Highly competitive markets demand innovative supply chain solutions. The MultiPick automated picking system enables companies in a variety of market sectors to cut their handling costs and improve profitability.
MultiPick combines buffer storage and order picking functions into one flexible operation that handles large volumes with ease.
MultiPick can take care of a range of operations including buffer storage of goods arriving from production or goods-in, sorting and sequencing of products requiring processing, order picking, delivery scheduling, load planning and order release. With a modular, overhead gantry design, MultiPick solutions can cover large working areas.
Any number of robots – each equipped with tubular grippers designed specifically for handling the particular unit load – can be employed, according to the throughput demands of the application. MultiPick installations range from simple systems to complex solutions but the basic operating principle is the same: the robots handle, store and pick products in stacks.
Goods arrive at the MultiPick area by conveyor in stacks of crates containing just one product type, or stock-keeping unit (SKU). A robot collects the stack – which can weigh up to 250 kg – and stores it on the floor somewhere within its working envelope, before either collecting another stack or moving into order picking mode.
For picking, the robot moves to the relevant stack for the first product of the order. After picking the number of crates of this SKU required, the robot moves to the next product to pick the required amount, and so on. If a large volume of
one SKU is needed, the robot can pick a complete stack in one lift.
When the stack being picked is complete, the robot either stores it for dispatch later or deposits it on the outfeed conveyor. Alternative operating modes are possible – such as ‘pre-pick’ and ‘drop’ – but the end result is customer-specific stacks or pallets.
MultiPick can also take into account special stacking rules demanded by each customer. For example, retailers may specify that the heaviest goods be placed at the bottom of a stack to facilitate ergonomic replenishment at their stores.
Cimcorp’s Warehouse Control Software (WCS) supervises the required warehouse functions, including control of the order picking and material flow. The WCS system – which features an intuitive Graphical User Interface – always operates
under the customer’s host system, from which it receives all the relevant data such as products, order lines, volumes, priorities and dispatch deadlines.
WCS can also control consolidation and dispatch planning so that orders are sent to the shipping dock in reverse drop sequence, ready for loading into delivery vehicles.
