Page 23 - Logistics News Oct Nov 2020

LAND USE
and pick tunnels into the AS/RS
damage and more opportunities to
incorporate green space.
allows unused space to be used
for production and other purposes.
Automated warehouses and dis-
Repurposing space demonstrates
The reduced space requirements
tribution centers require a smaller
are due to several factors. First,
yet another way in which automa-
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
of the storage area. Plus, multiple-
impact and lowers operating costs.
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
space to heat and cool, and the
or a new facility can forgo con-
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
So You Want to Automate? 38
into the AS/RS allows unused space to be wrapping and other byproducts associated
used for production and other purposes. with forklift use, such as damage to the
Repurposing space demonstrates yet another building and rack systems as well as battery
way in which automation reduces building size use. Another often overlooked source of
requirements, decreases environmental impact waste is from human errors in order picking.
and lowers operating costs. Each mistake has an environmental impact
manifested in labour, fuel, repackaging and
Energy consumption shipping costs.
Automated warehouses require less energy to Eliminating fork trucks reduces product
function. Reductions arise from fewer interior and infrastructure damage. The AS/RS
lights, less space to heat and cool, and the retrieves and transports pallets smoothly
energy savings made possible by using S/ across the system through the use of S/RMs
RMs fitted with re-generative braking. Many and conveyors. Their use also prompts less
refrigerated warehouses experience a 40 stretch wrap consumption as securing the
percent reduction in overall energy costs pallet is not as great a concern. This reduces
due to minimal lighting requirements, fewer non-decomposing plastics in our landfills.
openings to warm areas and a generally Worker safety benefits too since employees
smaller ceiling area, which reduces cooling do not have to enter the racks.
loss and refrigeration tonnage needed. As mentioned previously, damage – and
Additional savings are possible by using waste – is an accepted consequence of
S/RMs outfitted with regenerative braking. forklift use that has an environmental impact
The principles of physics assert that when as do the batteries that power them. Battery
an electrically powered object is in motion charging stations expend energy, and battery
and comes to a halt, electrical energy is replacement means the old batteries will
generated, turns into heat and disappears. add to our landfills. Depending on battery
S/RMs equipped with regenerative braking construction, another ecological concern
allow you to store surplus braking energy or could be hazardous waste and its deleterious
transfer it to the power grid for use by other environmental effects.
machines operating on the same grid. Rather Today’s business leaders see the green
than let the energy go to waste, regenerative attributes of warehouse automation – and
braking converts that energy and makes it the financial gains that being environmentally
reusable. responsible can carry. For them, being green
is putting them in the black through lower
Waste production costs and a more competitive marketplace
In conventional warehouses, waste is posture. Warehouse automation supports the
generated from products damaged in principle that it is possible to do good while
handling, accommodations made in product doing well. •

October/November 2020 | Logistics News 21