Market pressure is relentless, and warehouses need to increase the speed of their operations if they are to keep pace with global competition. And as with so many intralogistics processes, (partial) automation offers a way of increasing efficiency. In particular, there are opportunities to be found with horizontal picking, i.e. picking at ground level – as this task ties down significant resources.
Manual picking is time-consuming and laborious, in DIY stores, car suppliers and more. Even if a specific action only takes a few seconds, that can easily add up to considerable productivity losses over the course of the working day. Some 30 to 45 percent of working hours are taken up simply by the worker walking from A to B, and another 30 to 45 percent for stowing and retrieving the goods. At the same time, there are ever-growing expectations in terms of higher pick rates and lower error rates – while avoiding any negative impact on health and safety.
Greater picking efficiency through semi-automation
Against this background, companies are developing new solutions designed to raise process efficiency, maximize stock turn and reduce the physical strain on staff. An example was recently unveiled by intralogistics specialist Linde Material Handling: N20 SA und N20 C SA semi-automated horizontal order pickers.
Is it worth upgrading? Yes, as various tests have shown that semi-automated devices of this kind drastically reduce the amount of walking required. As a result, it is possible to increase efficiency by around 20 percent compared to manual picking.
These semi-automated pickers support two operating modes: the walk-with-me mode is suited to picking items from racking one compartment at a time, and from one side of the aisle then the other. The operator walks through the aisle in a U-shape, and the device follows automatically at a constant speed, stopping as soon as the worker does. In continuous mode, the device simply drives through the middle of the aisle ahead of the worker, and is loaded from both sides. The operator follows a zigzag course, going from one side of the aisle to the other, taking items from the two racks, and stopping the device by pressing a button.
A human-machine team: safety a top priority
Whenever humans and autonomous or semi-autonomous machines interact, there is a question of safety. And the manufacturers make it a top priority. The partially automated order pickers from Linde Material Handling, for instance, have a powerful scanner that identifies people and other vehicles – and can therefore recognize unexpected obstacles. At the same time, the vehicle constantly maintains a safe distance to racking and people, and stops at the end of the aisle. A further advantage is that semi-automated operation can actually prevent accidents by obviating the need for the worker to repeatedly hop on and off the vehicle, reducing the likelihood of injury.