It is clear: to implement an automated warehouse results in productivity and competitiveness. They are usually made up of cranes or robots that travel long distances and heights very quickly, storing, supplying and carrying stock instantly. These tools facilitate the delivery of products (items, cases or pallets), saving you from 30% to 65% of space; increasing productivity and competitiveness of your operation. They can be installed in process plants, production or assembly, or in distribution centers.
There are different kinds of automated warehouse, here are some types and benefits of each type of these:
1.- VLM Shuttle
The Shuttle is a warehouse that handles trays where products are at disposal, usually are items which require being stored and managed. It has the Cubic Space system, a software that detects the heights and weights of the products by placing them in the best location and maximizing existing output rate.
Some of their advantages are
- High density storage (infinite numbers of parts).
- Allows storage of different heights and shapes.
- Holds small items and high value (medical instruments, spare parts, small units, etc.).
- Provides stable movement, allowing delicate product handling.
- Everything is controlled, even access by staff ID prevents unauthorized access to your stock and equipment.
As special features they can integrate thermal systems (cooling or freezing), or, adapt them to cleanrooms, which largely determine the temperature, humidity and cleaning required.
They can also be complemented with antistatic systems so that the equipment does not generate electric currents, in that means, products and the operation will not be compromised.
2.- Vertical / horizontal carousels
The vertical and horizontal carousels are other options for storing and fulfillment. For the aerospace and auto industries are an effective system in the production lines, warehouses, service centers or distribution, as useful for the selection of orders between medium and low turnover.
Some of their advantages are:
- Low cost.
- High output rate.
- Minimum maintenance.
- Increased productivity in assortment.
- Working premise: product to man.
- Easier to restock.
- Do not allow anyone access to the equipment, everything is protected and passwords are required to dispose of the product (state who, how and what product should be taken).
Among the special features, we found that the carousels can implement the pick to light and batch line system (consolidated several orders).
3.- Tower Mat
The Tower Mat is a clever tool of storage for rough and heavy processes (steel and metal- mechanical companies).
Some of their advantages are:
- Handling heavy and oversized product (pallets, pipes, metal and steel sheets).
- Manages amorphous products, including 1.50 meters x 8.2 meters (reducers, pallets, motors, paper rolls, cable, fabric and metal).
- Supports a weight of 3 tons per product and has a maximum capacity of 50 tons per unit.
4.- Miniload
The Miniload is an automated warehouse for cases or totes. Helps the process of selection or simple storage.
Some of their advantages are:
- Require relatively small areas.
- Provide command and control operations of assortment of cases.
- Handling of high cash flow or tote.
- Management of similar weight and dimensions products.
- Provide a safe environment for products.
- Provide information in real time.
It has different characteristics, such as: single deep (greater selectivity and less movements to access a product) or double deep (lower selectivity and greater storage volume).
There are also versions with one or two extractors, this maximizes the capacity according to the required flow. It also has thermal systems for meat or vegetables.
5.- Uniload
It is an automated warehouse where 80% of its processes are through pallets.
Some of their advantages are:
- Easy to expand the warehouse above 30 meters of height.
- Handling heavy weights.
- Extensive stowage (if quality specifications are appropriate).
- A system that allows multiple products without fixed location. The same software manages products of high, medium and low turnover, so that when product is required can be used the robot's movements.
- High storage capacity with appropriate good outflow (120 pallets per hour for robot).
A restriction in the management of this store is that the pallet must be homogeneous squared to prevent product falls.
Generally, all these options automatic storage is controlled by a WCS software module in coordination with the WMS, which allows to have a stock in real time, record first-in, first-out, forfeitures, among others, in addition to coordinate all teams that make up the system order fulfillment.
In GIEICOM we make a careful study of the product and its operations to create higher value proposals that solve tangible needs and to be a strategic element in the operation. To learn more about our services, fill out this form, an advisor will contact you shortly.
