Features/Benefits Provided: Eliminated need to add very narrow aisle (VNA) operators Allowed for future expansion in reserved site space Eliminated facility damage from fork lifts Eliminated outside warehouse leasing experience

This customer is one of the largest branded dairy operators in the United States. As an industry leader, they wanted to improve product turnaround and reduce warehouse operation costs. The customer already had conventional storage, but wanted to expand without adding risk of fork lift damage to the facility that they currently experienced. To meet these project goals, customer and supplier evaluation led to the decision to expand their facility with new, high-density automated storage.

The expansion is a fully redundant 24/7 operation. The centralized refrigerated (35° F) warehouse expansion has been designed to receive loads from the adjacent milk production facility and store them in the automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS). Conveyors move loads to shipping docks where fork lifts transfer pallets to trailers. Shipping destinations are regional distribution centers throughout the Eastern United States. The supplier's construction team managed the design/build of this 45,000 sq. ft. facility. Construction scope covered excavation, foundation, warehouse and AS/RS structures, docks, refrigeration and fire protection.

The system includes (4) 4,000 lb. capacity unit load storage and retrieval machines (SRMs). Each 90' SRM is capable of handling over 30 loads in and out per hour. The fully automated pallet conveyor system consisting of 8 individual input and output spurs interfacing to the SRMs as well as recirculation loop.

For equipment management, the supplier designed, programmed and installed all system controls utilizing their equipment management system (EMS). The EMS software manages the inventory and interfaces with equipment controllers, workstations, and the customer's warehouse management system. Additionally, all equipment is provided with NEMA 4 (washdown) compliant enclosures.

is a Proud Member of the AS/RS Product Section of Material Handling Industry of America

P. O. Box 1512
Milwaukee, WI 53201-1512
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