Swisslog automated spare parts warehouse delivers energy efficiency and customer service
A new Swisslog AutoStore grid-based automated warehouse solution is delivering uptime and energy-efficiency benefits to Komatsu’s new spare parts warehouse in Tarneit, Victoria.
The new purpose-built warehouse is designed to store small-to-medium parts for machinery used in the construction sector, a major market for Komatsu in Victoria.
“Construction is a demanding sector, so we required a system with high levels of uptime. Seeing AutoStore deliver 99.9% uptime globally, and Swisslog’s local projects regularly seeing higher numbers up to 99.99% gave us the confidence that we will be able to serve our customers at all times best,” said Komatsu General Manager, Warehousing, Hendrik Van Der Merwe.
The Swisslog AutoStore solution for Komatsu has achieved Highly Commended recognition at the 2024 Australian Supply Chain and Logistics Award (ASCLA) in the Supply Chain Management category. This award category recognises an organisation that has demonstrated significant achievement or improvement within a section or across their entire supply chain.
In addition to the construction sector, Komatsu provides essential equipment, technologies, and services to the mining, energy, government, waste, and quarry industries. The company’s purpose is to create value through manufacturing and technology innovation to empower a sustainable future where people, businesses, and their planet thrive together. Komatsu specialises in the sale of equipment and the ongoing support of that equipment via the distribution of spare parts, which is where the new Swisslog solution will provide greater efficiencies, allowing Komatsu to deliver better service to customers.
AutoStore is a unique and simple grid-based automation solution that uses robots and bins to process small parts orders quickly. It provides better use of available space than any other automated system thanks to its unique design that enables direct stacking of bins on top of each other and storage of multiple SKUs in a single bin. Over time, the system naturally learns which products have a higher rotation, storing them on the top layer to ensure faster picking times.
Energy-efficiency
Komatsu’s new facility sought from the outset to achieve a 5-star environmental rating, and the energy-efficiency of the Swisslog AutoStore system was a major contributor to minimising total energy consumption of the building to help achieve this rating.
“Each robot in the AutoStore is extremely efficient, using just 0.1kW of energy per hour. Six robots use about the same energy as a toaster. This low energy consumption, combined with low maintenance costs, makes for a very favourable total cost of ownership (TCO). With a low investment, AutoStore achieves efficient processing at integrated goods-to-person workstations. People don’t need to walk long distances to pick products, the robots deliver goods directly to pick stations to reduce picking times,” says Swisslog Head of Sales and Consulting, Sean Ledbury.
Van Der Merwe added, “The Swisslog solution was highly energy efficient, a key consideration for gaining the building’s 5-star environmental rating. It was also a highly compact, space-saving solution, allowing us to consolidate all spare parts storage into a single facility, saving valuable real estate space and costs.”
“The solution met sustainability criteria, with an extremely low footprint. Assuming the automation solution is operational for a 12-hour day, five days a week, for the full 52 weeks in the year, total annual power consumption would be 3,744 kWh (less than 10 kWh per day),” he added.
Customised solution, standardised components
The Komatsu spare parts warehouse was part of Swisslog’s standardised AutoStore offering. Standardisation increases efficiency, reduces time-to-market, and allows for the most cost-effective solution.
“Swisslog can then use these standard components, and custom-engineer a solution to suit each unique application, which is what we did in close collaboration with Komatsu,” said Ledbury.