Layer pick system

The system is made up of a heavy duty clamping and vacuum-based tool and a large, fast gantry robot. These tools can be used together or independently with variable force and vacuum strength based on the SKU to be handled. For products that require mainly the clamping force, multiple layers can be picked at one time to increase efficiency and ease of picking.

The system uses a built-in WMS that can collect order information from a customer host system and use customer stacking rules and picking sequences to build customised order pallets.

Cimcorp began using the layer picking technology in the beverage industry and has since enhanced the tooling to handle anything from standard corrugate cases to shrink wrap products, bottles, tubs and open trays. Cimcorp’s layer pick solution stages every SKU that is picked in layer quantities within the work envelope of the gantry robot. Moving the replenishment load only once to a staging location and picking from that location eliminates any risk of moving unwrapped or unstable product to a stationary layer picking device.

The solution utilises a built-in Warehouse Management System (WMS) that can collect order information from a customer host system, and use customer stacking rules and picking sequences to build customised order pallets. The Cimcorp WMS also maintains a database that tracks every move of each case, including lot information, and can report all activities and traceability back to the customer.