GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – Dematic, a leading global supplier of integrated automated technology, software and services to optimize the supply chain, today announces it has signed a global agreement with AutoStore. The agreement will enable Dematic to expand its omni-channel integrated solution offering with an ultra-high density storage and goods to person piece picking system to optimize order fulfillment and kitting.
As a qualified system integrator, Dematic will design, configure, engineer, install and support AutoStore as a sub-system within an overall Dematic solution or as a standalone piece picking system. Including the system into the Dematic portfolio of solutions creates more choices for customers to optimize order fulfillment. For example, if storage density is the most important consideration, the AutoStore system may be the most effective option.
AutoStore is a modular piece picking system. It consists of five standard modules: robot, port or workstation, grid, bin and controller. The robots drive on the top of the grid to access inventory stored in the bins below. The bins are put-away, retrieved and delivered to the ports or workstations as required.
When compared to conventional storage density, AutoStore can store up to four times more inventory in the same space. The solution can be installed in oddly shaped buildings, around pillars or on several levels and fills out the warehouse space potential to its maximum. The AutoStore infrastructure is independent of the building structure; disassembly and re-location is feasible and cost effective.
Overall power consumption is low, energy recovery occurs during bin lowering and robot braking. Ceiling lighting is not needed.
With the AutoStore partnership, Dematic has the ability to provide scalable solutions that work across all elements of order profiles and SKU velocities associated with e-commerce and omni-channel solutions. In addition, the Dematic iQ Warehouse Execution System (WES) will manage all functional areas of the operation including piece picking and the AutoStore system.
“The Dematic suite of solutions is comprehensive; adding AutoStore to the mix enables users to obtain the ideal storage, buffering and piece picking solution” according to Jeff Moss, CEO, Dematic International.
“The ability to design and implement a wide variety of system configurations is critical to effectively accommodate the growing demands of omni-channel distribution in this age of acceleration.”
The AutoStore solution is built around the “goods-to-person” principle. The key benefits of goods-to-person include: eliminate worker travel time to pick locations, picking productivity, omit dedicated pick faces (no slotting, re-slotting, manual replenishment), product security/inventory accuracy, order processing speed, and order accuracy.
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