FOCUS ON STORAGE
Investing in material flow
Karl Weisshaar established KWM Weisshaar in 1979, but it was not until 2007 that a new, multi-story production facility was built.
Karl’ s son Jörg, who holds a degree in industrial engineering, said:“ At the time, we reorganised our entire material flow and invested in modern production machinery and efficient warehousing technology. Back then, my father was looking for a manufacturer that could supply not only the order picking storage system for final assembly, but also the bulk material warehousing. Working with the same partner for both storage systems was key for us.”
Another factor played a significant role in the decision-making. The supplier needed to be able to implement the refurbishment project quickly, with minimal impact on production, as the sheet metal processing firm was reorganising its material flow while the business was fully operational.
Since 2007, KWM Weisshaar has been using the Kasto UNIGRIP buffer store with three output stations along with a Kasto UNILINE with 13 output stations for raw material storage. The former has 682 spaces that can accommodate wire mesh containers ranging from 530-2,000mm in height. Each has a maximum payload of three tonnes. The output stations are equipped with sensors that monitor the dimensions of the load and halt operation if the specifications are exceeded.
Service and overhaul
Holger Guddat, in charge of maintenance and repair at KWM Weisshaar, commented:“ Over the years, we have encountered only a very few storage system-related issues. The technology operates flawlessly, which is crucial to us, since any downtime would stop our entire production.
“ With operational uptime in mind, we ensure that the storage systems are regularly serviced. If the unexpected does occur, we rely on Kasto for prompt assistance. When we report a fault, a service technician usually arrives the same day and rectifies it almost always within a few hours.”
The overhaul started at the beginning of January 2024 and ten Kasto service technicians were deployed to replace all the electrical components( including the switch cabinets, control panels and drive controllers). New Profinet bus technology was installed and the energy supply to the overhead gantry crane was upgraded.
The technicians also modified safety equipment( such as the emergency stop, safety door, light barriers) and the limit switches for the hoisting gear and longitudinal travel, so that they meet current specifications. Warehouse management system software,
Above: Bonding sheet metal at KWM Weisshaar.
UNILINE storage system
Kasto’ s UNILINE storage system can be installed as a stand-alone unit within existing buildings. Upon request, the steel structure can be designed as a rack-supported silo construction with wall and roof enclosure.
The UNILINE offers different system pallets for flat and bulky storage of goods where different formats can be combined. Typical applications include:
■ Sheet metal storage systems for commissioning in steel distribution.
■ Interface to sheet metal processing machines for virtually unmanned operation.
■ Logistics centre to store crates, tools and other materials to interface different work areas in manufacturing facilities.
Each UNIGRIP cassette has a capacity of three tons and can accommodate material of up to three metres in length.
ISMR October 2026 | ismr. net | 89