PROMAT 2015 in Chicago was all about material handling efficiency. ENGINEERING.com had the opportunity to visit the Modula booth and learn about a vertical storage solution that saves time and money.
What’s a vertical storage solution you ask?
According to Mark Hasler, regional sales manager at Modula, “A vertical lift module (VLM) is a fully automated storage and retrieval system that’s designed to bring steel reinforced trays full of our customer’s product down to the operator on demand.”
In terms of manufacturing operations it’s common to see large amounts of standard racking and pickers wandering through aisles with printed tickets, picking things manually. What advantages are there in adopting a VLM system?
“The main advantage is an increase in space savings,” says Hasler. “We take advantage of the deck space in our customer’s facilities by storing the trays vertically in about 150 square feet versus static shelving that can take up a lot of space. There are also major increases in picking efficiencies. We have light directive picking that can actually direct the operator to the part that they need to pick.”
Modula’s VLM systems are computer controlled and like all computer driven technologies, bringing operators up to speed with training can be an issue. Hasler says that the firm’s system is easy enough to learn. “Generally our training takes one to two days before we have the operators up and running using the machine.”
Compared to open racking, vertical lift storage systems move most of the spare part inventory out of sight and out of reach of the operators. Using the VLM systems computer interface, the parts are brought to you. For some high-value inventory or important components this can be a major security advantage.
Hasler relates: “In most scenarios we have operator passwords for when an operator can scan a badge or reader, so we know when operators are using the machine and what parts they’re picking. We have reports to see what products were picked during any given time so it creates accountability in the work place.”
In industries like electronics, the challenge is to manage a large number of generally small, lightweight parts. In other industries such as tool and die, the problem may be the other way around: fewer parts, but significantly greater weight.
Fortunately, Modula’s VLM’s have considerable weight capacity. “Our max tray capacity can hold all the way up to 2,200 lbs,” says Hasler. “We can deliver those trays externally, outside of the machine if needed to interface with the lift-assist device’s hoist and cranes.”
For even larger parts, Modula’s unit can be ordered to scale with your requirements. “We have four different lists of trays. We have 4 , 5 , 6 , 8 , 10 and 13 foot wide trays. The height of the machine can go all the way up to 46 feet” says Hasler.
In 2015, Modula has invested $6 million dollars in their Lewiston Maine facility to produce vertical lift modules. VLM’s are expected to roll off the lines this summer.
To learn more about Modula and their VLM’s, visit modula-us.com
Modula has sponsored this post. They have no editorial input to the content-all opinions are mine. Jim Anderton