Advertisement feature Cover story Couzens Modula Vertical Lifts save space and
time for mixed engineering product storage International hydraulics component manufacturer and distributor I.M.M Hydraulics (UK) Ltd has taken delivery of three Modula storage systems from Couzens Storage Solutions for its Halesowen, Birmingham facility to provide more space-efficient storage and improved pick and replenishment performance
number, location and description, so the operator can quickly and accurately select the required item for delivery at an ergonomically designed height of 700mm above the floor level. IMM has selected an additional software module to provide greater control of parts and automated import and export files with their system.
T
he 6.1m high units each provide 183m² of storage space on a footprint of only 14.32m², with access to any item stored in
seconds. With a total load capacity of almost 120,000kg, the units are capable of dealing with a diverse range of items including hydraulic hose and fittings, adaptors and couplings, assemblies, and testing and flushing machinery. They replace pallet racking storage which meant staff had to use warehouse steps to access levels above 1.5m which was a slow, cumbersome process.
Modula is a PLC controlled storage and retrieval system, ideal for handling goods and materials of different sizes and shapes, for a wide and varied range of products up to 695mm high. It is
based on the principle of vertically stored trays in two facing columns, providing space savings of 90 per cent or more over conventional systems. Trays are positioned in the optimum location determined by product height, anywhere within the front and rear storage towers, from which the operator can call up the required item for fast, easy and safe access.
Each unit delivered to I.M.M contains 52 trays, each measuring 4.10m x 0.857m and with an individual capacity of 750kg, or 39,000kg per unit, provid- ing efficient, compact storage for their engineering products and components. Modula’s Microsoft-based WMS, accessed through a colour touch screen, provides full pick data including part
Three Modula storage systems from Couzens Storage Solutions are in operation at I.M.M. Hydraulics saving the company both space and picking time
As one of many options, operators are guided to the picking location by an LED Light Bar indicator spanning the tray width and displaying the storage row in which the required part is held. I.M.M’s David Pearce summed up the company’s reaction to date. “The Modula machines have replaced our old racking system which was full and where staff had to use steps to reach the top shelves, which was not the best way to pick product. We have already saved around 120m² where the racks used to be and have managed to bring in stock from elsewhere on site which is saving even more space.” “While it’s early days yet, we recently did a big pick job of around 120 items, with an average pick rate of 43 seconds, which we believe is around half the time we would have expected beforehand. So we are confident that we will be saving a lot of time as well as space.”
I.M.M Hydraulics (UK) Ltd is part of I.M.M Hydraulics S.p.A. Group, a world class manufacturing company whose headquarters are based in Italy, with its UK operation located centrally in the West Midlands. The company designs and manufactures hydraulic hoses and fittings marketed through subsidiaries and distributors, ensuring guaranteed compatible products for a safe working environment. Couzens Storage Solutions T: 01442 250010
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8 OCTOBER 2013 Factory Equipment
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