Second expansion for the AutoStore® warehouse at Giesswein Walkwaren in Austria
Giesswein Walkwaren AG is a Tyrolean family business in its third generation. From hand-picked wool in traditional quality, modern, sustainable and functional garments and footwear are produced in the company's own manufacturing facilities. With special know-how and a holistic approach, the company has become Europe's leading manufacturer of clothing made from 100% virgin wool. At the site in Brixlegg, HÖRMANN Intralogistics implemented a customized AutoStore® system as a finished goods warehouse in an existing warehouse to support the steadily growing online store business and stationary trade. Now the second expansion is already taking place.
Concept
Joint planning discussions and several plant simulations with real data originally led to the customized AutoStore® system configuration with 41 robots and 17,500 bins on nine levels. The height of the AutoStore® grid was dictated by the 4.6 meter high existing building. The single-double grid with overall dimensions of 26.1 x 30.4 x3.1 meters (L x W x H) is clad on two sides.
With the second expansion, 200 putaway positions and 1,560 picks (retrievals) per hour can be performed at a total of 6 carousel and 3 conveyor ports.
The 17,500 bins in standard format 649 mm x 449 mm x 330 mm (L x W x H) each allow for a payload of approximately 30 kg.
In the future, 51 robots will supply the workstation modules, with a total of 39 charging stations at the edge of the grid for their ongoing charging process.
Maximum flexibility and efficiency
In principle, all workstations are equipped in such a way that incoming goods or even order picking can be carried out there at any time. The delivery of incoming goods at the workstation is carried out by the warehouse staff.
In the grid system, stacks of 9 bins each stand directly on the warehouse floor. A single-double-grid track system is mounted above the tote stacks, on which the battery-powered, autonomous robots travel. They cooperatively pick up totes, re-sort them as needed, and serve them to the ports. The totes can be flexibly divided by separator inserts for use with multiple items.
The robots move in two directions through their four pairs of wheels arranged at an angle, allowing them to reach any position in the grid. They communicate via WLAN with the AutoStore® controller, which assigns transport orders to the individual robots. When the order load is low or the battery capacity is too low, the robots drive themselves to one of the charging stations located at the edge of the grid. The AutoStore® controller is located on the connected service platform.
For picking items, AutoStore® can be given complete picking orders (task group) with the individual picking items (task). With a lead time of 30 minutes, AutoStore® ensures maximum effectiveness in processing orders with its integrated optimization algorithms. The items that belong together are stored in the shipping carton. For this purpose, the carton is provided with a barcode that is "married" to the shipping order number. In a second construction stage, the conveyor connection of the picking workstations to the outgoing goods department is planned.
A special feature is also the AutoStore® Port placed directly in the Giesswein Walkwaren Shop, which enables direct warehouse access.
The AutoStore® system at Giesswein Walkwaren in Brixlegg was put into operation in July 2020 and expanded for the second time in autumn 2022.
"The new AutoStore system makes our picking processes much more effective and makes our employees' work easier. It's a win-win for the whole team."
Mag. Markus Giesswein, Owner
