Features/Benefits Provided: Reduced load time for wholesalers trucks Reduced product damage Improved product aging control (product freshness) Reduced operating costs

One of the world's largest brewers wanted to improve its customer response and reduce warehouse operating costs. To accomplish these long-term goals, a team of corporate engineers, local brewery personnel and the supplier set out to evaluate the feasibility of high density storage. Some of the primary considerations included project location choice, impact to current warehouse operations and how current truck parking capability would be affected due to the limited space available. Furthermore, truck turnaround time needed to be reduced while minimizing the number of trucks on the property at any one time.

The solution provided an automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS) that uses seven 4,000 lb. capacity storage and retrieval machines (SRMs). Importantly, the SRMs shuttle 2 pallets per lift. The 98-ft. high rack supported structure can hold 12,936 pallets with a throughput rate of 680 pallets per hour.

Additionally provided were 40 automated guided vehicles (AGVs) that also feature dual pallet handling. These AGVs travel 7,200 ft. of wireless guide path and include 2 sizing stations, 32 ten-pallet load queuing rails and an automatic battery management system.

The automated system handles pallet transportation and storage from the palletizer lines until they are needed at the shipping docks. The AGVs pick up pallet pairs of common product type from the palletizers for delivery to the AS/RS. When a wholesaler's truck arrives at the check-in station, an order is released to the system and the SRMs and AGVs begin to retrieve and deliver the specified pallets. By the time the truck arrives at the dock, pallets of product are waiting to be loaded.

Handling two beverage pallets at a time, both for transportation and storage, provided this brewer with the ability to turn the entire warehouse in less than two days.

 
is a proud member of the AGVS Manufacturers Association of Material Handling Industry of America

P. O. Box 1512
Milwaukee, WI 53201-1512
Phone: 1.800.HKSystems
Email: hkinfo@hksystems.com
Website: www.hksystems.com