Connect with us

Conveyor Types

A new, highly effective conveyor system

Published

on

Ozone.bg is a leading eCommerce business in Bulgaria, focused on the growing gaming industry, video games, music, movies, technology and IT hardware.

Products of the company can be found in the now typical combination of physical stores in Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna and Burgas, and on a very well developed online, eCommerce platform, reaching the end customer 24/7. This opens the possibility for thousands of online sales and orders to their logistics base, simultaneously.

At the same time, consumer behavior is changing. Custumers are shopping online very often. Phisical stores also need their supplies.

Years ago, Hristo Urumov, owner and manager of STAMH, which specializes in the building of logistics centers, predicted that “for some distribution and logistics hubs, the new situation would be extremely complicated, unless their managers make changes. These centers will start receiving more orders per day than they can physically fulfill”.

Huge increse in the orders volume

With the beginning of the pandemic situation, and not only, the number of orders eCommerce companies in Bulgaria have to prepare is rising. The comparison between the last “normal” week – the one from March 2 to 8 and the one from March 23 to 29, shows a 55% increase in the number of new online end custumer enquieries. And on days like Black Friday, the average value of 1 order reaches BGN 267. The package may include many different items from the storage facility and has to be prepared in minutes.

In fact, this great news for ozone.bg leads to the urgent need to modernize the company’s distribution center, strategically positioned near Sofia.

The new challenge

As a leader in the construction of fast and efficient conveyor systems, the engineering company STAMH meets the new challenge with no fear. Due to the wide variety of items to be picked and collected in separate orders, as well as the fact that sometimes 1 order includes items from different floor levels, the new solution had to speed up all intralogistics processes and connections between different areas.

STAMH’s engineering and software teams focused their efforts on the distribution center, builded on 4000 sq.m., and devided in sever areas:

Areas and systems for the storage of palletized goods;

Space and systems to store small goods (mainly boxes with dimensions of up to 600 mm. / 400 mm. and height up to 600 mm);

  • Orders sorting area;
  • Packing areas;
  • Expedition areas;

An additional challenge for the leader in automated and mechanized storage systems was the distribution of the facilty in 3 different levels above the ground.

All boxes, packages and trays had to run smoothly between zones and to be automatically distributed to the courier company, responsible for the fast delivery. The packaging units that ozone.bg uses are not the same – the boxes are between 250mm / 175mm to 600mm / 400mm, with heights from 10mm. to 600mm. Their weight also varies from 150 gr. to more than 20 kg.

The new solution form the engineering and software proffesionals

To connect the different levels in the distribution center, STAMH builded a gravity roller conveyor structure. The spiral conveyor doesn’t consume energy, which makes it very ecological and economical. At the same time, it saves operators efforts. They no longer have to cover the distances between different floors. The gravity spiral conveyor, connected the second and third storage levels with the packing and sorting areas, located on the base lavel.

Once, the pre-assembled order or package is packed and ready for shipment, it’s placed along a motorized roller conveyor. This conveyor line drives the package to the area, where it’s automatically sorted and leaded to the area of each courier company. Each package can be placed anywhere along the conveyor line for boxes and trays, allowing exceptional flexibility and the definition of different areas, around the conveyor line.

High technology software and hardware solutions

Orders packages travel along the conveyor line, saving efforts and unnecessary distances, normaly covered by operators. They pass through a special camera device with an in-built barcode scanner, funcioning with impressive speed and intensity, able to recognize conventional linear 1D barcodes and 2D – two-dimensional barcodes. 2D barcodes are smaller, but able to “store” much more coded information.

The wide reading area range of the barcode scanner, allowed STAMH Solutions team to cover the ozone.bg sorting neads. Regardless of the size of the box, the special camera is able to capture moving objects within microseconds. So now, the new conveyor line is able to process and sort, thousands of orders in no time.

PLCs are controling all the hardware equipment. They are conected in an highly efficient ethernet network.  They send the necessary information to a special HPD sorting conveyor module. This module allows the automatic sorting of baxes between different couriers, resposible for the delivery. This way, the company responsible for the on-time orders delivery of ozone.bg, recieves the package and deliver it to the very impatient end custumer. Much faster.

Fast intralogistics means satisfied customers

As eng. Nadezhda Blagoeva, Technical Director in STAMH says, “The conveyor system connects different areas and speeds up all processes in the logistics base. In a very intuitive way, conveyor lines organize orders preparation processes.

Warehouse operators don’t have to carry heavy trays and packages, covering long distances. They are organized in different areas and manual work is signicantly reduced. Now, thousend of new orders are prepared much faster and in a more efficient way”.

Thanks to STAMH’s engineering and software teams, the distribution center can now meet the increased requirements of the modern market, both by the end customers of ozone.bg and by the physical stores.

Conveyor Types

New, aesthetic Conveying System for the future

Published

on

The young Swiss startup Avancon SA (www.avancon.com) has set itself the goal to revolutionize the unit handling systems in distribution and logistics centers. They offer now a new modern and very innovative conveying system. This will be distributed worldwide by manufacturers of conveyor systems and logistic system integrators. The system has been developed by Dieter Specht, the founder of the Interroll Group.The car industry, the computer industryand even the machine industry presentevery few years new and moderndesigned models. Why? To be able toattack new markets and new customers.However, it is hard to see somethingnew in the conveyor industry. 

Most ofthe unit conveyor systems weredeveloped 15, 20 or even 50 years agoand are still sold today in a construction,which remembers on the patents of theBritish toy manufacturer Frank Hornby,who has already registered his patent ofa “Meccano” kit in 1901.Now, the two young founders of the start-up Avancon SA are ready to revolutionize the conveyor industry with thisnew and streamlined concept. It’s full of innovative and functionalideas and has been patented worldwide.

Originally, Dieter Specht had developed this systemfor Interroll. But it didn’t fit to their philosophy. So hefound two enthusiastic entrepreneurs, Denis Ratz,he has a bachelor of science in business informaticsand Dr. Daniele Gambetta, who has a PhD inelectric machines. They established inTicino/Switzerland a new start-up under the name Avancon SA (from Avant-garde and Conveyor).

The CEO, Denis Ratz showed the new conveyor system to some large and important manufacturers of conveyor- and logistics-systems and got a very positive response.

“Of course, we wanted to see the reactions to our completely new and very modern designed conveyor concept,” says Denis Ratz. “Most were positively impressed about the outstanding design. I could  answer all their questions about the functions and requirements of the  market. After these meetings with CEOs and technical managers of  big and well-known companies I was highly motivated. Now we are ready. Everything is finished and tested. We can deliver.  Several potential customers will visit our large test facility here in Ticino. We believe that the functions and the many advantages of this  innovative system will convince them.” 

Avancon SA invested heavily into development, in machines, in molds, patents and in the production. With a clever marketing concept enables an exclusive group of Conveyor Manufacturers and System Integrators worldwide to promote the system under their own label/brand and house color to the final market, the operators of logistics and distribution center.

Denis Ratz explains: “We want to offer something avant-garde to the manufacturers of conveyors and intralogistics systems. But we don’t want to interfere with the market of our customers and we will not offer to distribution- and logistics-systems directly to operating companies. Even though this modern system will catch the eye of every manager of this industry.”

The partner and head of technique, Dr. Daniele Gambetta, is an experienced specialist for electronic control and DC-motors. He has patents of completely new DC-motors, which will also be integrated in the future in the Avancon Conveyor System.

“Today – in the digital age of ‘industry-4’ – the electronic connectivity is of enormous importance. I was very fascinated by the ideas of Dieter Specht, so I have joined this young start-up,” says Dr. Daniele Gambetta. “I have never seen such a convincing new concept in the conveyor industry. Everything is completely different, new, safer and much better. We believe that about 80 % of all goods up to 50 kg weight, which have to be transported millions of times worldwide every day, can be handled with this new system.”

Meanwhile, the design has been awarded by the internationally well known “Red-Dot” price in Germany and also by the very coveted  throughout Asia, “Good-Design” award in Japan. 

The two partners have a lot of courage to break into such an  established market today. But who would not want to offer their  customers something very aesthetic, even revolutionizing, which differs  to all previous designs?  

Why aesthetic? Well, ask yourself: would you buy today a machine,  which is not modern covered? Now you can offer your customers  something extraordinary that combines innovation with emotions. 

Denis Ratz says: “We are very positive about the future. We have just moved into a newly built modern factory, which corresponds to our  DNA. Here we have a daily capacity production of up to 400 meters  conveyor tracks of our new ZPC- system. Anyone who builds conveyor  systems by himself can obtain all individual elements from us and so use the patents free of charge. Several customers want to exhibit the new system at one of their upcoming trade fairs.  

That’s fantastic!” 

‘ZPC’ system means “Zone Powered Conveyor” system, in which each zone is controlled and driven separately. The system is extremely flexible and  adaptable. It is capable of slow or fast transporting in  any desired line and, where necessary, can  accumulate without pressure. The system can also communicate with  higher IT or Bus system very easily and at significantly reduced  installation cost.  

Of course it transports goods in all directions, with all the functions an  engineer wants for logistics systems. 

Last but not least it seems to be much cheaper than it looks. 

Continue Reading

Conveyor Types

Automated sortation system installed specifically to deal with “small traffic”

Published

on

The UKs largest dedicated parcel carrier officially opened its new purpose built, 15,000 square metre, parcel distribution hub in Warrington back in 2014. Designed to support the continuation of growth of the company the new hub has a capacity of around 550,000 parcels a day – almost three times that of the previous site in Warrington.

The facility’s purpose was to help with the developing requirement for next day deliveries, playing a key role in plans for international expansion and to provide a platform for further innovation, as the company looks to introduce a host of new products to the market.

L.A.C Conveyor Systems Ltd is now entering its 4th year, working closely with the multinational delivery company, in the development and implementation of innovative, flexible technologies to suit the ever-evolving challenge of handling parcels from a wide range of shapes and sizes whilst achieving faster processing times.

L.A.C Conveyor Systems innovative

The latest challenge was to introduce a sortation solution specifically designed to accommodate small sized parcels. Prior to the new solution the sortation of “small traffic” was a combined sortation process, with larger parcels. This combined automated parcel sortation approach meant that smaller parcels were harder to control and ultimately ended up being manually sorted. This system required a lot of human intervention to gain full control, proving not the most efficient approach, as the accuracy of the sort could not be guaranteed. Separating smalls from larger parcels meant higher throughputs could be achieved utilising a more streamlined solution with a 100% accuracy of sort.

L.A.C Conveyor Systems innovative “Automation Toolbox” meant a combination of technologies could be combined to satisfy the required solution and could be delivered and implemented within a small footprint and with minimal disruption to current operations.

The solution utilised L.A.C designed induct/feed conveyors, handling bulk parcels on infeed for initial parcel separation, which were then separated further utilising a flighted belt conveyor, leading on to a horizontal conveyor with 5 moveable ploughs and 1 fixed. The parcels were then broken down further spread across 6 chutes, presenting parcels to an operator platform. Operator interaction at this stage of the process provided a means of orientating parcels and placing them onto a Equinox split tray sorter with barcode labels accessible for automated scanning and verification.

The Equinox split tray sorter is a tray-based “bomb-bay” sorter developed specifically to handle flat goods such as packets, books, garments, parcels, and accessories, making it the ideal choice for L.A.C to integrate as part of a turnkey solution. The system offers the capacity to sort 10,000 trays per hour exceeding the requirements, but offering scope for future growth. It has a characteristic oval-shaped conveyor on which the trays circulate. This “open oval” design allows operators and further automation to integrate with ease.

An overhead scanning system ensured parcel identification and location could be achieved at high speed. L.A.C’s modular software design structure offered a seamless link with the host IT system, completing the final piece of the puzzle.

This unique automation approach has ensured a fast and flexible response to future e-commerce demands and has enabled an increased ability to handle parcels of such a shape and size in such a controlled manner. L.A.C’s diverse inhouse skill set has offered a solution that is cost effective providing faster processing of incoming “small” parcels.

System Overview

Objectives

Modernising the supply chain network

System to handle small sized parcels only

Cost effective and efficient flow of goods to consumers

Selecting & implementing the best technology

Allow for more next-day delivery

Increased order accuracy

Overall reduction in costs

Integrate with latest supply chain technology

Key services & Technologies

Feed conveyor – shaft mounted motor, tapered hopper to allow product to fall onto flyted belt conveyor.

Modular belt conveyor with hopper

Discharge conveyor with high side for product control

5 off moving ploughs and 1 fixed. Underslung braked motor with pivot arm connected to plough

6 off discharge chutes

6 off operator stations

Each discharge station offering PTL button light module

Double tray wide oval sorter

Sorter gross capacity (10,000 trays per hour)

Tray type 7 DT Double Tray – (Bombay also known as split tray)

Sorter direction – Clockwise

Barcode label control linking carton to station

Item detection sensing

Omni Camera Scanner – Overhead system for barcode label capture

L.A.C IT hardware and Software integration

Wireless network connection

VPN Remote Access

Results

100% Accuracy of sort.

Increased supply chain efficiencies

Sortation direct into shipping cartons

Easy to use, simple efficient design and low maintenance decrease cost and increase uptime.

Design allows for the highest accuracy as well as a very small footprint without losing throughput.

Source:www.lacconveyors.co.uk

Continue Reading

Conveyor Types

Overhead Conveyor Automates Electroplating System

Published

on

PACLINE Overhead Conveyors has developed a pre-engineered system for handling the 10 to 12 foot long copper bars used in Electro-Plating shops. This sophisticated design has eliminated the necessity of using hand operated trolleys for the transfer of workloads to and from the hoist lines of plating tanks.

The PAC-LINE™ overhead conveyor, using our standard No. 175 Bar Carrier Trolley, can transport loads in excess of 400 lbs. Our special design allows the 10 to 12 foot long work bar to manoeuver the standard radius curves of the overhead conveyor with ease. Loaded racks can be easily transferred from the overhead conveyor to the hoist for dipping as required.

This system is designed to allow the transfer of the loaded work bar directly from the hoist to the overhead conveyor. This loading signals the conveyor to run until the empty No. 175 trolley is in position to receive the next loaded work bar from the plating line.

The same system applies to the opposite end of the plating tanks. Loaded work bars are automatically delivered to the front of the line of plating tanks. The hoist can quickly pick up the loaded bar carrier, beginning the plating process.

The entire conveyor system is synchronized to allow both the empty bar carrier and the loaded carrier to stop automatically at opposite ends of the elecroplating line, so that the loading and unloading of the hoist can be completed simultaneously between the conveyor’s cycles.

This proven Electro-Plating system can substantially increase your production and at the same time eliminate unnecessary labor.

Source:www.pacline.com/

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2011-2019 Moneta Tanıtım Organizasyon Reklamcılık Yayıncılık Tic. Ltd. Şti. - Canan Business Küçükbakkalköy Mah. Kocasinan Cad. Selvili Sokak No:4 Kat:12 Daire:78 Ataşehir İstanbul - T:0850 885 05 01 - info@monetatanitim.com