Automating your warehousing operation can provide a wide range of benefits ranging from space savings, lower building costs, improved productivity, more efficient material flow, fewer employees, and improved safety. Despite the initial investment, these benefits can quickly translate into reduced operational costs and a higher return on investment.
It depends. Automation comes in many shapes and forms, and seldom are two warehouses alike. To determine if automation is the right choice for your warehouse, you must first determine the inefficiencies in your operations.
Once you have determined where and how your warehouse operations can be improved, then you can determine which type of automation promises the largest ROI. There are many different types of warehouse automation of varying complexity and viability. The key is engineering the right automated system for your business needs.
Pick modules are multi-level rack systems that combine dynamic rack systems with conveyors to enhance the productivity of a picking operation.
The dense product storage also reduces material handling costs. Pick Module systems are ideal for pallet building – where multiple cases of product are being re-palletized to ship to a different location or kitting – where multiple small parts are being assembled to make one complete part in another area of the facility or is being packed for shipping. In other words, it’s an ideal solution for broken pallet or broken carton order fulfillment.
AS/RS refers to a variety of computer-controlled methods for automatically depositing and retrieving loads to and from defined storage locations. These systems are PE-engineered and designed for each facility’s requirements. They can be built to accommodate either pallets or totes:
Unit-load AS/RS – Machines that store large loads (usually 1,000+ pounds), typically on pallets with storage rack structure, reaching 100 feet or more tall.
Mini-load AS/RS – Operating the same as a unit-load AS/RS, a mini-load AS/RS handle lighter loads, usually weighing less than 1,000 pounds
Rack Supported Applications:
When land is at a premium and an accelerated construction schedule is required, a rack supported building is the optimal choice. Rack supported buildings consist of a complete racking system that provides the basic structural support for the building’s roof and walls. The highest density storage solution possible for nearly every type of pallet rack, this method of building construction reduces construction costs, lead times and minimizes the building footprint.
A clad rack building is an economic storage solution when a new building is required. AS/RS applications are the most common type of rack supported building, however, other racking systems such as Drive-In and Pushback are also available.
Semi-automatic, high-density storage system with easy loading and unloading of goods
Known for their high-capacity storage, these systems use radio-controlled shuttles to place and retrieve goods within rack lanes, rather than a driver and forklift. These shuttles, operated by electric motors, run along rails within each lane and are controlled by an operator through a WiFi-connected tablet. This not only increases the speed and accuracy of loading and picking, it allows lanes to be deeper and less aisle space. Additionally, by eliminating forklift traffic inside the lane, it decreases the risk of rack damage.
