Proven and Tested Technology
The revolutionary Automated Storage and Retrieval Material Handling System SR/F Machine, used world wide, has already proven to be effective in design, functionality and performance. AFT understands the strenuous environment and continuous operation requirements for its products. AFT’s SR/F Machine has set industry standards and made AFT the industry leader in Automated Storage and Retrieval Material Handling Systems (AS/RS). The SR/F machine is constructed using top-quality components that allow the machine to have optimal reliability and low maintenance requirements. AFT’s new SR/F Aisle Transfer Cart was designed with the same time proven technology and components to maintain the same optimal performance and reliability from the start.

The Clear Advantage of This New Automated Technology Is Simple. We now have the capability to service multiple aisles using one AFT SR/F Machine. The SR/F Aisle Transfer Cart eliminates the need to have one SR/F machine for each automated aisle. The cost to automate a warehouse is greatly reduced, primarily by eliminating the number of machines formerly required and their related maintenance. Another benefit is that this system is scalable and designed to accommodate one SR/F Machine or multiple SR/F Machines depending on the needs of your warehouse. Implementing the SR/F Aisle Transfer Cart increases the efficiency of your warehouse while reducing costs.

AFT SR/F Aisle Transfer Cart Advantages
• Service multiple aisles with one SR/F Machine
• Scalability and flexibility to meet nearly any warehouse or production environment
• Fully automated warehouse system - no manual intervention
• Increase storage capacity
• Improve warehouse safety
• Improve control over inventory
• Reduce product damage
• Reduce warehouse costs

How the New SR/F Aisle Transfer Cart Works With the SR/F Machine: The identified materials are placed at an Input Station. The remaining procedures are all fully automated and computer controlled. The computer controlled system senses that materials have been placed inside the Input Station and the SR/F Machine retrieves the materials. The PLC automated computer system determines the best storage location for the materials or product and they are stored. AFT’s Automated Storage and Retrieval Material Handling System (AS/RS) can do this because of its unique encoding address system. It remembers the exact location of each storage position to the precision of .076 inch. If the storage location is determined to reside on an aisle other than the current aisle, the SR/F Machine and its payload are automatically loaded onto the SR/F Aisle Transfer Cart without human intervention and moved to the designated aisle. Upon reaching the specified aisle, the SR/F Machine and payload is released from the SR/F Aisle Transfer Cart. The SR/F Machine moves to the targeted storage location and the materials are deposited. The SR/F Machine then proceeds with the next task of retrieving or storing materials. With the SR/F Aisle Transfer Cart and SR/F Machine materials or product may be transferred from one aisle to another effortlessly with no human intervention.

AFT’s Mission and Commitment to Clients and Excellence
AFT’s mission to listen to its clients needs, evaluate the project, design and build the best innovative technology on the market, lead to the inception and development of the SR/F Aisle Transfer Cart. The SR/F Aisle Transfer Cart development was inspired by our clients who desired full warehouse automation, without the need for a separate machine for each aisle. Clients needed a solution to provide full warehouse automation at lower costs, particularly for low throughput conditions. AFT met this challenge by engineering and introducing the SR/F Aisle Transfer Cart. We are now able to offer full warehouse automation at even lower costs to our clients.

SR/F Aisle Transfer Cart Features
• PLC computer controlled transfer system – no manual intervention
• Low-profile transfer pit only 13 inches deep
• SR/F Transfer Cart can transport SR/F Machine and its max payload of 3,000 lbs.
• Cart uses rails that can be plumbed to the floor, eliminating the need for super flat floors
• Designed to SR/F Machine specs and quality
• No proprietary components
• 10 feet wide
• Designed particularly for low throughput environments

We give you the technology and equipment to move your company forward and upward.

For more information about AFT’s SR/F AS/RS Machine and SR/F Aisle Transfer Cart please visit our web site www.asrs.net.

An independent study concluded that users and potential users can feel confident in the reliability and adaptation of AS/RS systems for use in an array of operations for large, medium or even smaller businesses. This two part study commissioned by the Material Handling Industry of America (MHIA) and conducted by Brigham Young University’s graduate students of the Marriott School of Management determined how users and non-users felt about this technology, its benefits and shortcomings.

In today’s fast pace and changing economy, the uses of AS/RS are increasing in importance. These systems are used to perform a wide range of functions and do much more than just manage inventories. Some of the other tasks include staging raw materials and work-in-progress for Lean and Just-in-Time (JIT) applications. The popularity and significance of these productivity tools raises some questions about reliability, economics and satisfaction of these systems. This study addresses these concerns, focusing in particular on fixed-aisle systems that rely on mobile load handling machines to store and retrieve loads to and from storage racks aligned along aisles of various lengths.

The study, released on August 20, 2007 found that users of AS/RS Systems had very high expectations for their systems, expecting uptimes of 97.98%. The study showed that today’s AS/RS systems do deliver on these expectations with average uptimes of 97.34%. Among current AS/RS users, the report also indicated that downtime or unreliability was at the top of their list of concerns. Flexibility and initial costs to implement these systems were also mentioned. The study included industries such as Automotive, Distribution, Food, Logistics, Manufacturing, Military, Printing, Retail and more. The AS/RS task is that of pick up, transport, and insert load into storage locations and then at some future time retrieve the loads and deposit them to another location.

The report discovered that accurate record keeping was a factor in realizing how reliable the systems are and in dismissing any perceptions of reliability. The report quoted a respondent that questioned his AS/RS reliability. It was not until reviewing corporate records that he noted just how efficient the system was. He indicates, “when I started looking at the efficiencies, I really saw how amazing it is, 99.8% efficient. Now I’ll change the way I track uptime and efficiencies of AS/RS.”

The report noted that there is a period of time immediately following the installation needed to have workers or operators become accustomed to the operations of AS/RS systems. During this learning-curve period, performance is lower. The report indicated that a level of preventative maintenance is required to achieve optimal performance and reduce downtime. The incidence of unexpected downtime can be reduced, or even avoided, with appropriate preventative maintenance. One respondent indicated “We do the scheduled maintenance for two reasons 1) to not void the warranty and 2) because the supplier seems to know what is best for our AS/RS. Downtime is always unexpected, so being prepared to deal with situations quickly with maintenance is very important. The report indicated that systems greater that 10 years old did not yield the highest levels of performance. The industry finding is that many customers are upgrading their systems to the latest technologies and those are the users experiencing the highest levels of performance. An overwhelming majority of respondents reported they are more than pleased with their system’s reliability and said their system exceeded expectations.

The report noted some of the main reasons companies are purchasing Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems. The main operational reason cited was space efficiency, followed by increased throughput, reduced labor cost, speed/time to access inventory and accuracy. The survey noted companies who purchased AS/RS systems for the main reason of space efficiency said their expectations were met or exceeded. In this same report, another survey also measured return-on-investment (ROI). In this survey, expectations vs. performance noted that expectations were exceeded by 26% of the respondents and met by 70% and only 4% said they had unmet expectations.

This report dealt with a few other misconceptions such as AS/RS are only useful in managing large amounts of inventory and in large companies. The findings indicated that AS/RS have proven useful and in many cases exceeded performance in small to medium companies or applications as well. A majority of the respondents who are users of small to medium operations said their systems also met and exceeded expectations. It appears that size does not appear to have a bearing on the economic viability of these systems.

The study concluded that AS/RS systems are living up to their potential and clearly show that today’s AS/RS offer very high levels of reliability. The report determined that space efficiency, time efficiency, accuracy and other benefits associated with AS/RS, combined with the flexibility needed to handle today’s world of rapid change, make it a powerful tool, especially in applications where customer service is an important factor.

“It is amazing to me what they can accomplish”
“It enabled us to grow at the pace we have.”
“The AS/RS is worth its weight in gold”

Ray Kulwiec, (2007). RELIABILITY OF AUTOMATED STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL SYSTEMS (AS/RS). The Material Handling Industry of America. http://www.mhia.org/news/9_6_07.cfm

AFT is an AS/RS Product Section member company representing the industry leaders in the business of supplying automated storage/retrieval and systems technology applications worldwide. Contact AFT for more information by calling:

Pete Holzaepfel
V. P. Marketing & Sales
pete@asrs.net
Phone: 801.676.8070