Learn about automated material handling & how to reduce costs with safe product management and delivery. Discover the benefits of stacker cranes, conveyor systems, pallet shuttles & mobile racks.
Conveyor rollers are cylindrical components attached to the top part of a conveyor frame to facilitate the movement of goods. With a typical spacing of about 6" between each roller, conveyors ensure continuous, safe flows of goods between different areas.
This post outlines the main logistics trends for 2023 designed to optimise the supply chain. Logistics flexibility, data mining, and cloud computing are some of the trends businesses use to optimise their logistics service.
AS/RS shuttle: the combination of stacker cranes with the Pallet Shuttle leads to a more productive warehouse with safe, continuous, error-free operations. The stacker crane moves to the corresponding storage channel, and the Pallet Shuttle positions the pallet in the deepest available location.
Robotics as a service is a business model that uses technology to foster the deployment of robots in warehouses and production centres. Leasing technology solutions through subscriptions enhances logistics flexibility, adapting the warehouse to company needs and product demand.
A lights-out warehouse is characterised by fully automated logistics operations, precluding the need for human intervention. In dark warehouses, technology solutions automatically perform tasks such as storage, order picking and dispatch to customers.
Warehouse automation solutions use the latest technology to optimise logistics and production processes. Investment in automated solutions such as stacker cranes and conveyors boosts warehouse efficiency and streamlines goods handling.
A high-bay warehouse is a facility made up of high-bay racks that leverage storage space from floor to ceiling. Nevertheless, high-bay racks make it difficult to manage goods manually, so automated systems are commonly used.
An incline conveyor saves time when moving goods between two points on different levels. Incline conveyors are integrated in a conveyor line that covers long distances, moving goods between two or more points in the facility.
The logistics chain is the set of processes that guarantee that a product is sent from the logistics centre to the end customer. The role of the logistics chain is to ensure the delivery of the product in the agreed-upon quantity and condition, at the stipulated time, and at the lowest possible cost.
Fulfilment technology reduces error rates and boosts productivity in the warehouse. The market features fulfilment technology for manual and automated warehouses, both managed by warehouse management software.
The combination of transfer cars with the Pallet Shuttle leads to a more productive warehouse with safe, continuous, error-free operations. Transfer cars move the shuttles to the storage channels so that they can insert the pallets in their locations inside the system.
Process control is a method for analysing, running, and monitoring operations commonly performed in logistics and production. Process control systems manage complex operations by means of controllers and sensors installed in the work centre.
AIV robots are an automated conveying system that speeds up goods flows between the different areas of a warehouse or production centre. The main characteristic of autonomous intelligent vehicles is their ability to move without being guided by an operator.
Warehouse automation benefits: these include increased efficiency and accurate control over logistics processes. The warehouse automation market is growing because businesses want to leverage the productivity gains and cost reductions that automation brings.
Picking robots are designed to streamline a key operation in any warehouse: order processing. The most obvious benefit of picking robots is their ability to operate quickly, accurately, 24/7, and without interruption or human supervision.
AGV robots are an automated solution for speeding up flows of stock between the different areas of a warehouse or production centre. The main feature of this type of handling equipment is that it moves autonomously, without the need to be guided by an operator.
Cold storage automation solutions are aimed at streamlining the storage, preparation, dispatch, and transportation of orders. Their advantages include increases in combined pallet input and output cycles as well as improved safety and hygiene.
Protecting your in-warehouse cold chain is a daily challenge that you can tackle using a range of manual and automated systems. Opt for success by installing high-density racks and a SAS, and setting up a preloads area in your freezer stores and automatic picking.
These intelligent warehouse projects show the huge versatility of automated systems when connected to a WMS like our Easy WMS. Discover how Mecalux helped Bem Brasil, Trumpler and GKN Driveline achieve its business aims by improving the productivity of their storage installations.
How do you choose an industrial conveyor for your company? What types of conveyors are there? Mecalux will help you think through the right questions. Your warehouse’s design, the type of stored products and the storage solutions are elements that you must take into account before purchasing a conveyor.
A robotised or automated warehouse is one that has automatic systems and specialised software to control and handle the goods. Get to know the main systems established in the logistics sector and some key concepts related to robotisation.
Dark stores are supermarkets’ answer to new consumer trends: they’re large warehouses without customers. These installations, geared towards picking and shipments of orders to end customers, have been established as the solution to complex challenges such as omnichannel retail.
Supply chain automation involves the implementation of software in production and logistics operations, for example. The introduction of automated solutions in the supply chain increases visibility and productivity in warehouses and production centers.
Logistics robots are here to complement the tasks of operators and achieve maximum efficiency and productivity in the warehouse. New technologies such as machine learning and big data boost the throughput of logistics robots and eliminate the risk of error.
Warehouse technology consists of tools that serve to boost productivity and efficiency in logistics processes. These solutions improve accuracy in operations such as inventory control and internal movements of goods.
Processes that can be automated in logistics range from order fulfillment to goods control. Handling equipment such as conveyors and stacker cranes boost efficiency in the supply chains of companies from all sectors.
Automated replenishment is the logistics operation whereby product is resupplied to the storage racks or the production lines. It can also refer to the movement of goods between the storage systems and the shelves used for order picking.
Warehouse consolidation is a practice used to streamline shipments for companies with large numbers of orders. Product consolidation prevents businesses from having to send each order individually, which would push up transportation costs considerably.
Food warehouse automation resolves many of the challenges posed by the food supply chain. The food industry requires safe, efficient operations that ensure that products are in good condition when they reach the hands of end customers.
Material handling equipment in a warehouse is charged with transporting loads and connecting the different areas and logistics operations. There are various types of material handling equipment, so choosing the right one is critical when it comes to maximising supply chain efficiency.
Retail warehouse automation is a solution that maximizes throughput in all logistics operations. Automated systems such as stacker cranes and conveyors speed up goods management to facilitate and streamline order fulfillment.
In a fully automated warehouse, all operations taking place in the facility are performed with minimal human intervention. A fully automated warehouse employs automated logistics solutions to complete all tasks, including product storage.
In this post, we’ve compiled the top ten most popular content from the Mecalux website, from case studies to an article examining omnichannel. In 2021, many companies faced challenges in adapting their logistics operations to the new normal.
This post outlines the main logistics trends for 2022 to optimise the supply chain. Hyperautomation, quick commerce, and NFT technology are some of the trends businesses are following to maximise their logistics service.
Automated systems are solutions that optimise movements of goods in any logistics facility. Examples of these systems include stacker cranes, conveyors, and electrified monorails, which have boosted the logistics operations of many companies.
Automated guided vehicles are transport systems that move goods around the warehouse without the need for an operator. In logistics, these vehicles often replace manual handling equipment, streamlining goods flows with continuous, repetitive movements.
Warehouse machines play a fundamental role in all operations performed in a logistics facility. There are different types of manual and automated warehouse machines, which can be grouped according to the process for which they are used.
Industry 5.0 is a more sustainable and resilient industrial development model in which technology and the human factor go hand in hand. The European Commission has promoted this paradigm in a report created with the participation of different research and technology organizations.
Flexible automation consists of designing warehouse automation projects based on the specific requirements of each customer. An automated warehouse isn’t implemented for a specific circumstance at a specific time but can adapt to changes such as variations in stock turnover.
The choice between a semi-automated or an automated Pallet Shuttle will depend on factors such as operation cycles and investment. In this post, we explain what these two compact storage systems consist of and examine their similarities and differences.
Programmable logic controllers (PLCs) are used in logistics as processors that are key to driving warehouse automation. PLCs are commonly used in the control of automated industrial robots, such as stacker cranes and conveyors.
Pick-by-vision is an order picking method in which operators use augmented reality glasses. This system increases productivity in the warehouse by freeing up operators’ hands and notably speeding up picking operations.
Automated warehouse systems are a rising trend in businesses from all industrial sectors. They bring a number of benefits, including streamlined processes, improved safety in storage tasks and the elimination of any possible errors.
Automated logistics comprises the introduction and consolidation of all kinds of technologies in the phases that make up the supply chain. Solutions such as autonomous robots and automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS) complement the work of the operators and optimise their tasks.
Automate your warehouse: this is the ideal solution for companies seeking to optimise their storage capacity and operations. In this post, we delve into the process of automating all or part of the operations in a warehouse based on the needs of each business.
Smart logistics is the process of adopting new technologies in all operations performed in the warehouse. These technologies promote automation in pursuit of maximum throughput, eliminating cost overruns and guaranteeing 24/7 operation cycles.
Warehouse robots are advanced solutions designed to raise the throughput of any logistics facility. Technology brings greater speed, accuracy, and safety to warehouse operations as varied as storage tasks and order picking.
A tugger train is a type of handling equipment moved through the areas of a warehouse by an operator. As opposed to a pallet conveyor, this solution could prove inefficient when the density of goods entering and leaving the warehouse increases.
A temperature controlled warehouse is a logistics facility that houses goods in a specific environment. These warehouses can incorporate any storage system, but AS/RS are the most efficient for keeping the products at a controlled temperature.
A collaborative robot or cobot is a machine designed to work alongside operators in a production line or a warehouse. As opposed to industrial robots, they don’t replace the functions of operators — they complement their more repetitive or cumbersome tasks.
Automated storage comprises racking structures in which the storage and retrieval of goods are automated. These storage systems ensure high productivity and availability 24/7.
Semi-automated warehouse: this type of facility is characterised by combining the efficiency of automation with the added value provided by the human factor. The quintessential semi-automated storage system is the Pallet Shuttle, although other semi-automated operations can also be found in these warehouses.
Logistics automation: implementing this in the warehouse guarantees continuous goods flows as well as the safety of products, equipment, and operators. The use of automated machines optimizes storage space and ensures maximum efficiency in warehouse operations.
AMR vs. AGV: these two automated transportation systems speed up travel between two areas in a warehouse or production centre. While AGVs move along a predefined path, AMRs continuously adjust their route, thanks to AI.
Tote picking is an order prep method in which goods are sorted in plastic bins. Each bin contains the items that make up a single order, facilitating its subsequent transfer to the consolidation and dispatch area.
Goods-to-person picking reduces operator intervention and movement flows in order preparation. This operation not only makes pickers more efficient, but also reduces errors stemming from manual management.
A pallet lift is a vertical conveyor used in the warehouse to overcome height differences or connect conveyor lines. Although it is an important element in an automated storage and retrieval system, a lift can also constitute manual handling equipment.
Examples of automated storage & retrieval systems: 5 cases in which automation reduces errors and boosts productivity and safety. They include warehouses installed all over the world, for various customers from different sectors and with storage solutions for pallets and for boxes.
The coronavirus pandemic has sped up the automation of logistics. Thanks to automation, protective measures and social distancing can be respected while ensuring uninterrupted activity.
Automated storage and retrieval systems minimise errors and improve productivity and load safety in the warehouse. There are various kinds of automated storage and retrieval systems available that adjust to the characteristics and logistics needs of each company.
Advantages of automated storage and retrieval systems: with AS/RS, all goods handling is automated. Their main advantages include productivity, good accessibility, the maximum security of the load, and real-time inventory, thanks to the movement history.
In a combined cycle, the stacker crane picks the product from the conveyor at the front of the warehouse and moves it to the assigned location. Then, it retrieves another unit load and brings it to the outgoing conveyor or console set up at the end of the aisle of an AS/RS.
RF scanners are smart devices used in warehouses to send and receive data in real time. Connected to the WMS, they’re ideal for expediting the main logistics operations: goods receipt, storage, order picking, and dispatch.
Pharmacy robots perform a specific function: to supply medication automatically. This technology streamlines drug movements and saves pharmacists from having to go and locate the items requested by customers.
Innovation in logistics is essential for making any company’s supply chain as efficient as possible. Learn about five real examples of facilities in which our company has implemented some of the most innovative logistics solutions on the market.
Types of automated storage and retrieval systems: the various options manage goods (pallets, boxes, and containers) in an automated way. These solutions optimise storage, order prep, and dispatch processes.
Stacker cranes comprise handling equipment that operates in storage aisles completely autonomously. There are different types of stacker cranes that insert and remove unit loads in and from the racks, following instructions from the WMS.
A storage buffer is a space designed to temporarily house goods, such as raw materials for manufacturing products. It serves to stockpile the materials needed for a subsequent process (for example, production, dispatch, picking, and/or kitting).
In an AS/RS warehouse, stacker cranes comprise handling equipment that operates totally automatically. Stacker cranes insert and remove unit loads from their corresponding slots as directed by the warehouse management system.
Cobots, or collaborative robots, are machines created to interact with humans in a work environment in order to free workers from having to perform more repetitive, complex, or hazardous tasks. But what effect will they have in the coming years? We analyse the future symbiosis between humans and robots in the warehouse.
E-commerce companies implement automated solutions to ensure efficiency and productivity in their processes. In this post, we analyze the ways in which e-commerce businesses have adapted to challenges such as the last mile and the main automated solutions for this sector.
Motorised roller conveyors are charged with moving, accumulating, and/or distributing palletised or boxed goods. They can be used to automatically connect two warehouses, two areas in the same center, or a warehouse with the outputs of a production plant.
Robotic process automation technology is software used by bots (as opposed to humans) to interact with computers in an automatic way. RPA is implemented to carry out somewhat repetitive administrative tasks that are also applicable to any company’s logistics systems.
Automatic truck loading and unloading systems bring agility and safety to the warehouse docking area. With minimal operator intervention, trucks are automatically loaded and unloaded in mere minutes, without error, and with the goods in perfect physical condition.
Industrial robotic arms are devices that replicate the function of a human arm, boosting efficiency in operations. These machines are found in production centers and warehouses, facilitating loading, unloading, order prep, and dispatch tasks.
Drones are unmanned aerial vehicles with enormous potential to transform many sectors, including logistics. They would have two specific applications in this sector: streamlining order deliveries and facilitating warehouse management.
A WCS consists of software that coordinates the control software of the automatic equipment operating in a storage installation. In a Logistics 4.0 environment, with its increasingly complex operations, WCS software plays a crucial role in this industry.
Dock to stock: this process involves goods receipt, validation, management and storage operations. It’s a warehouse’s starting point, which is why executing it needs to be quick and error-free.
3D printing opens the door to a new production system that could completely transform the supply chain. Among its advantages are the simplification of production processes and, in turn, faster deliveries to customers.
Dark warehouses are lights-out storage installations that operate without human labor. Against a backdrop of increased and smaller-sized SKUs, companies are forced to cut costs: hence, the emergence of warehouse automation.
Production plants are seeking to become smart factories with the help of smart automation and digitalisation. What are the characteristics and advantages of smart factories? How do they relate to Industry 4.0 warehouses? Keep reading to find out.
Autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) are devices that can move on their own in an installation, without human intervention. In our article, you’ll find all you need to know about AMRs in logistics: their applications and uses, as well as their future in the warehouse.
Industry 4.0: what is it? How is it affecting logistics organisation? In this article, we define new trends in Industry 4.0, assessing its impact and examining the technologies playing an essential role in this Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Digitalisation of logistics: we analyse the implications of this for the sector and the changes it’s bringing about in supply chain organisation. See which technologies are facilitating the digitalisation of logistics as well as examples of companies that have implemented it in their warehouses.
Industrial process automation constitutes the transfer of functions performed by an operator to a programmable electronic system. What are the trends in warehousing logistics? Find out in our article.
Industrial maintenance: this is one of the most common concerns when automating an installation. We’ll go through your options in terms of warehouse management software, automated systems and industrial racking.
Roller conveyors are an industrial system designed to transport, accumulate and distribute goods in a warehouse. In our article, we analyse the system’s main applications in logistics and the pros and cons. Don’t miss out!
Within the different warehouse processes, there are numerous tasks, both physical and organisational, that can be automated. The objective is to guarantee the quality of the logistical process by increasing operational efficiency. Let's take a look at which processes can be automated.
More and more cold stores are automating their operations to cut costs and improve process efficiency. Here it analyses case studies about companies like Iberfresco, Schaal Chocolatier and Dafsa. So, take a look at how Mecalux solutions helped these businesses achieve their logistical aims.
Breaking the cold chain in logistics can alter proper product conservation in sectors such as foods and pharmaceuticals. Identify the critical points where the cold chain is most likely to be broken or undermined and minimise the risks in managing your stock.
It is impossible to answer the question of how an AS/RS works without talking about automatable operations. Our article holds key pieces of information on AS/RSs and the tasks each was designed to do in your business.
Here we tackle what automated warehousing entails along with the different levels of automation that exist for logistics installations. Keep reading to get a better idea of why automating warehouse in the business trend to keep tabs on.
What is the difference between continuous material handling and traditional handling? Why is it such a hot topic? Let Mecalux fill you in. A main-stay in our warehouse for years, continuous material handling will give your business that productivity boost you are looking for.
What differences are there between an automatic, semi-automatic and traditional warehouse? Mecalux will help you find the level of automate that suits you. There are many solutions adapted to your logistics needs: Pallet Shuttle, Warehouse management system (WMS), conveyors, stacker cranes, etc.
What techniques can help you optimise your logistics? Cross-docking? Lean management? Mecalux will put the ‘p’ in your warehouse’s productivity and logistics processes. Follow our tips and you will streamline your whole supply chain and be more efficient than the competition.
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