Space saving solution
March 1st 2010

With tough times likely to persist for some time,Keith Couzens from Couzens Storage

Solutions believes carousels are proving their worth by reducing costs and boosting

productivity in the warehouse

For many businesses today, whether manufacturing,

distribution or service, their priority will be to stay afloat

while at the same time dealing with often sharply reduced

levels of activity. Space is one of the biggest overheads that usually

incur heating, lighting and other costs, as well as rent or simply

tying up capital. So using it more effectively or even reducing the

amount you need could make a significant difference.

Releasing several hundred square metres of space in an existing

building or even consolidating a company's activities into fewer

premises are the kind of results that could have a positive impact

on the bottom line almost immediately.

We have also helped expanding organisations avoid relocation,

saving the cost of building and moving into new premises by

utilising space more effectively. Our range of goods-to-man

systems has achieved this for a number of clients.

Carousels use power-driven storage trays stacked one above the

other, selected quickly and automatically by the operator, and can

cut space needed by 80% or more, both within an established

storage zone and in previously unused overhead space.

The market has many storage systems designed for uniform,

easily stowed parts and components that readily sit on pallet

racking. But many companies find that dealing with heavy,

awkward and difficult to handle items, such as tools, jigs, cable

reels, bulky spares and rod and bar stock – often in confined

spaces – is not so straightforward.

As well as providing highly productive and efficient picking

and storage for standardised containers such as cartons or totes,

carousels can accommodate almost anything from small, delicate

electronic components up to heavy and bulky metal sheet, bar

and rod. The recently launched TowerMat can store individual

items up to five tonnes and 12m in length, and is the ideal storage

and handling solution for large and awkwardly shaped items.

Individual units can hold up to 5,000 kg per tray and a total

capacity of more than 700 tonnes.

Security is high on the agenda for many businesses and this

may equally apply to how a business stores and manages its stock.

Lost, stolen or mislaid items can disrupt production or order

preparation through non-availability, and poor supervision can

leave the door open to wide-scale pilfering. Carousels of all types

are designed to enclose stock in a secure steel framework and can

be fitted with electronic security systems to strictly limit access to

authorised users.

Today's automated carousels have been developed to take full

advantage of the recent huge advances in software and digital

systems. Over the past few years the power of such systems has

increased dramatically while costs have shrunk, bringing formerly

unattainable technologies within reach of most companies.

Combined with highly productive, space saving and efficient

equipment, today's smart technologies deliver instant information

and outstanding stock management.

Realtime visibility

In a typical modern carousel system a fully integrated network

will link equipment software with the user's own systems, with

data management, machine and operator functions - using

equipment such as bar code readers, security entry systems,

scanners, RFID, PC screens and weighing scales. As a result

management has full, realtime visibility and control over all stock

movements and is able to determine at any time the location and

status of each item in store.

Equipment software can be integrated with popular ERP

systems, with standard or bespoke software modules available for

all types of equipment as part of a complete turnkey package.

Indeed, the entire Couzens' product range can be delivered and

used with or without inventory management software.

One of the latest developments using the most up-to-date

technologies is the introduction of biometric security which uses

a fingerprint reading to control access – a particularly vital

process for companies storing exceptionally high value or sensitive

items.

Picking or replenishing from a carousel or lift by viewing a

picture of the required part on screen is now also in use, avoiding

faulty picks and their potentially damaging consequences.

While it will continue to be difficult for many companies to

justify capital investment, in our experience carousels and lifts can

quickly repay their cost in terms of space released or reallocated,

reductions in stock or even saving the cost of a move. These

decisions can help enable a

company to survive and thrive.

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