Finding savings

Ernst Wagner, managing director of KASTO in the UK, urges manufacturers to think creatively about raw material storage

Firms should consider how they can keep track of and replenish stocks, and integrate the delivery of material to machine tool, says KASTO (IMHX Stand 18 N150). The latter has the effect of dramatically increasing production efficiency and raising output, allowing firms to expand their businesses faster.

It is important that customers regard KASTO as business consultants. Such input at the start of a project can radically assist in planning and investment by introducing companies to the latest technologies that are available and the dynamic solutions employed by users around the world.

There are situations where rapid payback is possible, however. One is when a manufacturer or stockholder is bursting at the seams and would have to move premises to expand. A KASTO store can save 50 to 70 per cent of the area of a building taken up by raw material storage by the simple expedient of going upwards, so there are big savings in thinking 3D.

Another way for a company to satisfy itself that an automated store makes economic sense is to start from the premise that picking times are dramatically reduced. This has the effect of raising output two- to three-fold without any increase in labour costs. Other benefits include savings in administration, reduced or eliminated lift truck operating costs, less damage from manual handling and fewer staff off work due to strain injury.

Automation possibilities extend to linking a storage system to saws, flat bed lasers, tube lasers and press brakes, raising productivity further. Introducing a robot to load and unload a machine replaces one to two operators. Users can take unmanned working to higher levels by integrating such functions as preprogrammed sorting, marking and component transfer to the next process. All of these solutions and measures have been operational globally for more than 20 years and can be demonstrated on request.