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What can’t you store in carousels and lifts? ...


... Very little, according to Couzens Storage Solutions which specialises in safe, secure and space-efficient storage, retrieval and handling solutions


Right: Couzens Storage Solutions Modula maintains a constant tempera- ture from 2°C to 5°C across the full machine height


O


ne of the first question compa- nies routinely ask Couzens is ‘I don’t expect you can store our products and materials in a


Carousel’. To which the company invariably replies: “Yes we can”. While the concept of having a series of trays stacked above each other in a space-effective cube is common to most carousel and lift designs, each machine is individually designed around the client’s own needs and specifications.


It would be impractical to list every- thing currently stored in systems Couzens has supplied over the past two decades, but they include high value electrical and luxury marine fit- tings, spares for Utilities, metal bar


Carousels and lifts in contrast work on the ‘goods to man’ principle, which means the right tray with the required items can be called up by the operative using a touch screen PC.


The tray is presented at a safe and comfortable height in seconds, virtu- ally eliminating the need to walk many metres to find stock. Machines can be supplied with full inventory software to provide fast, accurate pick and place operations and real time stock control, linked if required with the client’s own software including MRP and ERP systems.


Carousels and lifts work on the ‘goods to man’ principle, which means the right tray with the required items can be called up by the operative using a touch screen PC


‘The most essential feature and prime


reason for companies to invest in carousels and lifts is their ability to massively reduce the floor space needed for storage with savings of 90 per cent or sometimes more.’


and stock, dental supplies, jigs, cable reels, carpets, conservatory profiles, pharmaceuticals, automotive spares, marine supplies and many more. As to size and weight, machines can be supplied to store individual items up to five tonnes and 10m wide. Another key issue for many compa- nies involved in manufacturing and assembly is that the materials and items they need to store do not readily lend themselves to systems that pro- vide fast, easy access. Pallets, totes and containers on racking or shelving can take time to locate and access, and may need to be painstakingly restacked after picking.


S6


A two tray opera- tion external bay in Couzens Storage Solutions’ modular vertical lift


However the most essential feature and prime reason for companies to invest in carousels and lifts is their ability to massively reduce the floor space needed for storage, with savings of 90 per cent or sometimes more com- pared with conventional racking and shelving.


Releasing such significant amounts of space will certainly help control costs and improve productivity, and in many cases enable companies to con- solidate operations or even save relo- cating, possibly saving far more than the cost of the equipment.


Carousel and lift versatility Below are examples of diverse projects and different sectors which will help illustrate how versatile carousels and lifts can be in engineering, manufac- turing and service environments.


Safe handling with gantry crane Electrical component manufacturer and distributor Multi-Contact operates a Modula Lift with an external picking bay providing access for an overhead gantry crane and reel handling device to handle loads up to 50kg. Inserted


into the core of the reel, the device locks in place and enables the operator to lift and place the reels. (See cover)


Stand-alone temperature controlled storage


Biotec Services uses a Modula to store and pick orders for temperature-sensi- tive individually numbered pharma- ceutical kits, with more than 110 square metres of storage on a footprint of less than 10 square metres. Designed to provide compact, safe and secure temperature-controlled storage, the Modula maintains a con- stant temperature from +2°C to +5°C across the full machine height.


Three stores into one


Aluminium profile building systems company SAPA installed two Modula storage systems that will give the busi- ness the scope to consolidate three existing promises into a single facility. The units have been designed to store an estimated 153,000 items and 1,258 lines including fixings, seals, handles, brackets and other components for its Gloucester-based replacement window and conservatory business.


Heavy metal


Leading German manufacturer of con- struction hoists GEDA has four TowerMat high capacity sheet steel storage and retrieval machines provid- ing a total of 91, 3,000kg capacity trays, each 9.87m wide, delivering a capacity of 273,000kg handling a variety of material lengths, widths and weights. Some of the most innovative designs Couzens has delivered over the years started as a challenge from a client to provide a solution to issues such as awkward sizes and shapes, the need to make better use of space, improving stock management or a combination of needs. Frequently the final result has been radically different – and more productive – than was originally envisaged, all stemming from a ‘Yes we can’ attitude.


Couzens Storage Solutions T: 01442 250010 www.verticalcarousel.co.uk Enter 350


SEPTEMBER 2012 Materials Handling & Logistics


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