Gearing up for web sales

An automotive supplier is to build a parts centre for eCommerce orders, with automated handling systems from Witron slated for deployment

German automotive parts supplier Auto-Teile-Pöllath Handels has selected handling solutions from Witron to help it bolster its logistics operations.

More than 20,000 ATP customers from Germany and neighboring countries place their orders via the internet. These customers can select from more than 9,500 different products such as spare parts, tools, and automotive equipment.

The firm's new logistics centre is scheduled to open in May 2013. In a peak hour, the new centre will process up to 1,400 customer orders and ship some 1,500 packages. The goal is to provide customers with next day service if they order by 3pm.

ATP owner Peter Poellath says: "The Witron logistics modules are cost-efficient, innovative, ergonomic, and designed for further growth. This is what we were looking for to further increase our customer service." Based on the throughput, ATP will implement the goods-to-man solution OPS (Order Picking System) as well as the pallet picking system Ergonomic Pallet Picking (ETP).

The OPS solution will be composed of a 7-aisle AS/RS with more than 40,000 locations. Eight workstations will enable picking directly into dispatch cartons. A further 6 workstations can be added to meet growth.

Heavy and bulky articles will be picked with the ETP module using three manaboard pick mobiles (full build-out to 12) within a 7 aisle high bay warehouse consisting of 12,000 locations. Witron's patented ETP pick modules have been certified by TUV in terms of ergonomics.

Orders will be picked in three aisles, while four aisles will be equipped with automatic stacker cranes for replenishment of the pick front. The pick mobiles will be compactly aligned in every pick aisle - two mobiles on the same rail down-aisle, and two-levels of mobiles, one atop the other.

Customer orders will be picked from pallets into a pick container equipped with a shelf. This approach will enable multiple orders to be picked in parallel by one employee. Pick mobiles will be automatically guided to the correct picking locations, and a terminal on the mobile will display pick quantity to insure maximum picking accuracy.