Mid-Load ASRS - myfacilitiesnet

Mid-Load ASRS – The ASRS
That Scales for Maximum ROI
Mid-Load
Mini-Load
Unit Load
Phone: 248-668-8250 | info@isddd.com | www.ISDDD.com
INTEGRATED SYSTEMS DESIGN
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Automated Storage and Retrieval
Systems |
Ever since the advent of Automated
Storage and Retrieval Systems (ASRS) for
decades, companies have been enamored
with the promise of greatly increased storage
density over traditional manual or fork truck
based handling for the storage, staging and
distribution of items, cases, pallets and
custom sized materials.
ASRS solutions offer increased storage
capacity and space utilization being able to
store product higher and more densely using
less workers to do it. Depending on the type
of system, an ASRS could reduce space
requirements by 85% and use 2/3 less labor.
A company could re-deploy that saved labor
to another area for further savings or
increased production.
Traditionally, there were two main types
of ASRS solutions: mini-load (for eaches
and cases) and unit-load ASRS (for full or
mixed entire pallet storage). The problem is
that for a number of companies, the promise
of ASRS caused them to try to fit one of
these existing ASRS solutions into their
operations, in essence taking a square
peg solution and trying to fit it into their
round-hole requirement. This either created
a higher cost and longer ROI than promised
or an over stressed ASRS. In addition, some
companies had unique or oddly shaped
products that neither traditional ASRS
offering could address.
While the benefits of an ASRS System are
indeed strong, the companies able to afford
the cost or wait for the ROI remained small.
Companies interested in ASRS technology
wanted a lower cost and faster ROI solution,
and one that could span both mini-load and
unit-load ASRS requirements. A new type of
ASRS was needed…mid-load ASRS.
mid-load ASRS solution can handle pallet
loads, totes, and cartons, as well as other
custom load types not typically able to be
handled by mini-load or unit-load ASRS.
This makes mid-load ASRS a more flexible
solution for companies looking to automate
new or existing processes including buffer
storage, sequencing, order picking, work-inprogress (WIP), tooling, machine component,
and frozen goods automated storage.
Mid-load ASRS is a scalable
solution that can handle loads
ranging from 10 to 60 inches
wide by 18 to 96 inches in depth
with load capacities of up to
2000 lbs (907 kg) which meets
many company’s’ requirements
When Do You Use A Mid-Load ASRS?
What is a Mid-Load ASRS? |
Mid-load ASRS is a new genre of ASRS that
has emerged over the past few years to
address the requirements of both mini-load
and unit-load ASRS in a single solution. A
A Scalable, Flexible ASRS
Solution |
Throughput
Load Weight
Reliability
ROI
Customization
Mini-Load
High
< 1200 lbs.
Good
Average
No
Unit-Load
High
up to 5000 lbs.
Good
Average
No
Mid-Load
Medium
up to 2000 lbs.
Excellent
Excellent
Yes
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for ASRS storage. This flexibility means that
mid-load ASRS can handle a wider variety of
items, including the ‘unique’ shaped items
usually considered ill-suited for traditional
automatic storage including such items as
automobile seats, investment castings and
other odd shaped pieces.
be used to pick and replenish
loads manually until the crane
and extractor are ready to be
used again. No more scheduled
or even unscheduled downtime,
as the system can continue to
run even while maintenance is
being performed on the unit. The
result is higher uptime than with
a traditional system as downtime
is virtually eliminated.
Faster Install Than Traditional
ASRS and a Quicker ROI |
Companies familiar with the high cost, long
lead times and ongoing high maintenance
costs associated with traditional mini-load or
unit-load ASRS have begun looking at midload ASRS as a solution offering a faster
return on investment (ROI) and lower total
cost of ownership. Unlike traditional ASRS, a
mid-load ASRS is installed directly on the
surface of the floor and not on a rail system,
so the installation is faster and less costly.
This also provides the flexibility to easily
move or relocate the system in the future.
Peace of Mind
Maintenance
and Access to Your
Products…
All the Time |
Peace of Mind Maintenance
and Access to Your Products…
All the Time |
Once installed, the learning curve of
traditional ASRS solutions typically means
several more weeks before beginning to
realize the benefits of the system. The “User
Friendly” easy to use controls and HMI
(human machine interface) of a mid-load
ASRS allow the system to be up and running
quickly with minimum training and virtually no
operator interaction. IT specialists are
minimally required during installation and
going live, the system can then be run by
your maintenance department. Ongoing this
further reduces installation costs and lowers
the total cost of ownership.
An often not discussed area of ASRS
operation is machine downtime as there are
two types of ASRS systems, those they have
gone down unexpectedly and those that will.
While you can do your best to plan for
downtime and minimize your risk by
performing maintenance on schedule, the
fact is that you can’t plan for everything.
Maintenance and downtime means product
not being picked.
A mid-load ASRS lets you plan for the
unexpected because you can use the system
in a manual mode during scheduled (or
unscheduled) system downtime. The crane
and extractor system on a mid-load ASRS
isn’t mounted on a rail, but to the surface of
the floor. This means the crane and extractor
system can easily be moved out of the aisle
and a fork lift with a special attachment can
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An often not discussed area
of ASRS operation is machine
downtime as there are two types
of ASRS systems, those they
have gone down unexpectedly
and those that will. While you
can do your best to plan for
downtime and minimize your risk
by performing maintenance on
schedule, the fact is that you
can’t plan for everything.
Maintenance and downtime
means product not being picked.
A mid-load ASRS lets you plan
for the unexpected because you
can use the system in a manual
mode during scheduled (or
unscheduled) system downtime.
The crane and extractor system
on a mid-load ASRS isn’t
mounted on a rail, but to the
surface of the floor. This means
the crane and extractor system
INTEGRATED SYSTEMS DESIGN
can easily be moved out of the aisle and a
fork lift with a special attachment can be used
to pick and replenish loads manually until the
crane and extractor are ready to be used
again. No more scheduled or even
unscheduled downtime, as the system can
continue to run even while maintenance is
being performed on the unit. The result is
higher uptime than with a traditional system
as downtime is virtually eliminated.
WHITE PAPERS
Conclusion |
ISD’s Mid-load ASRS is a flexible, scalable
solution that is more affordable than mini-load
or unit-load and offers a reliability and ease of
maintenance that translate into a lower total
cost of ownership for your automated storage
needs.
About ISD & the UltraStore
Mid-Load ASRS |
Integrated Systems Design
(ISD) is a leading systems
integrator and manufacturer
of a line of efficient automated
material handling solutions
called the UltraProducts
(www.ISDDD.com/UltraProducts ).
The UltraStore mid-load
ASRS is designed by ISD focusing on providing space savings,
increased productivity, reduced
labor, higher accuracy and
system flexibility to change as
operational activities change
in the future. Utilizing proven
technology and off the shelf
components helps provide cost
effective solutions requiring
minimum maintenance and
yielding fast Return on Investments (ROI). The UltraStore
mid-load ASRS is manufactured
in the USA helping to reduce
lead time.
Dealing with Constant
of Change |
If there is one thing you can count on it is
change. The automation system you get
today needs to be able to meet your needs of
tomorrow. A mid-load ASRS with a surface
mounted track and guide system offers a
higher level of flexibility so you can be ready
to easily change, move or completely relocate
your system as your business needs
inevitably change over time.
ISD has already installed over
100 UltraStore mid-load ASRS
systems in the marketplace
For more information please
call 855-ISD-TODAY, email:
info@isddd.com or visit our
website at www.ISDDD.com or
the UltraStore ASRS page for
information and video:
www.ISDDD.com/UltraStore
Integrated Systems Design
Phone: 248-668-8250 | Fax: 248-668-8568 | info@isddd.com | www.ISDDD.com
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