Automatic Miniload Warehouses offer a strategic solution to optimize the management of small parts and light loads. These systems address key logistical challenges, such as the high volume of SKUs and the need to ensure high productivity and rapid product turnover—especially crucial in sectors with intensive load and unload flows.
Warehouse Organization: From “Man to Goods” to “Goods to Man”
The methods of storage and retrieval in warehouses fall into two main approaches:
- “Man to Goods”: the operator moves to the products and manually picks them. This method involves lower initial investment but higher operational costs due to frequent movements. When combined with dynamic shelving and pick-to-light systems, the “man to goods” method is suitable for situations where full automation is not necessary.
- “Goods to Man”: products are automatically brought to the operator, reducing waiting times and improving efficiency. This concept forms the basis of Miniload warehouses, designed to minimize distances and optimize space. Miniload systems are particularly useful for handling high-turnover products due to the continuous, automated flow to the picking stations.
How MPS Engineering’s Automatic Miniload Warehouses Work
Automatic Miniload Warehouses rely on an automated stacker crane that moves bins and containers between shelves and picking stations. This system helps reduce space usage and increase productivity. The bins, typically in standard sizes (600 x 400 mm or 800 x 600 mm), can be configured to accommodate different products, while the SWMS (Software Warehouse Management System) ensures precise inventory management.
Advantages of Miniload Warehouses
– Space Efficiency: thanks to their compact design, these systems occupy less space than traditional warehouses, making them ideal for optimizing available storage area.
– Flexibility and Customization: Miniload systems can be configured based on volume and speed requirements, with options for stacker cranes of different capacities and speeds.
– Complete Automation: the “goods to man” logic reduces downtime, improving operational efficiency and enabling ergonomic workstations for operators.
Miniload Performance Levels
Miniload systems are classified by handling capacity and speed to meet specific business needs:
– Medium Performance: manages up to 150 bins per hour in combined cycles, with the option to equip shelves with gravity systems to reduce travel times.
– High Performance: handles 150-180 bins per hour, integrating picking stations and pick-to-light systems for faster, more intuitive management.
– Ultra-High Performance: exceeds 250 bins per hour, ideal for assembly and intensive distribution warehouses, where a high pace and precise inventory control are essential.
Integration with Advanced Systems
Automatic Miniload Warehouses can be integrated with control devices such as barcode scanners, WMS, and pick-to-light and put-to-light systems, which simplify product identification and improve operational flow. Additionally, ergonomic organization allows operators to work efficiently and safely, reducing physical strain and the risk of errors.
Ideal Applications for Automatic Miniload Warehouses
Automatic Miniload Warehouses are used in a wide range of sectors, from high-turnover product logistics to component assembly. Common applications include:
– Transit Warehouses: ideal for handling large quantities of products waiting to be shipped.
– Assembly Support: supplies materials directly to assembly lines.
– Order Sequencers: allow for efficient and orderly load preparation, reducing delivery times and enhancing overall productivity.
In conclusion, Miniload warehouses represent a strategic choice for companies seeking to increase efficiency and speed in product management.
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