INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN
AUTOMATION & TECHNOLOGY you should factor in potential downtime while you switch across .
Can your business sustain a loss of income while you turn off one storage solution and switch to an automated solution ? Again , this needs careful consideration .
COULD SEMI-AUTOMATION BE THE SOLUTION Many companies are taking a wait and see approach before diving headlong into investing in a fully automated environment . In the meantime , they are also making use of semi-automated solutions , which are designed to reduce some of the most labour-intensive tasks , such as order picking .
Examples of these include pallet shuttle systems , which increase storage capacity , save time and reduce operating costs . Likewise , mobile pallet racking systems , which have a guaranteed operational safety at temperatures as low as -30 ° C and can carry bay loads of up 30 tons at racking heights of up to 15m .
Here are some of the advantages of semiautomation :
• It can be retrofitted to an existing facility and it has a bigger balance between people and software
• It is a less costly investment than full automation
• Semi-automation makes better use of the space available , while maintaining the people you have
• Semi-automation can be configured so that at some point in the future , and if necessary , you can move to a fully automated state
In summary , an automated warehouse is a marvellous storage solution which can greatly increase efficiency while at the same time cutting costs . However , it is not the right solution for all businesses , especially when the initial investment is factored in . Automation within the logistics industry has enabled many companies to keep pace with demand , but full automation is usually more expensive . CLA
An automated warehouse can represent a significant outlay , but can save costs on land purchase and , in the longer term , wage and energy bills .
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