When it comes to saving energy, the first thing that springs to mind is areas such as lighting, ventilation, electricity or heating. However, areas can also be identified in intralogistics that can be made significantly more sustainable with the right technology and thus make an important contribution to a company’s holistic climate strategy.
Sometimes existing storage areas need to be upgraded without the option of expansion. On the other hand, new buildings may have to be smaller due to high land prices or other restrictions. In such cases, companies are increasingly opting to use mobile racking systems in conjunction with an automated guided vehicle system. These can be integrated into existing hall layouts, ensure optimum space gains and a constant flow of materials and help to permanently reduce operating costs around the clock. The additional advantage: the dependency on personnel is reduced and the error rate is close to zero.
The pressure on intralogistics is growing – new warehouse solutions help
Due to ongoing cost increases, more and more companies are being forced to fundamentally review and optimize their intralogistics processes. While personnel costs are high, there is a lack of qualified specialists who can deal with the increasingly complex requirements in production, assembly and warehouse logistics. In addition, there are delays in the supply of materials, which has a negative impact on adherence to delivery dates and customer satisfaction. Decision-makers are faced with the challenge of having to expand capacities in limited hall space. In most cases, it then turns out that the height of buildings is not being used efficiently.
The solution is so-called mobile racking systems, which are operated by an automated guided vehicle system. These systems help to ensure that storage space is optimally utilized and that operating and energy costs are significantly reduced – with comparatively moderate investments. The consequences:
- Up to 40% less space required than with stationary rows of shelves
- Reduced operating procedures for accessing storage objects
- 90% higher storage capacity
- Space for 85% more storage volume in one and the same area
- Constant flow of goods
- Optimized capacity utilization
- Minimization of buffer stocks
- Measurable error reduction
The effects of racking systems in conjunction with automated guided vehicles
The use of mobile racking systems is particularly advantageous when more storage space needs to be created in a limited area. The systems take up around 40% less space than statically arranged rows of shelving. In turn, the storage capacity increases by around 85% while the area remains the same! Cumbersome search processes and travel times as well as traffic areas required in advance are reduced – and energy is saved. A driverless transport vehicle, which is used in conjunction with the storage systems, is able to complete 11 to 14 double cycles per hour. Overall, the transport system reduces the dependency on personnel and forklift equipment, which is also cost-intensive. And it even goes one step further: using suitable logistics software such as WAMAS® with an integrated fleet controller, transport routes can be analyzed and optimized even more efficiently. The logistics software communicates easily with the central KENEXOS® application platform via standardized interfaces.
Whether in the construction and building technology segment, in the public sector or in industry – the requirements for constant availability of goods and materials are also increasing. For this reason, supply bottlenecks must be avoided. One trend that is becoming apparent is that outsourced process steps are once again being handled in-house. Companies are thus regaining control and improving their responsiveness through closer internal networking. With digital solutions such as KENEXOS®, they benefit from significantly greater transparency at inventory and material flow level. What KENEXOS® also makes possible is the associated controlling, such as measuring the performance of forklift drivers.
Intelligent and high-performance shelving systems increase competitiveness and make production more sustainable
Both mobile racking systems and driverless transport systems have a modular design and, above all, are easy to retrofit. If both are used in combination with each other, they make a decisive contribution to the holistic optimization of storage and transport processes. This solution is particularly suitable for so-called slow-moving items or B and C articles. Small and medium-sized companies benefit most from this, as the mobile racking system achieves a high storage density and free space is used for alternative purposes. Personnel are saved, the system works around the clock if required and any customer requirements can be processed immediately. The higher the requirements become, the more the system grows with them. This saves companies time, ensures investment security and prevents unplanned follow-up costs. By networking the systems internally, processes are controlled in an even more centralized and transparent manner, which significantly improves response times and the associated problem solving.
With its visualization options for energy monitoring, KENEXOS® makes it easy to get started and provides you with all the tools you need for process optimization in construction and building technology, industry and the public sector. Test the centralized, device-independent software solution for documentation, order entry and awarding, process planning and optimization as well as complete team communication now for 14 days free of charge. You can find all the information you need at www.kenexos.com.
About KENEXOS®
With Kreutzpointner Business Software GmbH (KBS for short), Kreutzpointner is setting a significant milestone in the technical development of the entire group of companies. Kreutzpointner Business Software GmbH focuses on the special requirements and digital needs of industrial customers with an independent business model. The operational launch took place in October 2020.
With KENEXOS®, KBS offers corporate customers an individually expandable application platform with its own software products and focuses on the implementation of industrial applications. KENEXOS® offers modern web technology for access via a wide range of end devices and enables integration with existing systems via an API interface. The standard modules include, for example, construction site documentation, task and ticket recording, plant management and maintenance and many more. The application platform is available for in-house installation (on-premise) or as a cloud solution (SaaS).
The ideas and the technical basis for Kreutzpointner Business Software GmbH have been successfully developed in recent years as part of the company-wide “Research & Development” process. In addition to the IT systems division, the new digital unit ideally rounds off Kreutzpointner’s large portfolio.
