Automated Picking for Heavy and Bulky Goods

Loading heavy, unwieldy goods onto pallets manually is an exhausting, time-consuming task in warehouses. Picking furniture or furniture parts often involves combining goods of very different sizes and weights on one pallet. SSI SCHAEFER’s unique SSI Flat Pack Picking solution is the answer: Based on pack patterns calculated for each specific case, a gantry robot picks the goods efficiently and fully automatically, minimizing the volume. Thus SSI Flat Pack Picking reduces warehouse employees’ workload and provides a more ergonomic working environment. The highly innovative SSI Flat Pack Picking solution can process deliveries to brick-and-mortar businesses in parallel with online orders for end customers–quickly, reliably and efficiently. In addition, the new pallet picking solution ensures a constant material flow. The SSI Flat Pack Picking module occupies as much as 50% less floor space than tunnel picking, which requires walkways and separate replenishment areas. Reduced per-order logistics costs, as well as lower fixed costs, benefit operators and quickly cover the investment costs. From hardware to software, SSI SCHAEFER is a single source for all components. The SSI Flat Pack Picking solution has a modular design, can scale up flexibly and can adapt to e-commerce business growth at any time. Besides the furniture industry, the concept also applies to other sectors that handle large, heavy goods, such as wood/metal blanks, fence elements or windows.

An international panel of experts agree that the intelligent SSI Flat Pack Picking robotics solution is a highly innovative approach. In 2022, the panel awarded the coveted IFOY Award (International Intralogistics and Forklift Truck of the Year Award) in the market comparison in the “Integrated Warehouse Solution” category.