Throughout the Midwest, warehouse space is fetching an all-time premium. Online e-com operations have greatly reduced warehouse real estate availability and consequentially, rental contract costs in many areas have increased substantially year after year.

As facility costs climb, it becomes increasingly important to make certain that you’re using building space as efficiently as possible. For smart warehouse operators, that means maximizing density and automating everything that can be mechanized.

Luckily, high performance material handling technology has evolved rapidly in recent years, allowing you the opportunity to increase your efficiency and density by extraordinary margins. Storage tech is rapidly changing the elemental concepts of warehouse storage solutions.

Warehouse Automation

Automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS) are revolutionizing the warehouse. Some of the top reasons for implementing AS/RS systems:

1. Monumental leaps in efficiency. AS/RS systems slash labor costs, recover floor space, diminish accidental inventory destruction, and increase productivity.
2. Greater stocking ability. Efficiency gains mean that enterprises can increase the number of SKUs and increase the volume of their operations for an improved bottom line.
3. Lift truck savings. An automated warehouse system cuts lift truck hours and distance traveled.
4. Enhanced coordination. Automated solutions provide multiplex sequencing and buffering options that can be integrated with freight hours and lane options.
5. Quality assurance. AS/RS systems are incredibly precise and are more suitable for handling complex functions than humans.
6. Enhanced safety. Fewer humans makes for fewer safety mishaps.
7. Flexibility. When it comes to order aggregation, assembly/enrichment, storage, replenishment and put-away, AS/RS systems are becoming increasingly flexible tools.

Automated Storage and Retrieval System

So what exactly is AS/RS? There are various technologies that are classified as AS/RS systems, including these:

• Vertical lift modules
• Horizontal carousels
• Vertical carousels
• Fixed aisle systems

Vertical Lift Modules

Akin to a vertical carousel, vertical lift modules are vertically aligned systems that hold trays in a tall metal casing. Unlike a carousel, a VLM has a puller system that moves vertically within the column, retrieves specific bins and delivers them directly to the user.

Horizontal Carousels

Horizontal carousels are in some ways like that rotating rack your dry cleaner uses to fetch your garments. These carousels are ordinarily used for small products and they are a series of bins suspended from a raised track. They are frequently integrated with pick-to-light systems or voice picking systems.

Vertical Carousels

As one would expect, vertical carousels are vertically driven, and are a bit like a Ferris wheel with storage platforms mounted to a revolving system that spins on a perpendicular horizontal axis. These carousels are typically concealed in a tall metal casing.

Fixed Aisle AS/RS

Fixed aisle systems are usually set up as two columns of racking with a narrow channel separating the two. The center of the aisle has a raised metal track with a vertical mast that maneuvers its length. Fastened to the upright is a vertically moving carrier equipped with a load handling apparatus.

This mast and carriage is referred to as the SRM (storage and retrieval machine) or crane. Almost all systems use a single SRM per corridor, but more sophisticated systems may have multiple.

Categorically, there are a couple of types of fixed aisle systems. Unit-load systems are designed to deal with larger loads on pallets. Mini-load systems (oftentimes called a case-handling machine or tote stacker) are smaller implementations that can manage cartons and smaller products.

Warehouse Automation Systems Near Me

Talk to an expert! If you’d like advice in assessing warehouse automation choices for your material handling operation, reach out to a professional at Associated.

Our design group will collaborate with you to evaluate on-site equipment configuration for your storage facility. We will help you formulate a Return On Investment model including conditions, process, training, future needs, and overall cost.

Associated provides support and service from our facilities across five Midwestern states. Whether you need new or used warehouse equipment, parts, maintenance, training or service, we provide a full array of material handling services and products.

The Associated Indianapolis service area includes Indianapolis, Evansville, Fishers, Bloomington, Carmel, Lafayette, Greenwood, Terre Haute, Muncie, Kokomo, Anderson, Westfield, Jeffersonville, Columbus and all surrounding areas.

Associated | Indianapolis Material Handling Equipment Supplier

5905 Decatur Blvd
Indianapolis, IN 46241
(317) 821-0300