Automatic storage and warehouses
The design of stores and warehouses is determined by conditions identified in a project's inventory and analysis stages. This process establishes the design of solutions from technical and cost perspectives. For example these could be:
Counterbalance trucks/deep stacking directly on the floor.
Narrow aisle trucks/pallet stand
Automatic storage with conveyor system or AGVs
The position of a store or warehouse in the flow of materials is fundamentally important. A store for raw materials or semi-finished products should be adapted to the appropriate intake quantities, lead times, reserve stocks and product range, as well as production's actual material supply needs.
Other factors are important for an intermediate store. It must be adapted to a production-led flow of materials, often on internal load carriers. There are a number of options for siting an intermediate store in relation to the materials handling system:
- Collected in an area next to production.
- Collected in an area in production
- Decentralised in production, adjacent to various production sections.
Finished goods stores are designed to receive delivery-ready products in market-customised packaging. The store can be sited close to production or can be on separate premises at another location.
Moving provides handling equipment for stores and warehouses in all types of industry. Automatic cranes, which are designed for loads of between 50 and 3,000 kg, offer high performance coupled with high capacity. For other handling needs, there are conveyor systems or AGVs.
Today, store and warehouse equipment operates in a large number of diverse industries.