Automated high density pallet handling storage solutions reduce the investment in land and space, reduce labor requirements associated with conventional handling and reduce damage from lift trucks.
That was the message from Scott Hinke, vice president and general manager of Dematic’s (Booth 1203) AGV business at a press conference on Tuesday.
Dematic introduced three configuration options to automate conventional storage functions ranging from simple block storage to a highly automated deep lane, high bay.
Each included some degree of automated materials handling.
“All three solutions are designed for applications with a low number of SKUs but a high number of pallets,” Hinke said. “While they vary in complexity, what they share in common is software that coordinates the movement of goods into and out of storage.”
They include:
Deep lane pallet storage on floor, with AGVs: This configuration is based on a fork style automatic guided vehicle (AGV) that is capable of automatically staging pallet loads on the warehouse floor, arranged in lanes, multiple pallets deep. In addition, the pallets can be stacked up to 24 feet high, in each deep lane.
Deep lane pallet storage in rack, with AGVs: This configuration consists of deep lane pallet storage in a rack structure with Dematic’s satellite shuttle device to index each pallet in the rack. A fork style automatic guided vehicle (AGV) transports pallets to the deep lane rack structure up to 40 feet clear height and deposits the load in the first rack position. From there the satellite shuttle device lifts, transports, and positions the pallet in the deep lane rack.
Deep lane pallet storage in rack, with AS/RS crane: Utilizing a shuttle device and software management, the deep lane pallet storage rack can also be configured with a storage and retrieval machine (SRM). This solution, with dedicated cranes in each aisle, improves the density and throughput versus the AGV based solution. Aisle widths can be minimized and the height of the rack structure can be increased to 110 feet.
ProMat 2013 is scheduled to be held January 21-24, 2013 in Chicago’s McCormick Place South. The tradeshow will showcase the latest manufacturing, distribution and supply chain solutions in the material handling and logistics industry. Modern’s complete ProMat 2013 coverage.
