Page 22 - Logistics News Oct Nov 2020
P. 22
allows unused space to be used
incorporate green space.
for production and other purposes.
Automated warehouses and dis-
The reduced space requirements
Repurposing space demonstrates
tribution centers require a smaller
yet another way in which automa-
are due to several factors. First,
building footprint. On average,
the AS/RS allows flexibility in terms tion reduces building size require-
AS/RS use translates to reductions
of the height, length and width
ments, decreases environmental
in square footage requirements by
impact and lowers operating costs.
of the storage area. Plus, multiple-
40% or more when compared to
deep storage lanes make even
conventional warehouses storing
denser storage possible. Deeper
equivalent product inventories. So,
ENERGY
lanes translate to fewer aisles, and
when planning to construct a new
CONSUMPTION
aisles occupy a lot of warehouse
facility, the amount of land needed
space that could be used for other
will be less, decreasing the envi-
purposes including product stor-
Automated warehouses require
ronmental impact. Businesses with
age. Minimizing aisle requirements
less energy to function. Reductions
existing structures contemplating
while concurrently integrating
arise from fewer interior lights, less
expansion via a building addition
infeed and outfeed conveyors
or a new facility can forgo con-
space to heat and cool, and the
struction expenses and additional
At a time when warehouses are looking to run as lean
land use by installing an AS/RS
and leveraging existing space
(and green) as possible, energy usage can add up to
more efficiently. Beyond lowering
substantial operational costs.
costs, there is less environmental
Warehouse Sustainability LAND USE damage and more opportunities to and pick tunnels into the AS/RS
Go green with a sustainable
automated warehouse
Courtesy Westfalia
More and more firms are finding that automating their warehouses and
distribution centres offers a great way to go green while adding efficiencies
and savings to operations.
So You Want to Automate? 38
SUSTAINABILITY OR going green is an selling points of AS/RS. Less well known,
important business goal as everyone yet equally important, are the environmental
understands the importance of minimising benefits that automation provides. Three
the environmental impact of business. Efforts primary green outcomes are less land use,
at reducing carbon emissions, recycling and lower energy consumption and reduced
purchasing green products serve as common hazardous waste production.
examples of ways in which many businesses
try to be more eco-friendly. However, more Land use
and more firms are finding that automating Automated warehouses and DCs require a
their warehouses and DCs offers a great way smaller building footprint. On average, AS/
to go green while adding efficiencies and RS use translates to reductions in square
savings to operations. In many ways, going footage requirements by 40 percent or more
green can change accounting ledger entries when compared to conventional warehouses
from red to black. storing equivalent product inventories. So,
How is that possible? A modern when planning to construct a new facility,
automated storage and retrieval system the amount of land needed will be less,
(AS/RS) offers designs that adapt to most decreasing the environmental impact.
business models and product characteristics. Businesses with existing structures
The firm’s historic operational data projected contemplating expansion via a building
to a design year determines the best layout addition or a new facility can forgo
options, not a standard one-size-fits-all construction expenses and additional land
approach. Hybrid designs have the ability use by installing an AS/RS and leveraging
to store products single-deep, double-deep existing space more efficiently. Beyond
or up to 12 loads deep in the rack structure lowering costs, there is less environmental
as well as use a single crane or two in any damage and more opportunities to
aisle. These design tools allow logisticians incorporate green space.
to create solutions that fit the customer’s The reduced space requirements are due
business and do so in an environmentally to several factors. First, the AS/RS allows
friendly way. flexibility in terms of the height, length and
Improvements in structural design and width of the storage area. Plus, multiple-
motor drive technology make it possible deep storage lanes make even denser storage
to handle multiple loads (pallets) at a time possible. Deeper lanes translate to fewer
on one storage and retrieval machine (S/ aisles, and aisles occupy a lot of warehouse
RM). This allows designers more flexibility to space that could be used for other purposes
provide higher or lower performance in an including product storage. Minimising aisle
aisle. requirements while concurrently integrating
These operational benefits are the key infeed and outfeed conveyors and pick tunnels
20 October/November 2020 | Logistics News
