DC Velocity - October 2016

PERFORMANCE

DELIVERED

Seven decades of experience sets our balers apart. Superior engineering refined over the years yields a baling chamber designed to maximize geometry and physics, delivering exceptional bale density and integrity. Our proprietary auto-tier design and the finest components ensure reliability and productivity, delivering a lower operating cost per ton. With the vision and tenacity of an eagle, American Baler takes performance to new heights.

INTEGRITY I QUALITY I RELIABILITY I VALUE

800.843.7512

AmericanBaler.com

American Baler_DC Velocity Magazine.indd 1 2/9/2016 11:22: 23 AM 50 DC VELOCITY OCTOBER 2016 www.dcvelocity.com

the first pallets to enter the system
are the first to be retrieved.

Five storage and retrieval cranes travel up and down the aisles. Each crane carries an Orbiter transfer car that’s used to move products in and out of the lanes. An Orbiter can transport a load weighing up to 1,360

kilograms (about 3,000 pounds).
Once it reaches the assigned loca-
tion, the transfer car undocks from
the crane to carry the pallet to its
destination on rails mounted within
the lane. It uses light sensors and an
incremental encoder to determine
the position to place the pallet in,
which is typically next to the most recent-
ly inducted pallet.

The Orbiter transfer car then returns to re-dock with the crane and prepare for the next move. The cars recharge while stationed at the crane, which means they don’t require a cable to move down the lane as many similar systems do.

When products are required for orders, the cranes and transfer cars retrieve the pallets and take them to a lift that lowers the pallets to a conveyor that transports them to shipping. The slave pallets are removed automatically and returned to their origination point.

The shipping department contains a buffering system with 11 lanes that can hold nine pallets apiece. The WMS uses these buffer lanes to build truckloads. Two material shuttles gather the pallets for transport to truck lanes for actual loading.

A PRODUCTIVE DESIGN

Combined, the five cranes and their Orbiters can store up to 52 pallets per hour and retrieve 126 pallets per hour. Both material flows are controlled by the Wamas WMS. The system can run one flow first and then the other, or run both functions simultaneously.

The WMS continuously tracks the location of products within the AS/RS. Cameras are located within the system to allow for visual inspection throughout, and computer displays show managers which positions are occupied and which are available for product storage.

The swift automated system has proved to be more productive than previous manual systems while requiring only half the labor. This allows Mydibel to deploy its work force more effectively. On top of that, the dense storage has reduced product damage and eliminated the need to store products off site. That alone saves the costs of two to three trucks and the drivers that were previously needed to ferry products back and forth to the satellite locations.

Best of all, using automated equipment for storage and retrieval means fewer people have to work in the sub-zero temperatures. And that should warm the hearts of frites lovers from Waterloo to London to Munich and beyond.