Across the West, warehouse space is at a record setting premium. Online ecommerce operations have put tremendous pressure on inventory and as a result, rental costs throughout the region have skyrocketed in recent years.

As warehouse costs climb, it’s crucial to make sure that you’re employing warehouse space in the most efficient manner possible. For savvy warehouse operations, that means leveraging greater density and automating as much as possible.

Fortunately, high performance material handling technology has evolved rapidly in recent years, giving you the tools you need to increase your density and efficiency like never before. Automation technology is quickly altering the very nature of warehouse storage solutions.

Warehouse Automation

Automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS) are revolutionizing the warehouse. A few of the primary concepts behind adding AS/RS systems:

1. Massive increases in efficiency. AS/RS systems slash human resource costs, recover floor space, diminish accidental inventory destruction, and increase throughput.
2. Increased Capacity. Efficiency gains mean that operations can add more stock items and increase the volume of existing operations for even greater profitability.
3. Lift truck operating cost reductions. An automated warehouse system slashes lift truck hours and distance traveled.
4. Advanced Facilitation. Automated solutions allow for complex sequencing and buffering possibilities that can be synchronized with freight hours and lane options.
5. Quality assurance. AS/RS systems are simply more accurate and are better at handling complicated duties than humans.
6. Enhanced safety. Fewer humans equates to fewer safety mishaps.
7. Flexibility. When it comes to order consolidation, assembly/enrichment, storage, put-away and replenishment, AS/RS systems are becoming more and more versatile.

Automated Storage and Retrieval System

What is AS/RS? There are several types of technologies that are considered to be AS/RS systems, including the following:

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

Vertical Lift Modules

Similar to a vertical carousel, vertical lifts are vertically positioned systems that maintain bins in a tall metal casing. In contrast to a carousel, a VLM has a puller unit that advances upward and downward inside the module, retrieves discrete bins and delivers them to the operator.

Horizontal Carousels

Horizontal carousels are similar in concept to that rotating rack your drycleaner uses to store and retrieve your clothing items. These carousels are ordinarily used for smaller sized products and they are a succession of bins suspended from an elevated track. They are frequently coupled with pick-to-light systems or voice picking systems.

Vertical Carousels

As one would expect, vertical carousels are vertically aligned, and are a bit like a Ferris wheel with bins mounted to a circular drive system that spins on a perpendicular horizontal axis. These carousels are usually housed in a tall metal casing.

Fixed Aisle AS/RS

Fixed aisle systems are usually set up as two rows of racking with a narrow lane separating the two. The center of the aisle has a raised metal track with an upright mast that maneuvers its length. Connected to the upright is a vertically moving carriage outfitted with a load handling device.

This upright and carrier device is known as as the SRM (storage and retrieval machine) or crane. Most systems use one SRM per corridor, but more sophisticated systems may have more than one.

In general, there are two varieties of fixed aisle systems. Unit-load systems are designed to deal with bulky loads on pallets. Mini-load systems (sometimes known as a case-handling machine or tote stacker) are smaller systems that can deal with cartons and smaller items.

Warehouse Automation Systems Near Me

We’re here to help! If you’d like advice in reviewing warehouse automation options for your material handling operation, contact a specialist at Raymond West.

Our engineering team will work with you to assess on-site equipment design for your warehouse or distribution center. We will help you develop a business case including process, conditions, training, future needs, and total cost.

We provide service and support from our locations throughout the West. Whether you need new or used equipment, maintenance, parts, service or training, we supply a comprehensive selection of material handling services and products.

Raymond West's Stockton facility serves much of the northern Central Valley, including Stockton, Lathrop, Lodi, Tracy, Modesto, and Merced.

Raymond West | Stockton Material Handling Equipment Supplier

19107 Christopher Way
Lathrop, CA 95330
(800) 675-2500