New Market in "Store" for Westfalia Technologies
Company Moves Into Automated Self Storage Systems With Pugliese Partnership
YORK, Pa., October 11, 2007 -When Westfalia Technologies, Inc., a leading provider of warehouse and plant automation solutions, recently partnered with real estate developer The Pugliese Company, both knew the result would be a totally new concept for the self storage industry. Westfalia announced in early 2007 that it had partnered with Pugliese to provide the automated technologies for Pugliese's new venture named Automated Self Storage Systems. This partnership ushers in a new era of self storage by bringing technology typically seen in the warehouse and manufacturing plant to the general consumer.
Pugliese formed the separate LLC subsidiary, Automated Self Storage Systems, for the sole purpose of developing fully automated self storage facilities that combine Westfalia's noted Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (AS/RS) and automated parking technologies. Based in Delray Beach, Florida, Pugliese is known for developing large-scale mixed-use projects, high-end office buildings, housing and warehouse facilities throughout New Jersey, South and Central Florida, and for applying innovative design and technology to its projects. The company is also currently designing an eco-sustainable "green" city named Destiny, which is the largest real estate development in the state of Florida. According to Paul Talley, Vice President of Construction for Pugliese, the automated self storage concept is simply a new application of current technologies, but one which will open a new market for Westfalia.
"We were looking for an innovative, open-minded company with a proven track record," Talley explains. "Westfalia knew the ins and outs of both ASRS and automated parking, so it seemed like a perfect fit. The technology is so flexible that it allows you to adapt the system to any site or building configuration, be it traditional or odd-shaped."
The first application of this new concept is a facility located in Coconut Creek, Florida, near the upscale markets of Parkland, Coral Springs and Boca Raton. The initial project of 178,000 sq. ft. will handle approximately 539 modules and is due for completion in Q4 of 2008. The Coconut Creek facility is totally automated, eliminating the need for hallways, freight elevators and traditional interior lighting.
Customer modules will have a standard dimension of 10 ft. (W) x 20 ft. (L) x 8 ft. (H), and a total weight capacity of 8 tons. Each module can be subdivided to fit an individual's rental storage needs in 5 ft. increments (5 ft. x 5 ft., 5 ft. x 10 ft., etc.). These modules will be accessed via side doors positioned based on the specific module configuration. A 10 ft. x 20 ft. module base will also be available for handling items such as vehicles or boat trailers. Key cards will include Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) for customer identification and serve as one level of fraud protection.
"System operation is quite simple," explains Gary Frank, Vice President of Automated Systems for Westfalia. "Once the customer has been registered, he or she will be able to swipe their key card, and the Storage and Retrieval Machine will automatically retrieve the appropriate unit. It will also tell them which access point to go to, and a display screen will then require that they re-enter their PIN. The doors will then open, and the customer can access their storage module." The facility will have five designated areas for customer to access their containers, and all facility operations will be handled via Westfalia's modular Savanna.NET® software, including customer information, credit card approval and front office operation. According to Frank, the system's crane will handle modules up to six deep in a lane. Backup generators will prevent shut-down in the event of a power failure.
"Initially," Talley notes, "we asked, 'Why can't we apply this technology to this type of building?' So now, you have a number of things happen: access without the laborious work, plus an extremely secure facility that will attract a mix of residential, commercial and business renters. Coconut Creek will not only be a fully-functioning facility, but will also be a prototype for future projects."
According to Frank, the new facilities will be more secure, convenient and faster than traditional multi-storage experiences, which most customers will recall as being anything but user-friendly. "Most of the early concepts were converted warehouses where you had to physically walk in alone, place your items on a cart, travel in a freight elevator, walk down a long dark hall, and then place them in a module," he says. "It was fairly laborious and potentially intimidating. That design eventually morphed into the ubiquitous suburban site with acres of garage doors, which did offer the advantage of driving up, but there were still security concerns. Increasing land prices and increasingly strict zoning requirements make multi-story developments more cost-effective."
Even with multi-level storage, Pugliese strives to construct buildings that will blend in with the surrounding area, often resembling offices, retail stores, apartments and condominiums, complete with balconies and shutters. "The municipalities realize that we have a high-end product that is low profile, clean, quiet, and does not generate a lot of vehicle or pedestrian traffic," says Talley. "With any new construction, our philosophy is to examine what has and has not worked in the past, be it in terms of design, or with hurricanes and other disasters."
Due to its almost impenetrable security and robust design, the project has generated inquiries from FEMA to store products for disaster relief, as well as from local and federal law enforcement entities looking for evidence storage.
"Our research proved that there is really nothing in the marketplace that comes close to what we're doing," says Talley. "It's a really innovative product, and one which we call the 'last generation' of self storage products. With Westfalia's help, we feel we have a very efficient system, and will take this industry in a totally new direction."
Frank adds, "We're not reinventing the wheel, just moving into a new market."
About Westfalia Technologies, Inc. (www.WestfaliaUSA.com)
Westfalia Technologies, Inc. is a leader in providing logistics software and material handling equipment for plants, warehouses and distribution centers. Their expertise in combining software (WMS) development with automated equipment manufacturing reveals Westfalia's ability to deliver turn-key solutions to meet each client's specific needs with unsurpassed quality and control. To learn more about Westfalia's products, including Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (AS/RS) and Savanna.NET® Warehouse Management Systems, visit www.WestfaliaUSA.com.
About Automated Self Storage Systems, LLC
Located in Delray Beach, Florida (www.AutomatedSelfStorage.com), Automated Self Storage Systems, LLC is pleased to introduce the newest solution and final generation in self storage-our public storage retrieval system. For over 15 years we have developed, constructed, managed and operated numerous self storage facilities throughout South Florida and New Jersey and have listened to the customers' requests for improvements from site to site. As a result, the concept for automation was born.
Contact:
Laura Worker
Marketing Specialist
Westfalia Technologies
717.764.1115, ext. 111
lworker@westfaliaUSA.com
