Flexible automated solution for E-commerce

Whether in E-Commerce, classic retail business or store logistics, low lot sizes, laborious handling of returns and high logistic costs per unit, downgrade the result.

Often this is caused by inflexible conveyor and warehouse systems that cannot adapt effectively to changing markets and assortments.

Schönenberger Systeme has developed a flexible system that can cope with these challenges and has installed it for a French retailer running several thousand shop-in-shops.

The Schönenberger Intra-Logistic-System ILS 2100 can be usefully compared to a 'hard disk' for merchandise as it can partition stock according to function, e.g. storage, interim storage, accumulation and sortation. This provides fast access to merchandise in the system, the flexibility to easily adjust processes to changing demands, and low labour cost.

The basic components of ILS 2100 are long established and are enhanced by a recently developed product carrier designed to tackle E-commerce and returns.

While mini-load and shuttle systems require high investment and energy costs as well as lots of space, the ILS 2100 system combines the functions – receiving and quality control of merchandise, conveying, storing, sorting and picking up to dispatch and truck loading – in one technology.

Moreover, with the new developed carrier, this technology provides space-saving upright storage for cartons, flat merchandise in polybags or unpacked hardware. Items are held in a bag, which is turned upright and conveyed, stored or sorted in a space-saving manner.

In the case of returns, items are resorted back into the system for immediate availability. In addition, the checking of returns can be tied-in smoothly.

The storage and sorting lines can also be configured in almost any number and dimension.

Returns of single items that are part of a multi-item sale or logistic unit (e.g. a grip unit of 8 or 12 items) are collected in a batch and once complete, is conveyed, stored and automatically picked.

The company concludes: "All of these advantages result in an attractive return-on-investment for E-commerce retailers tackling a range of items, including garments, and odd-sizes, covering both out-bound logistics and returns." 

Contact the firm here: +49-8191 101 104 / +49-8191-10 10

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AMH: Mob.: +44 (0) 7455 976 510  [email protected]