Radiating efficiency
August 1st 2008

Swisslog has delivered a highly automated storage and order picking facility for Quinn Radiators in Newport, achieving an efficient, cost effective manual and automated order picking operation linked to an automated storage facility.

Pallets are transported from production on a 4- strand chain conveyor with bridging wheels at junctions to ensure a smooth ride.

They are transferred to a monorail system and delivered for storage within a 40m high double-deep highbay where the six automated stacker cranes have telescopic forks and fork spread adjustment to handle different size pallets.

In the robot pick area orders are automatically picked and assembled on despatch pallets. A picking robot has a magnetic head which adapts to the size and weight of each radiator. Each of the three gantry robots pick to order –120 picks or radiators per hour.

The manual pick area, which uses Swisslog voicepicking technology integrated into the overall solution, is used to store and pick slow moving and oversize radiators.

The system is controlled by Swisslog's Warehouse- Manager WMS and AutomationManager WCS.

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