ifwla - Warehousing and Logistics International

22 AutomationDave Bull, business development manager at Dematic, explains how the profile of automation ischanging as solutions offer greater accessibility, flexibility and resilience as well as a faster return oninvestmentAutomation’schanging profileSay the word ‘Automation’ and many in thelogistics world will immediately think ofAutomated Storage and Retrieval Systems(ASRS). This established technology allows fordense storage of both pallets via automatedstacker cranes allowing heights of up to 40metres and for smaller unit loads, such as totesor full cases, in miniload and multi-shuttle systems.However the profile of automation is changing, particularlyin retail. With most retailers now having someform of Internet business many distribution centres nowserve multichannel retail operations supplying storesand internet orders – both to the customer’s home andas a ‘click and collect’ operation, where the onlineorder is being picked up in the store.So technologies that are likely to have an impact onautomated warehousing over the next couple of yearswill be those that can provide solutions for maintaininghigh customer service levels in multichannel operations– particularly those that have increased their e-commercevolumes rapidly. These technologies includemulti-shuttle systems. Although not new these systemsare still very much an emerging technology and theuses for which they are deployed are constantly evolving.Very much interlinked with shuttle technology areIssue No 3www.ifwla.com