Specialized Robotic Automated Storage & Retrieval Systems (ASRS)

The need for mixed product loads is being fueled by the goal of eliminating secondary handling of product in order to create a store ready pallet. The store ready pallet not only has on it the exact mix of product ordered by the customer, but is often specific in the sequence that the product is to be on the load to facilitate handling and restocking in the customer’s store.

Robots have frequently been used to palletize these specialized loads, but the drawback has always been the costly handling infrastructure needed to deliver the material to be palletized to – and the unused remnants from - the robotic cell.

A new solution, developed by Bastian, is the unique integration of robotics with the AS/RS system. A picking robot, along with the load being built, is transported to the vicinity of the next item to be picked. The custom, store ready pallet is fully assembled and stretched for handling onboard the AS/RS platform, and then delivered to a simple output point ready to ship.