System shifts shoes

The system was designed to speed order picking, increase productivity and reduce picking cage congestion by enabling staff to pick and place products directly onto a conveyor belt for transfer to an automated sortation system.

Individual shoe boxes are placed on one of three 50m heavy duty conveyors running the length of a mezzanine at right angles to the racking and walkways in order to enable a speedy, efficient batch picking process. As access to stairways and fire exits had to be maintained at all times, the system was designed with two sections of inclined/declined belt conveyors.

Astec introduced a zero line pressure, high speed system to merge two of the belt conveyor lanes, creating slugs of products prior to merging. Completed orders are conveyed down to an existing ground floor sortation system.

Astec Conveyors successfully installed and commissioned the system, including controls, on time and within budget and without any compromise to existing operations.