Product category:
Sawing and cutting-off machines and automation systems
News Release from: Friedrich Remmert | Subject: Steel centre storage systems
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 18 June 2008
Lean manufacturing changes steel
products storage
Just-in-time and lean production increasingly require the supply of steel products in fixed lengths, semi-finished products or workpieces, which are changing steel storage requirements.
Production concepts, such as just-in-time and lean production, increasingly require the supply of steel products in fixed lengths, customised semi-finished products or even workpieces that are ready for installation Consequently, many European steel dealers are becoming steel service providers
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 24 Nov 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Sawing centres integrate production, warehousing
A new sawing cell and powerful sheet metal processing cells shown at EMO 2005 included a compact processing centre that enables the optimum integration of warehouse and production facilities.
Integrate warehousing and production
Are you integrated yet - Stephan Remmert discusses the linking of warehouse and processing technology and says that we have fundamentally redefined the way we perceive warehousing and production.
Integrated, automatic storage and cutting technologies aree ensuring speedy and flexible order processing said Friedrich Remmert.
Vice president of EUROMETAL (European Federation of Associations of Steel), Juergen Nusser, spoke about market development in Europe: "The European steel trade is currently experiencing a major transition, for example, classic purchasing and sales increasingly take place in the background, and services such as blank provision and material processing are becoming important factors for competitiveness".
He said that in future, the dealers will consistently change from that of 'competitor' to a highly customer-oriented steel service partner.
Further reading
Integrated warehouse and sawing optimise output
Production managers need to be able to guarantee efficient production processes, reduced unit costs and short delivery times, usually while at the same time increasing volumes.
Robots designed to sort laser-cut parts
An intelligent 6-axis robot transfers the sheet steel from the laser profiler to its rotary table, sorts the finished parts into predefined load carriers and disposes of scrap.
Optimising sheet metal handling
Small, automated sheet metal storage systems are straightforward and as a single or double tower solution, they ensure optimum use of the space available.
The rising demand for services in the steel trade can primarily be traced back to the fact that an ever-increasing number of metalworking companies are concentrating on their core competencies and commissioning the sawing of blanks and other prefabrication stages from suppliers.
Nusser said: "The requirements involved here are clear to see.
Steel and metal dealers of today must guarantee an effective, precise and flexible order-processing system".
Nusser added that such a service must cover the compensation of production fluctuations via large material buffers and the efficient cutting of small-batch steel products and punctual provision of goods within a few hours.
He continued: "These key qualifications are nearly impossible to manage without modern storage technology and fully-automatic handling processes.
German storage and logistics expert Remmert specialises in the optimisation of long-products stocking and offers steel and metal dealers three modern systems that have set standards in Europe".
* Flexible bridge system - many European steel dealers who want to implement very compact long-goods stocking and saw connection in the smallest storage space possible use the Remmert 'Bridge' storage system.
In comparison with floor or cantilever storage, this automatic system can store materials in a very compact way.
Remmert told manufacturingtalk that the bridge reduces the required storage space by up to 70% and is therefore ideal for use as a material buffer integrated in a sawing system.
Designed for material lengths up to 8.2m and load capacities up to 5 tonnes for each load carrier, the storage system can be customised.
Its bridge shape allows for efficient attachment of saws on the interior of systems.
The integrated processing machines are supplied with the required material quickly and in an uncomplicated way.
"Our bridge system reduces cost-intensive production space considerably, said executive director of Remmert, Matthias Remmert.
He said that on average, Remmert's customers save an additional 7m of factory width.
The powerful warehouse management system, PRO WMS, which implements the management of material and storage space, also provides for a continuous flow of information, increased inventory security and a continual stock inventory.
* High-performance picking storage - steel dealers requiring a very quick picking storage system owing to high material throughput rely on the 'Honeycomb' storage system from Remmert.
"40 to 55 double cycles can be realised per hour with this system.
Thus in comparison to manual stocking, the goods output of the system is over 200% greater", said Matthias Remmert of the output of honeycomb storage.
"In addition, the total storage personal can be reduced by nearly half with the same throughput.
Depending on the inventory turnover ratio, only one or two employees are required to operate the system.
They can also take on additional work like sawing, picking or packaging".
Modern honeycomb storage comprises two shelving systems separated by an alleyway.
High-capacity shelf access equipment implementing fully-automatic material placement and removal moves between the storage blocks.
The cassettes of honeycomb storage are designed for a maximum length of 8.2m and a load capacity of up to 5 tonnes.
Modularly-designed honeycomb storage operates very efficiently as either a large or small system.
It is also possible to connect the system to one or more sawing machines mechanically and for data communication.
Automatic removal of the material to an integrated picking zone is also possible.
Overall, the storage system is characterised by very high availability and easy maintenance, said Remmert.
* Fully-integrated storage and sawing centre - steel service centres that turn out many small-batch sawed blanks are largely dependent on productive and speedy order processing.
The Remmert sawing cell solution is customised to meet these requirements and is used by leading system service providers throughout Europe.
Thanks to fully-automatic linking of all processes, from placement of the raw material in storage to optimised fully-automatic feeding of machines to order-specific gathering of sawed blanks, the system ensures minimised production processing times and material handling by minimal personnel.
Four different system components are integrated.
* Space-optimised cassette storage.
* The flexible production system PRO FMS.
* Depending on the system size, one or two portal grips (picking systems).
* Several high-performance saws with integrated gathering robots.
The picking systems remove the required raw material from the cassette and automatically feed it to the CNC sawing machines in the goods issue area of the storage facility.
After cutting, remaining material is returned automatically.
The capacity of the sawing cell is up to 55 changeovers/portal grip/h, where a single picking system serves up to three sawing machines.
The flexible production system PRO FMS controls the production process.
The software supplies the connected machines with materials to be processed and manages production orders.
Matthias Remmert explained: "Thanks to the perfect meshing of the individual system components, the sawing cell ensures optimum utilisation of all connected production machines and thus operates economically, even with the smallest batch sizes".
* Summary - the use of automatic storage and handling systems, whether as fully-integrated sawing cells, fast picking storage or compact material buffers, is a significant competitive factor, said Remmert.
This is not just applicable to European companies dealing in steel.
Around the globe, steel and metal distribution is facing major challenges.
Dr Thomas Ludwig, chief executive officer of Kloeckner and Co, the largest manufacturer-independent steel and metal distributor in all of Europe and North America, said: "Innovative service offerings for the steel-working industry are the strategy of the future".
He meant that the North American steel trade must operate more flexibly in the mid- and long-term.
By using modern automatic storage systems and fully-integrated handling systems, steel dealers and steel service centres are equipping themselves optimally for these future demands.
* About Remmert - the Remmert group of companies, with around 500 systems installed around the world in various industries, is a market-leading provider in the storage technology field.
Remmert implements custom-tailored logistical storage solutions for sheet metal, long goods, pallets and small parts.
The company's product spectrum extends from individualised, production-integrated solutions based on standard components to complex total solutions provided by Remmert as a general contractor.
In addition, the logistics expert has intelligent robot systems for fully-automatic gathering of finished parts at sawing and laser machines.
Since 1987, Friedrich Remmert , together with Friedrich Remmert Datentechnik (Remmert PRO), has offered complete storage solutions from a single source.
Each system is the custom-tailored overall result of storage technology, software and logistical knowledge.
The objective of all our systems is the same: increase production economy for the customer.
All process control and software systems from Remmert can be easily integrated into the customer's existing software architecture.
The interfacing expertise has been available within the company for years.
From development and planning and construction and installation to subsequent service, Remmert provides every service from a single source.
The customer's existing structures and their future development potential are taken into account during the planning phase.
This Westfalian company guarantees worldwide 24h customer service in every area by its own employees.
• Friedrich Remmert: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Manufacturingtalk email newsletter
• Manufacturingtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
