Lyko Chooses FASTPICK to Support Expansion

Swedish hair and beauty specialist Lyko has chosen Vanderlande to automate its new warehouse in Vansbro, Sweden. The two companies signed a contract for the installation of Vanderlande’s FASTPICK goods-to-person (GtP) order fulfilment system, including robotic item picking. Lyko needs a new solution to cope with rapid growth and to meet its ambition to break into emerging European markets.

Vanderlande’s FASTPICK was selected because it meets the company’s need for greater efficiency and capacity, and can be installed on a limited footprint. The greenfield warehouse is scheduled to open in 2025 and will be Lyko’s largest automation project so far. The scalability and flexibility of Vanderlande’s solution provide the opportunity for further extension.

The system includes the ADAPTO automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS): 216 ADAPTO shuttles will be able to access more than 152,000 product locations across 27 levels and 40 aisles. The innovative system will be capable of handling 45,000 orders every day. The contract also includes 15 GtP workstations, three of which are equipped with robot item pickers from Vanderlande’s portfolio of Smart Item Robotics. In addition, all the manual workstations, including those for decanting, are height adjustable to minimise lifting duties for operators. The system also includes Vanderlande’s POSISORTER shipping sorter.

The state-of-the-art solution is driven by Vanderlande’s digital suite of software services. During the entire process, the system handles items as gently as possible, which makes it an ideal solution for Lyko, with its stock of fragile and expensive products, such as bottles of perfume.

“This solution gives us the capabilities we need to scale our business in a cost-efficient way – it will therefore support our plans for growth and help us expand into Europe,” says Rickard Lyko, Lyko’s CEO and founder. “By increasing our capacity and providing us with the efficiency we need through integrated robot technology, Vanderlande has shown that it best understands our needs.”

“We listened closely to what the Lyko project team needed, and we’re delighted that they chose our state-of-the-art technology to help realise their expansion plans,” says Vanderlande’s Executive
Managing Director Warehouse Solutions, James Cotton. “The FASTPICK solution offers the company the flexibility and sophistication it requires to handle an extensive range of products and deliver orders to customers as quickly as possible. We look forward to the installation and forging a long-term partnership with this dynamic company.”

Innovative Modular Diverter, Sorter Modules

An innovative high-capacity, multi-directional diverter and a compact 90° diverter and sorter module will take centre stage on Itoh Denki’s stand (no. C017) at the 2023 Semaine de l’Innovation du Transport et de la Logistique (SITL) event in Paris from 28-30 March.

The Multi-Angle Ball Sorter (MABS) boasts patented rotating ball transfer technology, which allows products to be diverted to at any angle on both the left and right. It can handle up to 4,300 units per hour of up to 30kg in weight and is suitable for integration into any type of conveyor system. It is powered solely by 24V DC technology, helping to optimise safety when compared with pneumatically powered systems.

Available in a total of five sizes, MABS can be rapidly reconfigured to suit the requirements of changing set-ups, with up to eight units able to operate in tandem where larger transfer zones are needed. MABS’ high throughput, versatility and compact footprint make it ideal for a vast range of warehousing, e-commerce and intralogistics applications.

Also on show will be the F-RAT NX compact – the only diverter of its type on the market which is able to transfer products at a 90° angle on both sides of the conveyor line without needing to raise the product between the entry and exit. Not only does this make for smoother transfers, but conveyor design is simplified too. Again powered by 24V DC power, the need for pneumatic systems is negated, while the F-RAT comes in a range of sizes.

MABS and F-RAT NX can be combined with ZPA (zero pressure accumulation) conveyors to deliver precise positioning of products and smooth transfer. These attributes make them perfect for any application requiring high throughput alongside optimised quality and safety.

Etienne Vuillard of Itoh Denki explained: “The modern warehouse and distribution facility demands not just high throughput, but unstinting performance when it comes to safety and overall quality of handling. Alongside this, requirements from the sortation line in terms of volume and product type can change rapidly. This means modular, DC-powered systems, able to be rapidly reconfigured, are likely to be attractive to specifiers and system designers. Itoh Denki has been a pioneer of modular sorting and diverting technology for many years and both the MABS and F-RAT combine the qualities for which we have become renowned – speed, versatility, accuracy and safety. The SITL event will welcome leading decision-makers in the sector from across France, and beyond, and we anticipate strong interest in both ranges from visitors to our stand seeking to maximise productivity and enjoy a rapid return on their investment.”

Itoh Denki is a pioneer and leader in motorised roller-based conveyor and sorting solutions for automated intralogistics.

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