Order picking is developing rapidly from its paper-based origins to automated mobile robots and vision-enabled solutions. At the top of the wish list for many businesses are autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs), helping clients work smarter by minimising repetitive and unproductive order picking tasks in e-commerce fulfilment, warehousing, distribution and production.
Peter Moore, Sales & Marketing Manager at Guidance Automation, spells out the possibilities: “AMRs can easily be deployed to enhance existing operations without disruption or downtime. They reduce the time operatives spend driving and walking, reduce pick/place errors and optimise throughput with intelligent task ordering and route selection. Operatives can focus on VALUE-ADD work and businesses adapt to fluctuating demand and seasonal peaks with no need to change the working environment.
GEBHARDT ECS’s GridPick system for enhanced order picking efficiency consists of multiple freely navigating driverless transport vehicles with an integrated GEBHARDT StoreWare material flow system, guiding vehicles and employees through the warehouse. The GEBHARDT StoreWare material flow system connects, controls and monitors the system: the StoreBiter 300 MLS is a highly dynamic shuttle system for operation with multiple storage levels. The new GEBHARDT Galileo IoT Platform offers customers the possibility of digitalising and networking their complete intralogistics system on the Cloud.
Among all this automation forklift trucks have played a key role in order picking for decades. STILL’s world class FM-X reach truck is a driver-seated machine that lifts loads of up to 1,000 kg to 13 metres. It’s familiar technology but continues to advance, with STILL’s new improved Active Load Stabilisation reducing oscillation at full lift height by up to 80%, enabling significantly faster turnaround.
The explosion in internet shopping has placed fresh pressures on warehousing and dispatch operations. With next day delivery now standard and same day delivery increasingly popular, dispatch productivity of dispatch operations is vital to business success but brings specific demands, particularly with small items. However, by introducing automation, costs can be cut significantly, service levels increased and operations’ footprints reduced.
Distrisort’s customer list include large, midsized and small retailers, processing high volume single items and needing to cut working time and cost per product. DistriSort helps fashion distribution centres pick and process retail and e-commerce orders simultaneously, with combined or separate concepts for e-commerce, incoming and outgoing goods, cross-docking and returns.
Another automated solution supplier, Axiom formed in 1999, combining various controls and mechanical handling businesses. Axiom has recently created tailored systems for clients including ASDA, Superdrug, Vodafone, JD Williams, Lakeland, BT, Tamar Foods, Cambridge Assessment, Healthspan and B2C Europe.
Famous for their very large projects, KNAPP UK recently supplied the intralogistics solution for Shop Direct’s new, automated distribution centre at East Midlands Gateway, one of KNAPP UK’s largest orders ever. KNAPP’s recently launched Pick-it-Easy Evo workstation enables warehouse picking staff to work smart, not hard, minimising the strain from stretching, stooping and lifting, while the LED displays touch screens and the easyUse interface, ensuring error-free, rapid and efficient processes.
Finally, there’s an order picking story on our cover courtesy of Swisslog, celebrating 50 years of its Vectura automated pallet stacker crane, with 575 projects in 35 countries and a total 3,870 cranes installed. Customers include Unilever, PepsiCo, Procter & Gamble, Walmart and Absolut vodka. Nazdrovya!
Charles Smith
Feature Writer
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