Foster's Appoints Elettric 80 to Provide LGV-Based Solution


28 June, 2007 - Elettric 80, a global provider of end-of-line automation solutions, has received an order from Foster's to provide Laser Guided Vehicle (LGV) Storage & Retrieval System for its wine facility in Karadoc, Victoria, Australia. The total order value for Elettric 80 is approximately 3 million Euro. In all, following an extensive emulation process, Elettric 80 will provide twelve LGVs.

The solution has been designed by Elettric 80 to primarily transport finished goods from the various production lines to the storage areas. Two types of LGVs will be used at the site; a dual fork version will take 2 pallets at the time to a block storage area and a single fork high-lifting reach LGV will store products up to 8 meters high in a racking system. The facility includes both block storage areas for stackable products and rack-based storage for non-stackable. The design of the Elettric 80 solution takes into account that the majority of finished product will be stored in racks. Rules and regulations surrounding rack-based storage have been included in the Elettric 80 design.

The LGV vehicles will also bring finished goods from the store and picking areas to the various shipping positions for transportation to Foster's worldwide client base. In addition, LGVs will supply the production lines with empty pallet stacks and dry goods and remove waste materials.

The Karadoc facility will use Elettric 80's own Warehouse Management System (WMS) for the physical automation of products within the warehouse, whether it concerns taking pallets directly to the shipping area or storing them. In essence, the Elettric 80 software will work alongside Foster's existing WMS system and will automate the store, traffic and shipping management process.

Arnold Nuzzo, Warehouse Automation & Technology Manager, from Foster's, said: "We needed to upgrade our distribution capabilities at the Karadoc facility. That included improving our IT infrastructure and being more sophisticated in our approach to end-of-line automation. We chose to use Elettric 80's LGV SRS system because of their thorough understanding of our particular industry requirements and seamless integration with our existing WMS system. Through our partnership with Elettric 80, we'll build our distribution capabilities and increase safety."

"This particular system needed to be flexible as it is an automated process that interfaces with existing manual processes. Naturally, before recommending a system we needed to fully understand the production process and introduce new routines to ensure that once live our solution provides clear business and operational efficiencies," remarked Mikael Renström, Managing Director for Swedish Elettric 80 AB, a subsidiary of Italian Elettric 80 S.p.A.

For more information contact:

Elettric 80 AB
Darren Cottom, PR and Marketing
Tel: +44 (0) 7713 652 216
E-mail: cottom.d@elettric80.it

About Elettric 80 - http://www.elettric80.com/

Founded in 1980 and headquartered in Viano, Italy, Elettric 80 is a global provider of end-of-line automation solutions which increase operational profitability and efficiency - put simply our technology helps companies cut cost and move product out of the warehouse in a fast and effective manner. Due to years of experience, we understand the storage handling challenges faced by many companies and have subsequently developed a systematic approach which is proven and underpinned by continuous investment in research and development.

Above all we value our partner approach and are committed to maintaining a track record of supplying solutions which are flexible, durable and provide a long term return on investment. Our proposition is based on Freeway® - an innovative and unique approach to end of line logistics which provides our clients with a clear competitive edge.

Freeway® is a highly flexible material handling system which utilizes palletizing robots, Laser Guided Vehicles (LGVs), high speed wrappers (Silkworm) and a pallet control system. The entire process is managed centrally by a state-of-the-art Warehouse Management System (WMS). During all phases of the implementation process an experienced team is at hand to assist and advise on the deployment of the solution, from the initial concept and planning through simulations and development to after sales support.

About Foster's Group Ltd

Operating as three regional businesses in Australia, Asia and Pacific, the Americas and Europe, Middle East and Africa, Foster's owns markets and distributes an international portfolio of beer, wine, spirits, cider and non-alcohol brands.

Internationally, Foster's owns the world's leading portfolio of premium wine brands including Penfold's, Wolf Blass, Rosemount, Lindemans, Saltram, Seppelt, Wynns and Yellowglen from Australia, Beringer, Etude, Stag's Leap and Chateau Souverain from North America, Matua Valley and Secret Stone from New Zealand and Castello di Gabiano from Italy.

In Australia, Foster's operate a unique multi-beverage business producing and distributing Australia's leading drinks brands, including our international wine portfolio, Crown Lager, Victoria Bitter, Carlton Draught, Cascade, Cougar, Strongbow and Black Douglas.

Based in Melbourne, Australia, and publicly listed on the Australian Stock Exchange, Foster's employs around 10,000 people and our products are sold in more than 155 countries worldwide.

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