Automated picking and dispatching
August 1st 2007 European Conveyors Systems
has completed the
installation of an automated
system for the order picking
and despatch areas in a new
6000m2 distribution centre
opened by Icon Live in West
Sussex. Carton flats for
orders are assembled on the
mezzanine floor of the DC
and sent on a decline belt to
the ground floor where they
are placed in plastic trays
with unique bar codes so
they travel automatically to
the correct picking points
and despatch lane.
Five conveyor loops, each
servicing three pick spur
destinations, are fed by
switch-sorters from the main
conveyor, and once orders
have been completed, each
tray and order box is routed
automatically to one of four
packing and despatch lanes.
At either end of the
ground floor picking area an
elevator and lowerator link
the system to the mezzanine
floor above. ECS has used
Gebhardt zero-pressure
accumulation conveyors
extensively throughout the
system to ensure the trays
are fully buffered. A two-tier
allocation conveyor with
tilted shelving allows for new
product launches to the retail
stores. ECS designed the
installation for a throughput
of 3200 cartons per day, with
additional in-built capacity
for future business growth.
The equipment used is based
on a modular design, to
facilitate any future
expansion. More articles from European Conveyor Systems Ltd: | 
