Eileen Mozinski Schmidt It’s an Automation Boom creating big opportunities
Demand for shorter lead times needs for quality products and staffing shortages. It’s an equation resulting in increased automation in material handling warehouses. “We have experienced demand from customers for shorter delivery times. There is a higher expectation, not only for quality but to get products within hours to the door,” said Carlos Fernández, chief product officer at AutoStore, a warehouse automation company.
One way to achieve these goals is to move inventory closer to the customer, Fernández said. But in greater population centers, real estate is typically at a premium. This month, Material Handling Wholesaler examines some of the latest automation innovations designed to help companies succeed, as well as some of the trends shaping the industry.
Robots reaching higher
AutoStore’s recently announced the arrival of its R5+ Robot in the company’s “Red Line.” This addition to the AutoStore Robot fleet enables warehouses to manage larger items, because the R5+ is able to handle bins up to 425 millimeters, the tallest in the AutoStore system, according to a company press release. Previously, this was a premium feature possible only with the AutoStore B1 Robot installations, or the “Black Line.” The company, which has been developing cube storage for more than 20 years, has long focused on helping customers lower their fulfillment costs, according to Fernández. He said making the R5+ Robot available through the company’s cost-effective Red Line allows businesses around the globe the flexibility to select the most appropriate line for their needs.
“There has been a big demand for this type of application,” said Fernández, who said that apparel companies have been particularly interested in using the AutoStore 425-millimeter bin line. Fernández said AutoStore customers view the Red Line as “a very solid and proven” technology. “Our customers really like it,” he said. “We have seen a very positive demand from both our distributor network and customers.” The goal of AutoStore is to continuously upgrade the technology to extend the capabilities of both the hardware and software. By making the robotic technology widely accessible, Fernández said AutoStore is helping customers automate new sections of warehouses, allowing for the driving of more inventory and increased productivity. Material handling warehouse management typically is looking to “save as much space in their current operation so they can continue to grow. To think faster and be more productive,” Fernández said. “We want to allow them to stay competitive. All the way to the end clients.”
At The Raymond Corp., the Automated Transtacker (Automated TRT) was recently released, with an ability for a high vertical reach. “It’s an industry-leading product,” said Martin Buena-Franco, product marketing manager of automation at Raymond. The Automated TRT can be operated 24/7, according to Buena-Franco. It has dual-mode operation: automated mode for full pallet moves and manual mode for case picking. “With no need for operator breaks, this means more hours and the floor and more pallets moved per shift, increasing productivity,” a company release said.
The Automated TRT also integrates into the customer’s warehouse management system and while it requires some human interaction, does not require regular maintenance. “You still need to train the operator to set up the automatic mode, to introduce to the system at the beginning of the shift,” Buena-Franco said. “And there are few other safety training things you train the customer or end-user on.” Still, many of the safety features are simply built in to the Automated TRT. The transtacker is a solution for very narrow aisles and is being used by Raymond’s customers in apparel, warehousing, packaging and plastics, and others. “A lot of times the customer, because they don’t have the room to expand the distribution center, they build up instead,” Bunea-Franco said.
At FORT Robotics, the Nano Safety Controller was released this spring. The controller is an embeddable board allowing customers to build FORT wireless communication and safety technology into their machines. It can receive trusted commands, or dependable messages like stopping, sprinting, crawling, or changing in the state, via patented technology, a press release said. “Until now, customers who wanted our trusted command technology have had to use our bolt-on hardware. That’s not always ideal for every project,” said Nathan Bivans, FORT CTO, in the statement. “With the NSC, we can provide a solution that’s smaller, more flexible, more integrated, and cost-effective.”
Labor shortage
Worker shortages are driving the automation trend due to the cost of labor and a generational shift, Buena-Franco said. “The baby boomers a few years from now, are going to be all out of the workforce,” he said. “We don’t have enough young people coming in. It’s just the numbers. We need to find ways to automate. ”Fernández agreed. Automation advances like the R5+ Robot can assist in filling the ongoing labor gap and in meeting the growth of e-commerce following the pandemic, according to Fernández. “We definitely are seeing that the labor shortage is driving a lot of the automation push and demand for technology,” he said, adding that the advancement of the technology can provide improved safety and provide a draw for the workforce.
“Technology like that from AutoStore is allowing retailers to bring workers into a better work environment,” he said. “From a safety standpoint, there is no need to walk longer distances. The goods will come to where they are. We have also seen how retailers are using technology to attract more talent into their operations,” said Fernández. “There is greater importance in knowing how (a company) relates to sustainability. Brands want to have a statement out there,” he said, noting how the use of AutoStore technology can assist a business in using space efficiently. “Space is always a key driver,” said Fernández, who said that AutoStore technology is also designed to be user-friendly, helping address labor turnover. “It is very easy to use. It takes maybe 30 minutes to understand how the workstation works,” he said. “It’s very fast and intuitive.” The system can be monitored by a designated supervisor or superuser in-house.
The Future
Fernández can envision automation technology eventually moving directly into retail spaces. This would free up associates from moving back and forth in search of inventory. “Their value is to be with the customer and advise them. When you use technology like AutoStore you can automate all that process,” said Fernández, who said the technology could also make returns easier in retail environments. “It’s where we see the trend moving right now, more technology and software-driven applications,” he said. “There’s an evolution. Before the distribution and technology were far from customers, now it’s getting closer and closer.” When implementing automation, Buena-Franco recommends starting with an overview of the operation.
Buena-Franco said Raymond makes assessments of the distribution centers of its customers followed by an optimization plan. “Before we automate, we like to understand optimize because a lot of times we can achieve great things,” he said, noting not just efficiency in the material handling process, but in the allocation of people and space in the warehouse. “We use technology, products that collect information on a real-time basis. We look at potential bottlenecks to try to take care of that first,” he said. “The last thing, of course, is automation.” Industries like retail, medical, paper, wholesale, groceries, and manufacturing have all explored automated solutions, according to Buena-Franco. “These are very exciting times in the market,” he said. “There is no end in sight for what is driving automation.”
Raymond’s customers currently report needing to stay flexible and a heightened level of volume moving through facilities, according to Buena-Franco. “A by-product of the pandemic is we’re seeing more manufacturing come back to the U.S.,” he said. “Some of the big e-commerce providers, the Walmart’s and Amazon’s, because of disruption to the supply chain now need to be more local.” As the automation technology expands, Buena-Franco said prices are coming down and more industries are open to products like Raymond’s Automated TRT. “It’s a very clean solution, saves energy,” he said. “It’s a great product.”
About the Author:
Eileen Schmidt is a freelance writer and journalist based in the Greater Milwaukee area. She has written for print and online publications for the past 13 years. Email [email protected] or visit eileenmozinskischmidt.wordpress.com to contact Eileen. If your company would like to be featured, email [email protected]
