Vanderlande Industries launches new Automated Case Picker

Vanderlande Industries has successfully completed development and implementation of its Automated Case Picker, which forms the heart of the companys new Automated Case Picking system. This system lowers the costs per case handled by 40% compared with a traditional picking operation. The Automated Case Picking system is especially aimed at retailers, who require high throughput to handle a large product range with a variety of cases. The Automated Case Picker is available for demonstration in Vanderlandes Innovation Centre.
 
In the Automated Case Picking system, cases are stored on large trays, instead of individually, which significantly reduces the number of crane movements and therefore the number of AS/RS systems required to handle the workload. Hence, the Automated Case Picking system requires a significantly lower initial investment. Compared with traditional manual picking, costs per case handled can be reduced by 40% and investments can have a payback time of less than 4 years. The new Automated Case Picking system also secures stock availability in the pick face and ensures short order processing time, improving service level to retail stores. This new system is especially beneficial for retailers, who require high throughput systems which can handle a large product range. Automated Case Picking systems can be easily upscaled, starting from 30,000 cases per day.
 
In the Automated Case Picking system, pallets coming from bulk storage are automatically de-palletised. The cases are inspected and loaded onto large trays, each holding multiple cases. They are automatically stored in a racking structure.  The Automated Case Picker retrieves the individual cases from the trays in the sequence required to fulfil orders. The Case Picker can handle a wide variety of cases, such as trays, displays and PET bottles. The picked cases are conveyed to a robotic palletising system, which loads the products automatically as mixed loads on either pallets or roll cages. The loading takes family grouping and weight requirements into account to ensure store friendly delivery. The Automated Case Picker is available for demonstration in Vanderlandes Innovation Centre.
 
About Vanderlande Industries
Vanderlande Industries is a materials handling company with nearly 60 years of experience. The company has successfully automated more than 1,000 warehouses and distribution centres worldwide. Vanderlande Industries specialises in designing and building intelligent IT-driven materials handling systems and related services, which cover the entire distribution centre process, from Goods Receiving to Shipping. These solutions enable customers to organise their process in the most efficient, cost effective way. Vanderlande Industries automated materials handling solutions have low labour requirements, make efficient use of available floor space, and enable companies to deliver higher customer service levels, while keeping costs down. In financial year 2009 the company had sales of more than 650 million. Vanderlande Industries operates from its headquarters in the Netherlands and Customer Centres in many countries.