Phoenix Contact Goes Live with Viastore Systems' Automated Storage/Retrieval System (AS/RS) for Its New Automated Distribution Center in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN --- viastore systems, a leading automated material handling and supply chain execution software solutions provider, went live in September with a new Automated Storage/Retrieval System (AS/RS) for Phoenix Contact's new state-of-the-art Distribution Center in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. viastore systems manufactured and installed a four (4) aisle mini-load AS/RS using its widely popular viaspeed line of mini-load Storage/Retrieval (S/R) machines. The AS/RS uses plastic totes to transport and store the company's wide assortment of products including electrical connection, electronic interface and industrial automation technologies.
The four (4) aisle AS/RS stores approximately 44,000 totes of product, weighing up to 66 lb. each. In addition, viastore systems provided a tote handling conveyor system including vertical sequence buffers feeding workstations for picking and packing customer orders and an automatic robotic combination tote depalletizer/palletizer. The depalletizing function is used to unstack pallets of incoming product in totes from some of its other manufacturing facilities and the palletizing function is used to stack pallets of empty totes for return to its manufacturing facility in Germany. The controls for the system included the PLC controls for the conveyor, two Phoenix Contact Industrial PC (IPC) controls for the S/R machines, and the viad@t MFC Material Flow Control and the viad@t WMS Warehouse Management System (WMS) software packages, including an interface to Phoenix Contact's existing BAAN Enterprise Resource Planning System (ERP) software system. The system is designed to handle 1,200 totes in and out of the AS/RS per hour and in excess of 3,000 order lines per day.
For viastore, coming up with the right solution for Phoenix Contact was a very important factor, realizing that "Phoenix Contact is a very experienced customer familiar with these types of systems and was already an existing user of viastore systems' automated material handling systems in Europe.
viastore systems was very pleased to have been chosen by Phoenix Contact for this project and we worked very hard to provide yet another successful integrated system" said Joe Stojak, viastore systems Executive Vice President & CFO. The new 51,200 square foot automated distribution center is located adjacent to its previously used conventional distribution center at the Phoenix Contact facility in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The new facility was built to support the distribution of electrical products well into the future as the building is already large enough to add storage capacity for an additional 88.000 totes in eight (8) additional aisles
of AS/RS, and is equipped with warehousing and distribution equipment available from the world's leading manufacturers.
"Thanks to viastore's software solutions, the proven design and performance of their S/R machines, and their integration capabilities, Phoenix Contact's new automated Distribution Center can better serve the growing demand from our customers in North and South America -- now and for years to come," said Phoenix Contact Director of Logistics Lou Paioletti.
viastore systems, Inc. - viastore systems is a leading manufacturer of Automated Storage Retrieval Systems (AS/RS), Conveyor Systems and WMS Software Solutions. Located in a modern 90,000 sq. ft. facility in Grand Rapids, MI viastore systems, Inc. works closely with each client to develop full material handling system solutions utilizing one or many of our expanded capabilities: AS/RS manufacture and
integration, conveyor system design and integration, control system design and upgrade, custom software design and integration, robotic systems, retrofits and refurbishments, and custom design and manufacture of special equipment. viastore system's capabilities have grown as their clients needs have grown. North American clients include Cargill Meat Solutions, Continental Teves NA, Gordon Food Service, L'Oreal USA, Frito Lay Corporation, Robert Bosch Corporation, Wilsonart International, Ford Motor Corporation, Schwan Food Company, Nestle USA, Boscov's Department Store, Trane Corporation, Smithfield Beef, Steelcase and Wolverine World Wide.
viastore systems has developed and manufactured all types of Storage/Retrieval (S/R) machines as one of it's primary product lines since 1970. Today, viastore systems is an international corporation with manufacturing facilities in Germany and the United States and subsidiaries in France, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Spain, and the Czech Republic.
Phoenix Contact is a world leader in the manufacture and distribution of electrical connection, electronic interface and industrial automation technologies.
The complete installation summary (with pictures) is available at Phoenix Contact Installation Summary.
For more information regarding viastore systems, its products or services, visit our website at www.us.viastore.com or contact us at info.us@viastore.com.
