For years, companies have been trying to find a way to be more sustainable, leaving a smaller carbon footprint on the environment, while still being profitable.
AWG’s Mid-South Division includes an All-In-One Distribution Hub (AIO) which will help create sustainable work practices, higher efficiency rates, and a smaller environmental footprint, all while retaining profits for AWG and its member-retailers.
The automation process for receiving, storing, picking, and shipping allows the company to operate at lower costs and produce less waste items which would eventually find its way to the local landfill.
Through multiple studies and projects, the following techniques have been identified as
significant factors on how AWG’s AIO will help make a positive impact for sustainability.
Energy-Efficient Logistics Solutions
Planning
Using an energy-efficient building design, the facility will be able to operate at lower costs, while using renewable energy sources. It uses compact storage allowing for significant space savings compared to conventional methods.
Grouping loading aids will allow the facility to transport units on the conveyor systems, which allows optimal material flow. Loading aids significantly reduce the duty cycle of the conveyor system, the shorter conveyor systems allow a reduction in energy consumption by up to 30%.
Material flow uses optimized travel paths for products being stored and retrieved for shipping. The combination of totes and products will reduce the number of trucks needed for product transport since the system utilizes the total truck capacity.
Energy-Efficiency Software
AWG and WITRON use sophisticated functionalities, including volume calculation, order
consolidation, and the pick and pack processes. AWG will be able to reduce delivery trips by 20%, reduce CO2 emissions, and optimize the packaging of goods. The Mid-South Division will reduce energy consumption and create less wear and tear on equipment by having a standby mode and a central system off function through material flow control.
Energy-Efficient Operations
Stacker cranes with energy recovery units reduce energy demands by up to 60%. The Mid-
South Division also features energy recovery units and synchronous drives in lifters and QVWs, allowing for a reduction of engine size by 40%, utilizing efficiency in partial load ranges.
AWG and WITRON use PLC-controlled, self-sufficient accumulator drives which will eliminate constant running. This process allows individual conveyor segments to run in economy mode only triggering to start only when products are being moved on them. Optimum torque in machines, conveyors, and stowage drives along with gearless drives allows a reduction in energy demands by 25% during operations.
Optimized Delivery Routes
Packed pattern calculation allows pallets and containers to be more densely loaded, decreasing the number of truck journeys. Fewer trucks on the road means less CO2 released into the air.
The Mid-South facility, using freight space calculation, can combine cases and totes on one load carrier, optimizing the total freight space on the truck.
Order consolidation is based on product size, shape, and temperature requirements ensuring items are placed properly on pallets. This decreases the risk of damage or cross-contamination in shipping to retailers.
The all-in-one distribution hub’s automation significantly reduces the amount of picking errors. This reduction in errors yields less returns from stores to facility which causes less discarded product being sent to the landfill. Just in time (JIT) picking, loading, and shipping, allows higher efficiency due to the use of intelligent logistics control functions.
Significant Reduction in Excess Goods and Waste
The All-In-One Distribution Hub’s automation significantly reduces the amount of picking errors. This reduction in errors yields less returns from stores to facility which causes less discarded product being sent to the landfill.
Just in time (JIT) picking, loading, and shipping, allows higher efficiency due to the use of intelligent logistics control functions.
Investment Security Over the Entire Service Life of the Planet
The Mid-South Division utilizes future-proof technology, allowing operation of a low-fault plant. Top-of-the-line training processes with the operators and maintenance teams will be able to maximize reduction of downtimes and optimize running time.
Saving Space
Building up instead of building out, the Mid-South facility utilizes more storage space while creating a smaller environmental footprint. The compact design, reduction in energy consumption through optimized material flows, short conveying distances, and networking of all logistical areas to include products from all temperature areas, allows AWG to better utilize sustainability now and in the future.
