Download 3D-MATRIX Solution® – Highly Dynamic Sequencing Without

3D-MATRIX Solution® – Highly Dynamic Sequencing
Without Bottlenecks
Overview
08. January 2014
3D-MATRIX Solution® – Highly Dynamic
Sequencing Without Bottlenecks
With the innovative concept of the 3D-MATRIX
3D-MATRIX Solution®
Solution®, SSI SCHAEFER offers a highly dynamic
system solution for the storage and picking of
totes/cartons/trays, layer trays and pallets. The unique
combination offers maximum flexibility and future-oriented scalability.
With the patented 3D-MATRIX Solution®, SSI SCHAEFER opens up a new dimension
of automated warehouse systems. The modular concept provides highly-dynamic
system solutions for the storage and picking of individual items (piece picking), cases
and whole pallets. With a 3D-MATRIX Solution® from SSI SCHAEFER, users from any
industry can benefit from significantly higher efficiency and long-term value for their
investment.
The warehouse cube of the 3D-MATRIX Solution® is a system which is open to all sides
and eliminates the bottlenecks and restrictions of classic system solutions, says Elmar
Issing, New Technologies and Solutions Manager at SSI SCHAEFER. This approach
allows for future upgrades and extensions and significantly improves process efficiency
in the plant.
Standard warehouse systems are typically designed for retrieval in the direction of the xaxis which is towards the front sides of the aisles. The vertical movement towards the
level of conveyor systems on the y-axis is performed by means of storage and retrieval
machines or lifts. The storage and retrieval machines or shuttle cars are equipped with
load handling devices which directly access the storage compartments (z-axis
movement). The loading aids which are taken out of the storage compartments are
handed over to the conveyor systems or transfer stations by means of storage and
retrieval machines. The transfer stations and the performance of the lifts and conveyor
system loops limit the dynamic performance of the system because the whole material
flow is bottlenecked by these few retrieval points and components. You can make
storage and retrieval machines as fast as you want or equip the rack levels with even
more shuttle systems, but the overall plant performance is determined by the small
number of components where storage and retrieval operations are concentrated, says
Issing. In addition, this problem makes proper sequencing difficult. Extensions of the
plant and implementation of additional retrieval lines will reduce the overall
performance even further.
There are a few significant problems with traditional solutions. The limited number of lifts
results in retrieval and storage bottlenecks. As a consequence, the number of transfer
stations is limited, thus decoupling the processes in the horizontal and vertical axes is
not possible. When shuttles are used in order to increase the performance of the aisles,
there will be significant bottlenecks on the conveyor system loops in the pre-zone. Due
to the nature of the system, sequencing will only be possible by additional and
downstream sequencing systems.
The 3D-MATRIX Solution® from SSI SCHAEFER is different. The movements of the
transport media within the warehouse in the x-direction, y-direction and z-direction are
separated from one another and carried out simultaneously. Access to the stored goods,
ranging from trays, layers to pallets, is done by means of shuttles. The requested load
units are moved to lift transfer stations and buffered there. Individual access of the lifts to
the transfer stations enables the sequencing of retrieval operations and load-dependent
storage. Thanks to this layout, almost any number of picking and shipping stations can
be configured, integrated and sequenced individually. Thus, all retrieval operations are
performed separately and exclusively for the connected workstation. Dynamic
performance and sequencing without bottlenecks, says Issing.
With this design, warehouses can be extended in length, width and height flexibly
without the need for changing the functionality of the overall system. With the new
concept, individual plant layouts are possible just by using the flexible lifts. Warehouse
processes and picking are performed independently in different areas or on different
levels, explains Issing. Unlimited accessibility is guaranteed even when the plant is in
operation, which also simplifies any maintenance activities. The extension stages can
be easily integrated into the infrastructure of the existing warehouse management IT.
Thanks to the innovative design of the 3D-MATRIX Solution®, the warehouse system
does all the sequencing. This means that the storage, buffering and sequencing is in
just one system. Any number of storage and retrieval lines in the z-direction which can
be installed in the series on the x-axis and any number of lifts can be defined. The SSI
SCHAEFER shuttles have access to the maximum number of storage compartments.
The flexible number of lifts, in return, enables a greater number of transfer stations. The
storage and retrieval machine is decoupled from the picking work station and a time
savings of up to one hour is obtained. Imbalances in the order and item structure are
also fully eliminated. All required stored goods can be handed over to the conveyors on
the z-axes in a sequenced manner.
The user no longer has to ABC-classify the stored goods, explains Issing. All items in
the warehouse cube can be accessed at any time without a decrease in the
performance. With the 3D-MATRIX Solution® concept, we have truly realized 3DLogistics in warehouse organization. In addition, the number and performance of all the
components in the 3D-MATRIX Solution® can easily be adapted to specific
requirements and extended at any time. As a result, the plant performance is fully
independent of factors like changing item ranges or order structures. With the 3DMATRIX Solution® from SSI SCHAEFER, it is possible for the first time to consistently
meet the requirements of convertible warehouse systems even in the context of fully
automated system solutions, says Issing. To sum things up, this innovative design
concept provides the users with the ultimate flexibility, from trays, layers to pallets, highly
dynamic goods-to-person picking, individual sequencing and long-term value for their
investment.
Learn more about 3D-MATRIX Solution®
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