Bonfiglioli is constantly looking for new ideas and innovations to improve customer experience and help teams work.

This intuitive technology makes tasks in the workplace easier

Although innovation can be hard to measure, it has been suggested that investment in internal technology such as back-office functions or logistics operations is an excellent marker of how deep innovation runs in a company.

At Bonfiglioli, for example, we’re constantly seeking fresh ideas and technology to improve our customers’ experience and help our teams work more effectively. This innovative spirt is now on full display in our EVO plant after a recent project to transform how our warehouse operatives pick components for production orders.

The result of the project, a collaboration with our technology partner, Var Group, is a state-of-the-art “virtual pick to light” solution based on augmented reality. The technology works via a standard tablet which is fixed to the trolleys our operatives use to pick products in our warehouse: by utilising real-time information from our management software the tablets overlay onto the warehouse environment visual markers and acoustic signals that guide our teams towards the exact location of components.

The project was delivered by a multi-disciplinary team drawing on expertise from a range of Bonfiglioli’s functions. The team continually refined the technology to integrate it with our own needs. This involved several stages, including choosing and positioning markers in the warehouse; selecting the best device to interact with the markers; developing an interface between our management systems and the automated guided vehicles; and ensuring our operatives could fully test the system so they were comfortable with the solution.

The benefits of the project have been immediate. Picking times and errors have been reduced, which translates into a more streamlined customer experience. And, thanks to the intuitive technology, on-the-job training for new operatives is now significantly easier, in line with our commitment to empowering people through digitalisation.

However, this is only the first phase of the project. A second stage, which began in September, will see the addition of technology that helps our picking team place products in trolleys in the optimum production line-feeding position.

MHS, a single-source provider of material handling automation and software solutions, announces a new cross-belt sorter designed to handle small items. The HC-Loop Double Cell has an innovative design that uses sections of two cross-belt cells that can either work simultaneously to handle a single large item or independently to handle two smaller items and boost capacity.

Innovative design offers versatility to handle wide range of item sizes typical of e-commerce fulfillment and parcel distribution centers

The versatility of the double-cell design enables the sorter to handle items as small as 74.93-by-74.93-by-2.794 milimeters and as large as 849.884-by-649.986-by-649.986 milimeters. The HC-Loop Double Cell gives operations a solution to reliably handle small items like flyers, polybags and shoe boxes, while maintaining the flexibility to handle larger packages like electronics or office supplies.

The precise diverts of the HC-Loop Double Cell enables the use of narrower chutes to increase density and reduce the total footprint of the system, while achieving up to 99.99% sortation accuracy. An intelligent induction system works to increase the utilization of available sorter cells by booking them in advance for target parcels, helping operations reach a capacity of up to 4,500 parcels per hour using a single compact induction line.

Versatility in compact efficient package

“As operations face a demanding product mix and rising commercial real estate costs, the HC-Loop Double Cell sorter offers the versatility they need in a compact, efficient package,” says Luis Antezana Vila, Product Manager, Cross-Belt Systems, MHS. “But avoiding unplanned downtime is also critical. That’s why we’ve worked to establish strong component reliability and leverage sensor-based technology to predict and prevent unexpected outages.”

Sensors placed along the sorter track and within each cell constantly monitor overall system status and individual components. Through predictive analytics, MHS can detect when a failure might be imminent, based on data reaching pre-determined thresholds, and proactively alert maintenance teams to help avoid unnecessary downtime. The company provides local sales, support and service for implementations worldwide.

Dematic announced the near completion of a fully automated distribution centre located in Trecate (NO) Italy, addressing South Europe, for the global luxury group, Kering.

The project has been developed by a constant exchange of information, commitment and collaboration to build a lasting partnership and achieve the best outcome.
The first part of the building has been operating since March 2020, and the second part (over 100,000 square meters) is scheduled to be operating by the end of the second quarter 2021.
As a new time record, the new global logistics hub covers more than 100,000 square meters and features automation technology that provides scalability, innovative sustainability and features for the well-being of employees.

Powered by Dematic iQ software, the hub will meet the demand from regional warehouses, retail stores, wholesalers and e-commerce worldwide, and it will significantly increase Kering’s capabilities for shipping (up to 80 million pieces per year) and storage (up to 20 million pieces). It will also reduce lead times by 50% by increasing the speed of deliveries and enhance collaboration among the brands.

The project has been planned in two Go-Lives (in 2021) with final acceptance in July 2022, with a total number of staff expected to reach approximately 900 people.

Developing the system in such a short timeframe (12 months) has been made possible by the global resources of Dematic, which was able to leverage its international teams and resources in partnership with Metis Consulting and XPO Logistics. The new global logistics hub will include:

• A 600.000 storage location Dematic Multishuttle®
• A 3 module Dematic Pouch System
• A 6 aisle Dematic Multishuttle Flex
• A Dematic Crossbelt Sorter
• 10 kilometres of conveyor
• A 50.000 location pallet rack

We are proud to be a valuable partner in this project,” said Marco Parini, Director of Solution Development South Europe. “We look forward to working with Kering to help them meet current demand and build toward future success.