FROM MANUAL PICKING
TO THE AUTOMATED PROCESS
The demands on the transport of long, heavy and bulky goods in the wood industry are high: The material must be protected and the goods must be transported from A to B precisely and quickly. Only in this way can panels, decorations and other wood materials reach their destination safely and without damage. To ensure seamless processes in the warehouse, there are different order picking systems for each individual application: manual, partially or fully automated. Depending on handling performance, storage capacity and budget, a high process quality is thus ensured.
STEP BY STEP TO THE OPTIMAL
PICKING SOLUTION
In order to individually adapt the desired picking solution, the overall warehouse processes and warehouse typography are first analysed in detail.
To ensure a smooth process, the following questions, among others, must be answered during the selection process:
- What configurations does the load to be moved have?
- How many rack aisles are there?
- Is a new building planned or does the warehouse already exist?
- How high is the turnover rate?
- How many people should operate the picking system?
We know the best solution.
We know that the handling of long goods presents users with special challenges. Arrange a non-binding consultation appointment with our specialists to obtain the best possible solution for your application.
Checkliste
WHAT DOES A PICKING SOLUTION
HAVE TO ACHIEVE ?
Among the important factors to be clarified in the analysis are the gentle transport of the material, the process speed and the handling by the employees. We have summarized all points for you in a checklist: "What must an order picking solution achieve?
With our "Inquiry specification picking vehicles" you can already enter important data for the configuration of your picker in advance. On the basis of this data, we will then configure your individual vehicle for you.
DIRECT LINK TO INQUIRY SPECIFICATION ORDER PICKING VEHICLES
- Enables the provision of goods without scratches, breaks or other damage and thus ensures a high delivery quality
- Relieves the employees
- Increases picking speed and thus increases productivity
- Leads to an increase through the use of state-of-the-art technology with low repair susceptibility
- Lowers operating costs durch den Einsatz modernster Technologie mit einer geringen Reparaturanfälligkeit
- Is fail-safe and thus ensures high product availability
- Offers a high level of flexibility for all necessary work in the warehouse. For example, numerous equipment options can be integrated and vehicles can be used for different processes
1. Manual order picking with counterbalance forklift trucks
In manual picking, the goods are provided in storage compartments. The employee takes the goods to be picked directly from the lowest levels of the rack system. Alternatively, the stored parcels are completely removed from the higher rack levels with front or reach trucks and moved to picking tables. There individual goods are removed.
2. Classic electric multidirectional side loaders
In their basic configuration, classic electric multidirectional sideloaders are suitable for handling long loads - especially in narrow aisles. A great advantage of these vehicles is the large number of optional equipment variants.
3. electric multidirectional side loader with a platform
For the use as a pure order picking vehicle, the multidirectional side loader is supplemented by a pick-up platform, whereby one pick-up takes a maximum of five minutes. The operator then controls the system from the platform. The operator picks the boards either alone or with another operator directly onto the platform.
4. ELECTRIC MULTIDIRECTIONAL SIDE LOADER WITH PLATFORM AND VACUUM SUCTION DEVICE
The vacuum lifting device on the picking platform reduces the risk of material damage on the electric multidirectional sideloader. Retractable suction cups suck individual sheets in and out of the shelf compartment. Only one person is needed to operate the system. For medium handling rates, the multidirectional sideloader convinces with flexibility and cost-effective operation. A disadvantage of the pick-up platform is the one-sided order picking. For picking from the opposite shelf compartment, the operator has to leave the aisle to turn the truck around. However, at low to medium handling rates the loss of time is minimal.
5. (PARTIALLY) AUTOMATED PICKING PLATFORMS
Platform solutions are well suited for high storages. Operators on both sides of the aisle can serve both sides and by the use of telescopic tables the picked materials can be easily transferred. The vehicle configuration allows extremely narrow working aisle widths.
6. FULLY AUTOMATIC PICKING SOLUTIONS
The boundaries between partially and fully automated picking solutions for the wood industry are fluid. HUBTEX equips its order picking platforms with vacuum lifting devices and numerous assistance systems, thereby increasing not only the safety and efficiency of processes but also the level of automation. This can be achieved, for example, by automatic shelf compartment positioning or by connecting the vehicles to the warehouse management system.
IT'S EASY TO COMPARE
OUR ORDER PICKING SOLUTIONS AT A GLANCE
Overview
Advantages and disadvantages of a picking solution
Download the advantages and disadvantages of a picking solution easily and free of charge here.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| Cost efficient | Not suitable for high turnover, long and bulky loads |
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| Suitable for handling long material and large pallets | For high turnover rates, only suitable in combination with a picking system. |
| For indoor and outdoor use, Energy-efficient thanks to electric drive | Conditionally suitable for pallets |
| Compact design, optimum view from the cabin | |
| Can be used in narrow shelf aisles, Manoeuvrable due to multidirectional steering | |
| Expandable with further equipment options |
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| Platform can be integrated within minutes | One-sided picking in narrow aisle, thus loss of time due to turning processes |
| Convenient operation through control from the platform | The dead weight of the platform must be taken into account |
| Optional additional protection of the materials by vacuum lifting device | |
| Flexible application, both for load handling and order picking | |
| Up to 80 % time saving compared to variant without platform |
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| Picking from both sides of the shelf possible without turning | When using the narrow series, at least two platforms must be used for redundancy reasons |
| Medium to high handling performance | Der Energieverbrauch von zwei Plattformen im Kombibetrieb aus Einlagerung und Kommissionierung ist höher, als bei der Kombination von Mehrwegestaplern zur Einlagerung und Plattformfahrzeugen zum Kommissionieren |
| Suitable for medium, heavy and bulky loads | |
| When supplemented with telescopic forks, the storage of entire packages is handled by the use of telescopic forks and tables | |
| This makes narrow aisle widths possible |
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| Reduced damage to the goods thanks to optionally applicable vacuum suction technology | Possibly reduced speed compared to manual picking |
| Suitable for heavy panel materials | |
| Relief for employees | |
| Can be integrated into existing shelf system |
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| Maximum integration of process integration | Cannot be integrated into existing shelf system |
| Minimal damage to the goods | |
| High energy efficiency | |
| High speeds |
Whitepaper: Order Picking in the Wood Industry
This whitepaper shows you even more about order picking in the wood industry.
