ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE COVER STORY
RELIABILITY AND PRODUCTIVITY: THE FOUNDATION OF
AUTOMATED WAREHOUSES
Like most industries, logistics and warehousing is undergoing immense change. Businesses today face complex challenges due to constant changes in the economy, technology and customer demand. The high street is facing well-documented challenges, while online sales are inexorably rising. Customers are shopping online all over the world and the expectation is for quick deliveries. Market leaders have raised expectations and standards forcing all businesses to reinvent their goods distribution models. Automation is becoming fundamental to the warehousing and logistics industry - particularly for online retail products sold in volume
WHAT TYPE OF AUTOMATION IS USED IN WAREHOUSES? Automated warehouses are efficient, fast, flexible and reliable. They allow for improved warehousing, goods distribution, and optimum material flow. An automated warehouse uses a few key pieces of technology, such as an automated storage and retrieval system, which consists of a variety of computer-controlled systems for automatically placing and retrieving loads from defined storage locations. Central to these systems are the components that guide and transfer a component around the system. Whether it’s a linear actuator to vertically retrieve a part from high racking or a ring system to rotate an autonomous picking robot, linear and rotary products play a key part.
AUTOMATED STORAGE SYSTEMS: THINK VERTICAL As with nearly every industry, space is a premium and a key benefit of an automated warehouse is its utilisation of space. Only a small footprint is needed as space is used in a vertical capacity,
with high rackings going up to the ceiling. Whereas pick and place operators are limited by their height to reach products un-aided, automated storage and retrieval systems are limited only by the size of the system designed, thereby increasing the storage capacity. Whether it’s a rack driven system transporting boxes vertically or a robot climbing shelves to collect orders, space maximisation is easily achieved. Indeed, one of the global leading online
retailers use HepcoMotion’s DLS4 belt driven linear actuators to vertically transfer products through a food filling station. Comprising belt- driven linear modules, an AC motor/inverter package and a range of compact planetary gearboxes for use with servomotors, Hepco’s DLS4 saves hours in design and specifying time. Here, a belt driven carriage unit vertically transports boxes up to a height of 4m to transfer a product, and then back down again. This process is repeated up to 300 times an hour. Working with food items and a required operating temperature of between -5° to +40°,
Hepco’s DLS4 is used to vertically transfer products in high racking systems
this is a challenging environment requiring a corrosion resistant actuator; Hepco’s corrosion resistant DLS4 (CRDLS4) was specified. A high duty application, with longevity of utmost importance, Hepco is able to provide an impressive 10 year life span for this application. This system required a height of 4m, but
any desired height can be achieved with the DLS4s. Hepco’s DLS4 are supplied in sections in any length to 8m as standard, and can be butted together to the required height. Any size warehouse space can therefore be accommodated, ensuring space is maximised. The system can also easily grow in a modular way – a key benefit to ensure future-proofing.
High racking systems save costly floor space yet maximise the available storage space 6 MARCH 2020 | DESIGN SOLUTIONS / DESIGNSOLUTIONS
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