Pick that one out
August 1st 2011 Picking boosted for Coop Danmark A/S
in new high-bay warehouse
SSI Schaefer completed the installation of a new high-bay
warehouse (HBW) including tailored WMS for Denmark's
leading consumer goods retailer, Coop Danmark A/S.
The three-block HBW, which now serves as a supply and
transfer warehouse, has four aisles per block with over 36,000
storage locations for single-deep storage of pallets that can weigh
up to 1000 kilograms each. Twelve storage and retrieval machines,
that move at a speed of up to 250 metres per minute, ensure quick
storage and retrieval of more than 500 pallets per hour.
Running alongside the HBW is the
WMS that controls the manual low-bay
warehouse, storing positions for manto-
goods order picking of fast-moving
items, available across three shelf levels.
Items delivered on pallets are logged
in goods receiving and transferred to
the HBW or block storage. Articles,
which for example will have CDs
added, are allocated to workstations immediately and then stored
in the high bay warehouse as a new stock item. Smaller, high-value
items are stored in a separate paternoster system.
Order picking shelves with an attached gravity-roller-conveyor
were installed for small volume commodities that are not large
enough to be picked directly from the pallet. Systems were
supplied from the HBW or the manual warehouse – depending on
the advertising campaign.
Up to 25,000 order lines for just under 600 orders are processed
daily – five partially linked order picking strategies are designated
for this task. Each HBW block is equipped with a picking station
to palletise items for large orders.
Controlled by the WMS, source pallets are retrieved from the
HBW and allocated for order picking at six source positions in
each block. There, supported by height adjustable, ergonomically
designed working platforms, items are picked from the source
pallets onto seven target pallets.
Partially used and pre-picked pallets are stored in the HBW
again; empty pallets are removed automatically. Readily picked
target pallets are transferred to consolidation points. If
commissioned work is complete and automatic load secured,
they are forwarded directly to the three dispatch areas via the
conveyor and lift systems. In
addition, the WMS arranges for the
disposal of packaging waste which is
collected in lattice boxes and
removed by forklifts.
Due to the high portion of smaller
consignments (approx. 30%) that
have to be picked in order
commissioning, Coop followed the
recommendation of SSI Schaefer and created a separate picking
area for this range of articles. A three-level flow rack with a total
of 120 channels for up to five bins each was installed and
connected to the pick positions for larger consignments. The
facility is also equipped with a
Pick-by-Light-System. More articles from SSI Schaefer Ltd: | 
