses aluminum rollers in narrow track channels — ideal for applications where cartons are uniform in size and flow in defined lanes. Wheel Bed is the more versatile option for mixed-product environments.
Yes. SpanTrack Wheel Bed is designed to drop into any standard pallet rack system — teardrop, keystone, or structural. No shelves, intermediate supports, or special hardware are required. The beds are manufactured to-the-inch to fit your exact beam spacing and bay depth.
Absolutely. SpanTrack Wheel Bed is rated for freezer and cooler environments below zero degrees Fahrenheit. The metal hex hub wheel design performs reliably in extreme cold, unlike plastic wheel rails that can become brittle and fail. This makes it the ideal carton flow solution for food, beverage, and pharmaceutical cold chain operations.
SpanTrack Wheel Bed is available in light-duty, standard-duty, and heavy-duty configurations to handle cartons ranging from a few pounds up to 75+ pounds each. The specific capacity depends on the bed configuration and span length. Contact Material Handling USA for engineering support on your specific application.
UNEX SpanTrack Wheel Bed comes with an industry-leading 7-year manufacturer warranty. This covers defects in materials and workmanship under normal use. Material Handling USA also provides ongoing support and can help with warranty claims if needed.
SpanTrack Wheel Bed handles individual cartons and cases (typically under 100 lbs each) on lightweight flow beds inside standard selective pallet rack. Pallet flow rack handles full pallets (1,000–3,000+ lbs) on heavy-duty roller conveyors inside structural rack frames. Both use gravity for FIFO rotation, but they serve different unit load sizes.
SpanTrack Wheel Bed uses a drop-in installation that requires no tools, no drilling, and no modifications to your existing pallet rack. Each bed can be installed in minutes. For large deployments, Material Handling USA offers professional installation services to minimize downtime.
Get a Free SpanTrack Wheel Bed Quote
Material Handling USA designs, supplies, and installs SpanTrack carton flow systems nationwide. Tell us about your operation and we will provide a custom solution and quote.