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Tag: warehouse automation

Glocalisation

Posted on by David Priestman

Global integrator Witron had a front and centre role in the first wave of the pandemic. What did it learn and what comes next?

When Christian Dietl reviews the numbers for June 2020, he is proud of his colleagues working in logistic centres all over Europe and North America. “During this time, we only had one major technical defect in the 75 food logistics centres around the globe which operate with our OPM technology,” reports the CEO of Witron Services. “Even though we had to keep the systems running at full capacity and beyond.”

While the inner cities of Europe were emptying and throughput in physical stores was increasing, logistics centres were running at full speed. The importance of automation was growing, as was the importance in warehouses of people. Truck drivers were no longer allowed to enter DCs and staff in logistics centres now had to handle incoming goods. “We had to restructure our teams to prevent infections. So we worked with smaller maintenance teams and really only carried out the most necessary life-sustaining measures on the machines,” explains Dietl. The teams had already caught up on the maintenance backlog in May and June. “We learned a lot about the load limits of the components and this is now being incorporated into our future concepts.”

During this time, Witron technicians developed efficient concepts to keep system performance high at all times, while at the same time having to cut down planned maintenance intervals due to time constraints. “In addition, our cross-trained colleagues on site can change their roles very quickly, from system operator to maintenance technician and back again.” Flexibility pays off. “I have always said that we have the best team because there is only ONE team at the Terrebonne distribution centre, consisting of Sobeys AND Witron colleagues,” praises Fabien Roy, Logistics Manager at Sobeys in Canada.

Even more automation

Due to consistent hygiene rules, Witron had only four sick employees worldwide in the service teams, who were very quickly isolated. “We will continue to work in the Corona mode and will
continue to rely on distance rules and set teams,” says Christian Dietl. But what comes after the crisis? Automation will be the winner of the pandemic, even for SMEs, according to Witron, in accord with many analysts and scientists. In some industries, value added supply chains will shift back to Europe, and security of supply will become increasingly important, it believes. “We are moving towards glocalisation,” explained Wolfram Senger-Weiss, Chairman of logistics service provider Senger-Weiss, in a recent interview.

A Bosch analysis further states: The challenge here will be to prevent logistics costs from rising immeasurably. This can be prevented. It also means that automation and modularisation in
warehouses and logistics centres will benefit greatly from the trend towards greater supply security. Storage capacities must be able to be built up and decreased even faster in the future.
Warehouse management, conveyor technology, forklifts, and autonomous transport systems (FTS/AGVs/AMR) must be able to react flexibly. The same applies to the service and maintenance teams. The production supply from the warehouse must be able to quickly adapt to new products or new manufacturing processes.

Adding to this is the continuing boom in ecommerce, which even in the COVID pandemic has not suffered any slumps; on the contrary, it recorded new growth figures. In this context, intralogistics experts are pursuing different strategies. Flexible omnichannel solutions are the decisive approach. What unites all approaches is the importance of automation. For Christian Dietl and his service and maintenance teams, the pandemic remains the focus. “The disease is still there, it will occupy us for even longer – socially, economically, and technologically. It’s been shown that the Witron crisis management works; our systems run reliably with high availability even under permanent high volume requirements, and the OnSite teams roll up their sleeves – supporting them around the clock with great commitment. Together with our customers, we will continue to successfully master the challenges.”

Scott Technology Announces Partnership Savoye

Posted on by David Priestman

Automation and robotics solutions provider Scott Technology Limited has announced the signing of a global partnership with Savoye, one of the world’s leading high-speed storage and retrieval system organisation, as a further signal of Scott’s commitment to offering leading technology in its chosen fields of expertise.

The relationship will allow Scott to expand its material handling and logistics systems to include the critical component of automated carton storage and retrieval technology. This will seamlessly integrate with Scott’s own conveying, sorting and palletising applications and enables the company to offer a true end-to-end solution.

Scott CEO John Kippenberger, said: “The material handling and logistics business is already an important part of the Scott global Group. This has largely been focused on Europe given the successful legacy of the Alvey business which Scott acquired in 2018. We are excited about taking this existing carton handling and palletising technology to meat processors, general frozen food manufacturers in several global markets – most notably the United States – and believe the addition of the Savoye technology serves to strengthen this offer.”

The partnership will expand the global reach and harness the natural strengths of both companies. Scott and Savoye have extensive networks of global customers, facilities in multiple countries and a combined history of over 160 years in business.

Savoye Director for Partnerships Hervé Aubert, said: “Savoye is very pleased to enter into this global partnership with Scott which will enable the integration of Savoye’s X-PTS® solution in a market sector where Scott is a strong and renowned player. The combination of Scott’s experience in end-of-line solutions with Savoye’s shuttle based X-PTS® storage solution will enable Scott to propose a comprehensive solution for food applications”.

Both companies have focused efforts on opportunities within the U.S. market, and this strategic alignment will help realise these.
Savoye North America Director Paul Deveikis, said: “We’re glad to enter this partnership where Scott’s and Savoye’s U.S. teams will develop a common solution for U.S. food companies. Savoye North America will be able to accompany and support Scott through our shuttle manufacturing facilities (Aurora Illinois) and integration teams based in the U.S.”.
Scott and Savoye are already well advanced on two large project opportunities, one in Australasia and the other in the United States. https://www.scottautomation.com/news/announcements/scott-announces-strategic-partnership-with-savoye/

Integrated Lift Tables for AGVs

Posted on by David Priestman

Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) are already a familiar sight in distribution and logistics centers. Now manufacturing wants a slice of their cost savings and efficiency, too, alongside the industry’s other initiatives in robotics and automatization. “We are seeing that the market for AGVs in industry is clearly growing,” says Magnus Nilsson, Purchaser for Jernbro’s automation department.

Jernbro is a leading supplier of customer-specific automation solutions. It develops complete solutions with AGVs, overall control, fixtures, robotic loading and unloading for both assembly applications and production-close logistics applications.

Precise solutions with customized AGVs

“For instance we have developed quite a niche at Jernbro, focused on manufacturing, and particularly of engines for heavy-duty trucks,” Nilsson continues. “We always work closely with our customers to ensure we can deliver precisely tailored solutions.”

Jernbro’s AGV solutions fall into two main application classes: ergonomic and shuttle. “The ergonomic application follows the whole line, moving items of all sizes to ensure first-class ergonomics for the engineers working on them,” says Nilsson. “The shuttle application moves items between locations without the need for permanent tracks, which makes it a very flexible solution.” Many Jernbro solutions incorporate a Hymo-VPG lift table in the AGV. “They are so easy to integrate,” says Nilsson. “We recently used Hymo-VPG lift tables as bolt-on products for nine of our units.”

Christer Martinelle, Technical Sales at Hymo-VPG, is excited about the prospects for AGVs with lift tables. “Our big lift tables, which will easily lift a truck, have earned an equally big reputation. AGVs need something different, something more compact, and that’s where our smaller models are perfect.” He cites the new AX5 model as an example: “It’s the smallest lift table on the market, and has innovative integrated hydraulics.”

Opportunities for cost savings in manufacturing

“We recognize how AGVs are opening up cost savings for manufacturing,” says Martinelle. “The flexibility of AGVs makes them ideal for Lean manufacturing. You can design a production line that can be adapted quickly to changing working conditions.” Nilsson agrees: “A fixed conveyor line is hard to redesign and change, once it’s in place with permanent fittings in the floor or ceiling. Another example is our shuttle solution for movements between floors, which uses AGVs rather than a rail solution and costs much less.”

The lifetime cost is key

Jernbro AGVs are frequency-driven, with magnets in the floor, which offers simplicity and flexibility. “We also offer a laser/contour navigation system,” notes Nilsson. “The initial outlay might be higher, but it’s the lifetime cost that’s important – and it’s the job of the Purchaser to see that bigger picture.”

State-of-the-art Omnichannel Solution for Dutch Retailer

Posted on by David Priestman

Vanderlande has delivered an advanced automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS) to the Dutch organic food retailer Udea, one of the most unique of its kind that Vanderlande has supplied to date. The innovative solution is housed in Udea’s new distribution centre (DC) in Veghel, The Netherlands, and has this week processed its first orders. It consists of a goods-to-person ADAPTO system, omnichannel picking stations and smart item robot (SIR) technology.

Udea is a wholesaler of organic foods, natural personal care products and sustainable non-food items. The company is also the franchiser of the Ekoplaza chain of organic supermarkets and online grocery shops. For its new centralised DC, Udea needed a state-of-the-art automated solution that provided the necessary levels of availability, performance and reliability to match its omni-channel needs.

Other criteria had to be considered, including capacity, user-friendliness, ease of maintenance and energy consumption. A goods-to-person system was also required that featured ergonomic workstations. Udea was looking to combine the activities of its existing DCs into one facility, and as such, the new DC in Veghel will house all of the company’s dry, ambient, chilled and frozen products.

Vanderlande’s ADAPTO system enables efficient and fast delivery to stores (B2B) and consumers (B2C). At 12-metres high, ADAPTO contains three temperature zones that can handle a wide range of products – a first for the market. ADAPTO uses double-deep storage for the optimum use of space and provides a high throughput of fast-moving goods. Alongside eight ergonomic decanting stations, there are 12 picking stations, all of which have raised platforms to facilitate ergonomic order picking.

A continuous flow of orders is assigned to the goods-to-person workstations. Operators can pick the instructed quantity for both consumer and store orders, with SIR technology automatically picking part of the order. This results in Udea processing 10,000 SKUs and picking 120,000 items per day. This is supported by a warehouse management system from partner Consafe Logistics with whom Vanderlande collaborated strongly during the development and testing phases.

“We are more than happy to collaborate with Vanderlande – it’s been a joint effort for success,” says Udea’s General Manager Erik Does. “They helped us successfully with the technological challenge to create an automated warehouse with multiple temperature zones.”

Vanderlande’s Executive Vice President Warehousing and Parcel, Terry Verkuijlen adds: “We have been especially proud to have partnered with Udea on this project. The installation – for one of our neighbours in Veghel – has created a unique opportunity to demonstrate our technology around the corner in a fully operational omnichannel DC. Udea has a clear vision on creating a more sustainable food chain, and we are happy that our solutions have been selected as an intrinsic part of their food retail ecosystem.”

Pictured: From left to right: Erik-Jan van den Brink, Director, Udea
Karel Hoogenboom, Sales Manager Warehousing, Vanderlande
Terry Verkuijlen, Executive Vice President Warehousing and Parcel
Erik Does, General Manager, Udea

Expanded Automation Solution Implemented

Posted on by David Priestman

Lyko Group AB, the Nordic region’s leading player in beauty and hair care based in Sweden, is once again relying on the expertise of SSI Schaefer. The company is investing in an expansion of the previously developed automated warehouse solution.

The original solution was commissioned in February, 2020 to increase operational efficiency, optimize storage space and ensure seamless warehouse and material flow management processes. As a result, Lyko’s new automated logistics center was equipped with the shuttle system SSI Cuby, ergonomic work stations, a carton and bin conveying system and the logistics software WAMAS®. According to Rickard Lyko, CEO of Lyko, it was implemented perfectly in time to support rapidly increasing demand: “We are very happy with the solution of SSI Schaefer, which we launched in record time in February. Phase 1 of automation has achieved the planned streamlining and gave us the opportunity to handle the extreme sales growth of 99 percent that we achieved online in the second quarter.”

Lyko plans to begin sales to three additional European markets at the end of 2020, with distribution from the same logistics center in Vansbro, Sweden. The need to maximize storage space and extend the high-performance conveying system is obvious. SSI Schaefer was selected as a general contractor to ensure distribution’s ability to keep up with the ambitious expansion plans.

SSI Schaefer will deliver one of the fastest automation solutions with state-of-the-art technologies to enable the extension of all functional areas – picking, packing, storage and shipping. The existing SSI Cuby shuttle system will be doubled with 45,000 locations and 150 shuttles. In addition to the automated solution, SSI Schaefer will install a mezzanine and three SSI LOGIMAT® Vertical Lift Modules for storing small and medium-sized goods.

“We are pleased to work as a supplier for Lyko in Vansbro. The high-performance we offer will prepare Lyko for its future requirements”, comments Jenny Heinze, Sales Manager SSI Schaefer.

The extended solution will support Lyko’s focus on high-level customer service and delivery terms providing the complete installation without interruption to the current processes running on full capacity at the warehouse. The system is scheduled to be fully upgraded and to go live before Black Friday 2021.

New Logistics Centre for 3100 US Stores

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. (AWG), headquartered in Kansas City, USA is the largest cooperative food wholesaler in the United States. The company, with sales of more than 10 billion US Dollars, is planning and building a leading-edge, highly automated full-range logistics center in Hernando, Mississippi together with WITRON Logistik + Informatik GmbH from Germany. The facility will supply more than 3,100 grocery stores, owned and operated by independent retailers, after a ramp-up starting in August 2023. AWG is known in the US for its private brand offerings with its Best Choice, Always Save, Clearly by Best Choice & Best Choice Superior Selections brands.

“We are pleased to be working with WITRON on the most exciting project in AWG’s history,” said David Smith, CEO of AWG. “The new automated facility will be a critical component to significantly expand variety offerings and improve system-wide distribution and logistics performance. It will enable AWG and its over 1,100 cooperative member-retailers to continue to grow for many, many years to come.”

55,000 different items – 460,000 pick units / day

Almost 55,000 different items will be stored and picked with the OPM (Order Picking Machinery), AIO (All-in-One-Order Fulfillment), and CPS (Car Picking System) solutions. WITRON’s technology will be used in all temperature zones – dry assortment, fresh products, and frozen items. The facility with a size of 81,000 square meters / 871,900 square feet, a total of 738,000 pallet, tote, and tray locations, 92 stacker cranes, as well as 11 kilometers / 6 miles of conveyor system is designed for a pick performance of more than 460,000 units / day.

Automated WITRON technology in all temperature zones

The new facility will have 18 fully automated COM (Case Order Machine) machines installed in temperature areas of +20 to -26 degrees Celsius / +68 to -14.8 Fahrenheit to stack cases onto pallets in a store-friendly manner. Large-volume items are also picked in various temperature zones with route optimization using pick-by-voice support from the semi-automated logistics module CPS. An intelligent WITRON WMS platform controls the internal and external supply chain processes “end-to-end”. A WITRON OnSite team will be responsible for service, maintenance, and system operation, and will keep all mechanical elements, components, and material flows operating around the clock, 365 days a year.

AIO solution makes piece picking more flexible

Due to a wide range of small-volume items, AWG decided to use WITRON’s AIO system for the dry assortment – a further development of the tote picking system DPS (Dynamic Picking System), which has been successfully used for many years in food retailing logistics.

With AIO, both fast-movers and slow-movers can be stored and picked compactly in the same logistics module. Order consolidation is automated and system-controlled in AIO. The WITRON WMS permanently controls the classification of the items depending on the order structure. Classification changes (e.g. promotion or seasonal items) are recognized by the AIO and automatically adapted in real-time. The use of the same infrastructure (inventories, manpower, mechanics, IT, master data, etc.) is reflected in maximum flexibility and high cost-efficiency for AWG. “Our industry is ever-changing, and it is our mission to provide our member-retailers all of the products, services, and tools they need to compete favorably in all markets served, all at the best possible cost,” said David Smith. “We are excited to be able to significantly expand what we stock and ship to our member stores while becoming more efficient and cost effective in our operations”, says CEO David Smith. “And, not only will our employees benefit from ergonomic work processes, the environment will benefit from a reduced number of trailers on the road due to better use of volume and space on each trailer.”

WITRON as a reliable life-time partner

“WITRON is an established and strong partner who has the necessary know-how and worldwide references to successfully implement a project in this dimension. WITRON also lives a corporate culture that fits very well with the culture of AWG and its cooperative members”, explains David Smith. “WITRON impressed us with innovative ideas, technology, and the people and values behind the company and the project.”

Automation Hardware vs Software

Posted on by David Priestman

Integrator Witron recently promoted IT specialist Johannes Meissner to CEO of its service division WIOSS. Logistics Business talks to the 30-year company veteran about the often complicated trade-offs between hardware and software within warehouse automation.

As an IT specialist, does your appointment to the management board as CEO herald new times at Witron, away from hardware toward software?

Johannes Meissner: I was responsible for IT, but I am also a graduate engineer, specialized in communications-engineering, so I like to think I know about hardware, too! But to answer your question, in the past, we were very close to hardware and in the early days developed the controls ourselves. If our own focus on software slightly drifts away from hardware we must not lose our contact and understanding of the core. IT is not an end-in-itself. We always have to ask ourselves why and for what purpose we develop the applications, and what our interaction with physics
looks like. In the public discussion, a lot of IT hype dominates the narrative. We have observed that many companies are liable to lose their customer focus in doing this.

So, everything will remain the same then?

Meissner: Even with the movement in our development priorities explained above, we are still in the middle of the realignment of our IT structures. This means that we are working on new user interfaces, investing in usability, using web applications, building platforms, and using cloud services. It is important that we do this together with our customers. As an example: My first project was in the US – more than 20 years ago we developed a warehouse management system, which is still in use today at more than 40 locations. It has always been maintained and modernised, and it will probably work in a private cloud in the future.

Back to the hardware. In recent months, Witron has relied on Beckhoff controllers, why is that?

Meissner: We see the future in PC-based controls. We receive an open development environment and we can use our software developments.

The worlds of IT and controls are moving closer together – are high level languages also the future in control technology?

Meissner: The borders between these worlds are fading. The controller sends data into a cloud. IT, office, and shopfloor are mutually dependent on each other, which is why high-level
languages will also gain importance; also docking web applications, increasing flexibility. In addition, universities will only rarely train students in IEC 61131 development. It will not disappear, but high-level languages are gaining importance in our control world.

Which languages do you use at Witron?

Meissner: C++, C#, .net as well as languages for web and mobile applications such as Xamarin/REACT. Data languages such as PL/SQL are just as important.

Do you use open source software?

Meissner: Our current strategy is to open up Witron applications further to the outside world through additional connectivity. We are just about to take the first steps, discuss new applications
– especially in our end-to-end platform, in order to provide users of the supply chain applications with appropriate access and control options. In the future, we want to make Micro Services
available to stores, for example, which will also make our work in the logistics centre easier.

A much-discussed topic in logistics IT is middleware, when there may be several providers in the warehouse. Why do Witron and the other providers have such difficulties in developing interfaces?

Meissner: The problem is that some customers like to tinker with the middleware themselves. If we have a middleware that only creates connections between systems, then it normally works well. However, these middleware applications often get additional functions and logics added to them. The result is that it becomes confusing and sometimes even chaotic. Many users then have to
maintain three systems – our system, the competitor system, and the middleware. We first have to set up the exact processes, create and use interfaces. But often these topics are not discussed properly with the end by the user, and the result is uncontrolled growth. My experience has taught me: if you run several systems together, even via a lean middleware, the user will still not get the most out of the system.

I don’t quite understand – you want your component suppliers such as Beckhoff, Lenze, or Sick to have open interfaces. However, you as an intralogistics expert are reluctant to be more open?

Meissner: Yes, that’s right. In the next few years, we will experience open systems, provide interfaces, also in part to allow access to applications from the supply chain. The magic word is platform. But you also have to consider that, often, Witron technically manages and operates the warehouse. Direct feedback from the technical and operational operation flows into our applications in order to further optimise the system and operation. That trend will continue to increase.

But the customer wants as much data as possible, though…

Meissner: Yes, this is a complex topic. We have to connect the supply chain levels, need more connectivity, and exchange data via MQTT/RESTful http for control and analysis. Read the whole interview here.

Socially Distanced Robotics

Posted on by David Priestman

The top priority for warehouse managers is to keep their associates safe while running their operations. Automation and robotics specialist 6 River Systems has devoted a team to focus solely on post-Covid recommendations, updates and features to improve worker safety.

With the snappily-named ‘Chuck’, 6 River Systems (6RS) says it can double or triple the productivity of warehouse associates—at half the cost of traditional automation and without requiring any new infrastructure or change to warehouse layout. “Chuck is the most configurable collaborative robot in the industry, with which it’s easy to increase throughput, accelerate new hire training,
reduce associate walking, and delight customers,” says Simon Jones, Head of Sales UK and Ireland. The solution goes beyond collaborative robots to increase efficiency across entire warehouse
operations, enabling productivity gains in picking, packing, sorting, and replenishment as well as actionable insights through real-time data.

Simon Jones claims that customers already using Chucks for automation have an advantage in the fight against Covid-19 compared to traditional cart pick operations. “They are more efficient and require fewer associates in the building than manual operations to get the same throughput,” he says. “Distributing pickers across the picking area is a fundamental characteristic of the solution, and pinch points where employees tend to have to congregate, like tote pick up and offload are eliminated, “ Jones adds. “While this is a great start, our goal is to deliver even more ways to increase associate safety at our customers’ operations.”

The biggest challenge is that each warehouse operation is unique and not every solution works for every site. Likewise, designing solutions during the Covid-19 pandemic is a balance between safety, efficiency, current site design and demand. “Rather than offering a one-size-fits all solution, we have compiled a list of recommendations to review and implement in partnership with each
customer site,” he adds. “Although health and hygiene recommendations differ from operation to operation, we are recommending that all associates wear protective gloves and a mask. Chuck is designed with large, easy to clean and robust action and pause buttons and lights, reducing interactions with touchscreens. The touchscreens are compatible with styluses and with a wide variety of gloves, which helps prevent cross-associate contamination.” Read the whole story here: https://flickread.com/edition/html/index.php?pdf=5f3d1fcf3160d#44

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New Forklift Safety System to Aid Social Distancing

 

Will Darkness Protect us from COVID-19?

Posted on by David Priestman

Sunlight was supposed to be the answer to COVID-19. However, fully automated warehouses that no longer need lighting or heating are helping to keep supply lines open during the pandemic. Here Neil Ballinger, head of EMEA sales at automation equipment supplier EU Automation, explains why retailers and distributors are investing heavily in fully automated distribution centres.

The COVID-19 pandemic has accentuated a divide between those companies that have embraced technology and those that have not. Retailers who had invested in automation and e-commerce fared better than their competitors. In 2020, the share price of Ocado, a British online supermarket, doubled while the share price of Marks and Spencer, a traditional high-street retailer, has halved. Clearly, in the eyes of investors the future of retail is online.

Behind the scenes of the race to online shopping, retailers and distributors are working hard to automate their warehouses and gear them towards new shopping behaviour. Amazon has emerged as one of the pioneers in logistics automation. The first generation of logistics professionals at Amazon had cut their teeth at Walmart. When they started working for Amazon, they quickly learned that shipping individual parcels directly to end customers required a different set of processes compared to shipping pallets of goods to stores.

Dark Warehouse

According to Brad Stone, the author of The Everything Store, Amazon executives realised that if they improved how orders were fulfilled, they could turn this into a competitive advantage. They invented a software to calculate the best way of combining the products in each individual order, factor in the address of the customer and ship it all in the least expensive way. Fast and cost-effective, picking, packing and shipping became a strategic advantage for Amazon.

The next frontier in warehouse automation is to seamlessly integrate the processes of sorting, picking and packing. Boxing-up parcels has traditionally been a very labour-intensive process. Last year, Amazon started to invest in packing machines built by CMC, an Italian automation specialist, which pack up to 700 boxes per hour. Automated packaging is currently booming. In Germany, Dm-Drogerie Markt, the country’s largest drugstore, has invested 100 million Euros into a new distribution centre. It contains state-of-the-art automation systems built by Swisslog, a Swiss logistics automation supplier. In the UK, The White Company, a clothing retailer, is planning to install a Quadient CVP Everest, also an automated packing machine, in August 2020.

Does a fully automated warehouse still need lighting? In a recent newsletter, Swisslog’s Paul Stringeman described the distribution centre of the future as follows: “no staff driving back and forth on forklift trucks, no load handlers examining products and picking items onto pallets, not even an electric light – just sky high racking, shuttles, lifts, robots, conveyors and autonomous vehicles choosing their own paths through the darkness”.

COVID-19 accelerated the use of technology in logistics. When a warehouse is fully automated, it no longer needs flickering neon tubes to keep running. Lights-out logistics is fast becoming a reality. http://www.euautomation.com/us/

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Industry View: Automation and the Future of Warehouse Racking

 

Union for Delivering Turnkey Warehouse Automation

Posted on by David Priestman

The Invar Group is bringing together three specialist organisations in the warehouse software, automation and controls sector. The Group comprises: Invar Systems, a developer of warehouse control and management systems; Invar Integration (Greenstone Systems), a front runner in solutions design, hardware integration and project management; and Invar Controls, specialists in the design, implementation and maintenance of PLC software and hardware.

As part of the Invar companies, long-established automated warehouse systems integrator, Greenstone Systems, will become Invar Integration and will work seamlessly to deliver advanced intralogistics solutions. Greenstone Systems has worked on numerous major projects across the UK and Europe for customers ranging from leading fashion retailers to manufacturers and logistics service providers. The formation of the Invar Group of companies creates a ‘union of technological excellence’ focused on delivering complete turnkey warehouse automation solutions – using a combination of advanced technologies such as industrial robotics, AMR goods-to-person solutions, pick-to-light technology, sortation systems, as well as the full gamut of conventional warehouse automation.

The Invar Group of companies brings together a team of individuals with a wealth of experience in providing innovative supply chain solutions to world leading brands, across ecommerce fulfilment, intralogistics, and warehousing & distribution operations. Invar Systems, founded in 2005, is the leading supplier of warehouse management and control software. It will continue to develop, implement and maintain the Group’s warehouse software systems.

Invar Integration will be responsible for solution design, hardware integration, implementation and project management – as well as on-going maintenance and support to customers. Invar Controls will design, implement and maintain the Group’s PLC software and hardware, as well as electrical installations.

Invar and Greenstone have worked closely together in recent years on a large number of major projects for international brands. Most recently, the two companies worked on a joint initiative to deliver a multi-million pound omni-channel distribution centre for a large logistics company. The project comprised WMS, WCS and PLC software, integrating 1.5km of conveyor connecting inbound, bulk storage, active picking, packing and outbound processes. Some of the hardware technologies integrated within the system include multiple vertical goods lifts servicing a mezzanine floor and put-to-light technology. The system also includes weighing, volumetrics, packing and label applying automated processes.

Tim Wright, Managing Director, Invar Systems says: “By working even closer, we can combine our experience and knowledge to offer our customers a complete automation solution in house, all from our UK base in Cranfield. This includes solutions design and consultancy, bespoke hardware, bespoke software, project management and system implementation – along with on-going support.  Creating a strong, cohesive business that leverages the collective talent of each individual member of the Invar Group will enable us to deliver truly industry leading solutions for our customers – systems that transform operational performance within the warehouse and enhance competitive positioning in the market. By pooling our resources and streamlining our processes we are in an even stronger position to offer the flexibility and support our customers need.”

Craig Whitehouse, Managing Director, Invar Integration says: “Businesses are having to adapt as never before. A shortage of available labour, the pressures of social distancing and an unpredicted surge in demand for online orders has created a perfect storm, where the automation of key warehouse processes is the only viable or sustainable way forward. We believe this is the perfect opportunity for companies to adopt flexible, scalable warehouse automation – clever systems that can adapt to the changing needs of a business. Together, Invar Group has all the necessary capabilities, inspiration and talent to design, build and deliver ‘transformative’ automated solutions, suited to today’s new challenges.”

Headquartered in Cranfield, UK, and operating from offices in the US and The Netherlands, the Invar Group of companies has a team of over 65 staff – from software developers, design engineers and project managers, to installation specialists, electrical engineers and support services.

www.invarsystems.com

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