The Satellite Review Magazine 2017 Satellite Review Magazine_pages hi res | Page 11

M
any companies today recognize that imple-
menting environmentally friendly, or “green,”
policies and practices can result in cost savings
that directly impact their bottom line. However, being
green also has the added benefit of enhancing a busi-
ness’ brand reputation. In fact, in a Nielsen survey of
30,000 consumers in 60 countries, 55 percent of respon-
dents said they are willing to pay more for products and
services provided by companies committed to making a
positive environmental impact. for maintenance and viewing. Cameras with LED light-
ing provide visual connections to operators, if desired.
One key business area that companies can go green is
their warehouse and distribution center. How? By au-
tomating warehouse operations. Through automation,
warehouses and distribution centers can minimize land
usage, lower energy expenditures and reduce waste pro-
duction, thereby lessening their environmental impact. In conventional warehouses outfitted with forklifts, a
lot of waste can derive from re-packaging and product
loss due to damage and mishandling. But an automated
warehouse eliminates the need for most fork trucks,
which reduces the likelihood of product damage and
loss. Notably, an AS/RS can retrieve and transport
pallets safely and smoothly across the system through
the use of S/RMs and conveyors. This prompts less
plastic stretch wrap consumption, as securing the pallet
is not as big of a concern as with a fork truck. Moreover,
without forklifts, warehouses no longer need to replace
forklift batteries nor use battery charging stations that
expend considerable energy. Fewer old batteries end
up in landfills, which pose ecological concerns due to
hazardous waste.
Minimize Land Usage
A conventional warehouse typically requires a consid-
erable building footprint to accommodate a company’s
inventory. And, as business grows and more products
are added, additional construction and increased land
usage may be required. But by installing a high-density
automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS), com-
panies can store more products in a smaller space and
minimize building requirements. On average, an AS/RS
translates to a 40 percent or more reduction in square
footage requirements when compared to a conventional
warehouse, and often reaches reductions of up to 300%
if building a taller AS/RS. So, when building a new
facility, less land is needed. And, growing companies
with an existing warehouse who are contemplating
expansion via a building addition or a new facility can
forgo construction expenses and additional land use by
using their existing space by densifying storage through
an AS/RS.
Lower Energy Expenditures
In manual warehouses, lighting requirements, as well as
ingress and egress from climate controlled spaces can
lead to higher energy costs. Perishable goods ware-
houses are particularly affected by higher refrigeration
costs due to larger ceiling square footage and opening
and closing of wall penetrations. In contrast, automated
warehouses require less energy to function. With fewer
aisles that are automated, no lighting is required except
Additional energy savings are possible by using storage
and retrieval machines (S/RMs) outfitted with regener-
ative braking. These mechanisms allow surplus braking
energy to be stored or transferred to the power grid and
used by other machines operating on the same grid.
Reduce Waste Production
Companies can further reduce waste and damage by
implementing a warehouse execution system (WES),
which optimizes the movement of products within the
warehouse. A WES marries the automated equipment
control of warehouse control system (WCS) with the
inventory control of a warehouse management system
(WMS) into a single application. With greater control
over inventory, warehouses with time-sensitive prod-
ucts can employ first-expired, first-out (FEFO) invento-
ry management methods to minimize product loss due
to expiration dates.
Through warehouse automation technologies like AS/
RS, companies can uncover new cost savings and posi-
tion themselves as market leaders in sustainability. By
establishing an industry reputation for being environ-
mentally conscious, they can differentiate themselves
among the competition and strengthen consumer
loyalty.
www.WestfaliaUSA.com
The Satellite Review
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