Kardex Holding AG, an AutoStore partner, recently provided a bespoke automated solution for WEG Electric Corp., a global supplier of electric motors, controls, panels, generators, and variable-frequency drives.
WEG’s U.S. headquarters in Duluth, Ga., supports engineering, sales, and distribution operations across North America. However, as the business expands, so has the company’s small parts inventory, and this led to challenges in storing and managing material within the existing warehouse footprint.
WEG needed a system that could increase storage density, improve operational efficiency, and reduce strain on its order-fulfillment process. With limited space available and rising real estate costs, the company was unable to expand storage areas without costly changes.
Kardex deploys AutoStore, FulfillX
At the facility, Kardex deployed a high-density AutoStore automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS).
WEG opted to implement the Kardex FulfillX warehouse execution system (WES) to orchestrate the flow of thousands of small-parts items in the high-density vertical storage grid. Kardex said it has designed FulFillX to enhance the performance of the ASRS by eliminating extra travel, improving inventory accuracy and visibility, and providing real-time control.
The FulFillX operator interface supports picking, putaway, and cycle counting, and Kardex said it is fully integrated with WEG’s ERP (enterprise resource planning) system.
WEG centralized small-parts storage in the AutoStore grid for autonomous robots to retrieve and deliver directly to ergonomic workstations. As a result, it reported improved space utilization, increased picking performance, and freed warehouse space for pallet storage and other inventory.
The ASRS supplied by Kardex includes a high-density grid supporting 14,000 storage bins, seven R5 AutoStore robots, and three picking ports. WEG can continue growing by adding robots, ports, or storage without disrupting existing operations.
WEG doubles small-parts picking speed
Since partnering with Kardex to deploy the vertical storage system, WEG said it has doubled the speed of small-parts picking, and it is able to handle higher order volumes while providing reliable service. The Duluth facility has also been able to redeploy several employees from manual picking tasks to higher value-added activities, and it has reduced the need for forklifts for picking and putaway.
“At Kardex, we deliver AutoStore solutions that enable customers to grow with confidence,” stated Fred Fox, the president of Kardex Solutions. “WEG came to us with a series of challenges, and now its Duluth headquarters is storing more small-parts inventory, fulfilling orders faster, and benefiting from greater operational efficiency. We are proud to have played a part in that progress.”
Kardex said it provides intralogistics automation, standardized systems, and lifecycle services for high availability and a low total cost of ownership. The Zurich-based company integrates material handling systems, small parts storage systems, and automated high-bay warehouses.
Kardex plans to exhibit at Booth C14767 at the MODEX manufacturing and supply chain event at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta from April 13 to 16.