A warehouse needs more than just robots

Exotec has actually found that a robotic system alone is inadequate to maintain a stockroom running ideally. To attain this, the robotic system have to be completely straightened with the various other procedures. Throughout the opening of its brand-new head office in Wasquehal, near Lille, Exotec made it clear that it has actually advanced from a robotic supplier to a system integrator. “Eventually, it has to do with obtaining the right boxes right into the appropriate trucks at the correct time.”

By Marcel te Lindert

A couple of years earlier, Exotec remained in the going to mount its robotised storage space and order selecting system in a Decathlon storage facility. The French retail chain wished to put a couple of order pickers to the left of the workstations, as they were left-handed. Exotec declined, as their workstations were just developed for right-handed order pickers. “Decathlon called us conceited, yet we did wind up obtaining the agreement,” states Romain Moulin, chief executive officer and founder of Exotec.

From robotics to storehouses

Exotec hasn’t constantly been so fortunate. Moulin remembers a task that mosted likely to an additional firm 5 years earlier. Throughout the debriefing, the factor came to be clear: the firm wished to review its procedures, yet Exotec just discussed its climbing up robotics. Both occurrences obtained Moulin and the various other founder, Renaud Heitz, CTO at Exotec, assuming. They made a decision to transform their method and no more simply provide robotic systems, yet total storehouses. “Eventually, a stockroom is not concerning our robotics, yet concerning obtaining the right boxes right into the appropriate trucks at the correct time,” states Moulin.

As evidence that this method succeeds, Moulin and Heitz reveal photos of Pepsico’s brand-new 500-robot storage facility in the USA. There, Exotec likewise looked after mass storage space, pallet destacking and replenishment of the choosing supply in the robotic system. “No 2 storehouses coincide. Nonetheless, our team believe it is feasible to develop any kind of storage facility with our basic foundation, whether it is a B2B or B2C storage facility,” states Heitz.

Order choosing and buffering

One of the most vital foundation continues to be the storage space system with robotics that climb up right into the shelfs to bring supply containers to workstations. With the launch of a new generation of robots a year earlier, the implementation choices for this foundation have actually boosted considerably. It is currently feasible to select straight right into order containers and buffer them in the very same system. When a truck shows up, the order containers can be eliminated, loaded, palletised and packed in the right order. “What’s even more, we can currently utilize this upgraded robotic system for both thing selecting and situation selecting,” describes Heitz.

Nonetheless, even more foundation are required to supply total storehouses. On the incoming side, think about dumping trucks, saving pallets and interior transportation of boxes. On the outgoing side, think about box erectors, box sealants and pallet wrappers. The firm’s very own storage facility control system, Deepsky, makes sure that all these foundation interact with each various other. “We can not establish these foundation on our very own. That is why we deal with companions such as Manhattan for the storage facility administration system and Packsize for the product packaging devices,” states Heitz.

Brand-new head workplace

To finish its method, Exotec requires to increase its advancement initiatives. The brand-new head workplace in Lille adds to this. The 25,000 m two structure, with its wealth of glass and high-end, houses the growth division, robotic setting up and various other assistance features. “Formerly, our individuals were spread out throughout 7 various structures. That impeded our development,” describes Moulin. Heitz: “Development includes designing, screening, reviewing, enhancing and inevitably placing originalities right into manufacturing. That functions far better when most of us operate in one location.”

Increasing advancement is required for numerous factors. At the start of in 2014, various other storage facility devices providers such as Knapp and Hai Robotics likewise introduced climbing up robotics. At this year’s trade convention LogiMAT in Stuttgart, a lot more storage facility devices providers will certainly exist comparable options. “Firstly, we are happy that our idea is being duplicated so extensively,” describes Heitz. “We were the initial with climbing up robotics. However to remain in advance, we have to remain to introduce. That is why we spend 10 percent of our turn over in R&D.”

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