Imaging technology helps retailer sort products faster

Datalogic has transformed fresh food sorting and distribution processes for a major French hypermarket chain, with the deployment of imaging technology providing temperature- and time-critical control of perishable goods.

Increasing speed and reliability, while saving time and money for the retailer, Datalogic installed a NVS9000 industrial imaging system at the chain’s distribution centre, based in southwest France, to optimise the distribution of fresh produce.

This includes dairy products, such as cheese and butter, which require speedy handling at temperatures of between 3 and 4 degrees maximum. The implementation means that one hour after they arrive from the external supplier the goods are in delivery trucks on their way to the retail store.

The system’s customised configuration overcomes the complex distribution requirements specific to the hypermarket chain. As one of France’s market leading retailers, the company operates 16 logistics hubs throughout the country from where all products are dispatched to the Group’s 400 plus hypermarkets.

This results in extremely demanding distribution and processing needs as produce originally arrives at the hubs from a variety of suppliers with different packaging and carton sizes, as well as widely varied barcode resolutions and positioning. The arising complex sorting need is further intensified as perishables also need to be handled in a time-critical and temperature-sensitive process in order to ensure the goods arrive and leave for their hypermarket destinations in the best condition.

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Systems integrator Actemium, who worked closely with Datalogic on the project, said this goal was achieved through the use of Datalogic’s system NVS9000 with its high reading rate, quality imaging and satisfying level of results, which both companies hope to progress to further installations in other distribution sites.

The NVS9000 embeds the latest and most powerful vision technology on the market into a modular, easy and reliable product, delivering top reading performance, simple integration, and easy installation.

The system currently in place at the hypermarket’s center involves five cameras covering five input areas, with an ability to scan and read all the items processed on the available sorting systems running at one metre per second, irrespective of size or barcode type.

In a further development, Datalogic’ s dimensioner DM3500 was also installed following a request by the customer for a product volume dimensioning solution. This optimises the dispatch operation and provides data on pallets which can be used to determine truck size for delivery or shared consignments destined for specific hypermarkets.

Following an initial testing phase, which involved a competitive bid between Datalogic and two other suppliers, Datalogic won through the NVS9000‘s reliability, low customer total cost of ownership and preferential service levels provided to the retailer prior to and during the test phase.

“We offer bar code readers and mobile computers to retailers that simplify and improve efficiency of operations at point-of-sale, as well as fixed position bar code scanners and high performance dimensioners for managing sorting operations in distribution centres,” says Romano Volta, Chairman and CEO of Datalogic Group.

“Our mission is 360 degree customer satisfaction and we are very proud of the innovative project we have developed for this important French retailer.”