AutoStore boosts PUMA’s distribution centre to 10% capacity

Warehouse robotics firm AutoStore has revelead that its AutoStoreTM Route is the brains behind the 10 per cent capacity increase in PUMA’s distribution centre.

In the fast-paced material handling and logistics environment, warehouse owners are increasingly under pressure to attain faster picks, higher throughput and improved inventory rotation.

For AutoStore customer, PUMA, who was already using an Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS) in its Indiana-based distribution centre, the implementation of AutoStore Route software has yielded significant benefits.

PUMA’s distribution centre features an ASRS system which incorporates a fleet of AutoStore Black Line Robots – all programmed and managed by the Router software platform. With these solutions, the centre has achieved a 10 per cent increase in capacity and a 25 per cent increase in hourly bin deliveries.

“The Router platform has been demonstrated to boost performance by up to 40%,” explained Jason Wu, Business Development Manager, AutoStore Australia and New Zealand.

“In micro-fulfillment centres, for example, where warehouse space is limited and warehouse owners want to get the most out of their ASRS solutions, the Router software proves an excellent solution,” Wu said.

“It maximises all of the benefits of the ASRS system – space efficiency, flexibility, scalability and speed,” he said.

Dynamic route planning

Router makes use of proprietary algorithms that recalculate every route for every Robot on the user’s Grid, every second. It is designed to identify the most optimal route to the target destination, maximising performance even on high density Grids.

“An added benefit is that the Robots travel shorter distances and make fewer turns, meaning that they require less maintenance over time,” Wu pointed out.

Enables improved performance management

The new Router software can handle twice the number of Robots, in the same space footprint.

“This enables the user to accelerate the picking and fulfilment process, even in a system with higher robot density and where space is limited,” Wu explained.

He continued that the tehcnology has been shown to boost throughput by four times.

AutoStore said the innovative software earned company a nomination for the Material Handling Product News (MHPN) and MaterialHandling247.com 2020 Product of the Year Readers’ Choice Award.

“In the local market, where our customers are seeking out solutions that help them maximise the efficiency and productivity of their ASRS systems, Router is adding significant value by increasing capacity and efficacy,” Wu concluded.