Last month, Medline Industries L.P. announced an AutoStore system installation at its distribution center in Aurora, Colo., as part of an ongoing effort to respond to growing customer demand. The company said the automated storage and retrieval system, or ASRS, uses Swisslog Holding AG’s SynQ software and will help drive efficiency, optimize fulfillment, and increase order capacity.
“Medline’s continued investment in AutoStore technology aims to help our teams move faster and stay consistent as demand grows,” stated Sean Halligan, chief supply chain officer at Medline.
“Bringing a new AutoStore installation to Aurora is another step in modernizing our network, helping us get critical supplies to customers with the speed and accuracy they count on, while supporting a more streamlined, ergonomic fulfillment environment for our employees,” he said.
Medline said it is the largest privately held provider of medical-surgical products and supply chain solutions serving all points of care in the U.S. The Northfield, Ill.-based company employs more than 45,000 people worldwide and operates in more than 100 countries.
The Aurora installation will provide Medline the flexibility and scalability to meet demand as the number of its customers across the Colorado region increases.
Medline, AutoStore, and Swisslog are longtime partners
The project, which Swisslog first announced last year, marked Medline’s 24th ASRS installation nationwide. AutoStore said that it was its 300th installation across North America.
With 400 projects over 10 years, Swisslog claimed that it is one of the most experienced AutoStore integrators. The Buchs, Switzerland-based company said it has a proven ability to configure, deploy, optimize, and support large and complex systems. The KUKA Group unit’s Americas headquarters are in Atlanta.
The latest ASRS installation builds on a strong relationship that began more than a decade ago. Medline was the first company in North America to implement the AutoStore technology in 2013, and Swisslog has worked with it since the beginning.
SynQ orchestrates warehouse operations
The Medline installation includes eight induction workstations, 10 picking workstations, 38,000 bins, and 96 robots, which will assist employees with item sorting, retrieval, and transport. These join Medline’s fleet of more than 2,100 robots across its global distribution footprint.
Swisslog noted that its SynQ software unifies and streamlines warehousing operations including intake, fulfillment, and inventory management.
“We’re proud to be part of Medline’s Aurora AutoStore launch and to continue a partnership that spans more than a decade,” said Robert Humphry, Swisslog vice president of sales and new business. “Together, we’ve implemented automation that enables fast, reliable and scalable operations. This project is another step in helping Medline meet growing demand while supporting an efficient and engaging workplace.”
“We congratulate Medline on another successful installation,” he added. “Our team looks forward to continuing to work with the Medline team to deploy automation solutions that enable the company to grow and adapt alongside its customers.”