Global distributor Sonepar investing in 'groundbreaking' robotic technology

Written By Warehouse Automation

After five years of planning Sonepar Switzerland has taken efficient logistics to the next level by investing in a unique robotic picking system.

Sonepar in Switzerland has taken efficient logistics to the next level by investing in a unique robotic picking system. The Switzerland division will make them logistics pioneers within the global Sonepar group. Starting in 2023, a Robotics Pick and Pack solution will be implemented to process small-parts orders in a completely and fully automated manner and raise the performance and profitability of Sonepar’ s goods-to-person (GTP) system to a whole new level.

As a leading electrical wholesaler, Sonepar Suisse AG offers customers from trade, commerce, and industry a huge selection of high-quality electrical items and materials for their daily needs. Sonepar sells more than 220,000 products through its own ‘web-shop’, with the promise of delivering orders within 24 hours.

In 2020, Sonepar’ s new Central Distribution Center was put into operation in the Swiss city of Wallisellen. After a two-year construction phase, this facility became the home to Switzerland's first high-bay warehouse. A high-performance Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (ASRS) was integrated during construction.

As the first division of the globally operating group, Sonepar Switzerland has now invested in its first fully robotic order picking system. Order fulfillment has thus been optimized for current tasks and the company has prepared itself for future market requirements in the best possible way. Within Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (ASRS), small parts are stored in approximately 55,000 plastic bins. Battery-powered robots are presenting the storage bins at the ASRS picking stations on an order-by-order basis. Until now, order picking at these workstations has been performed manually by operators at Sonepar.

"Investments into our Supply Chain are always a benefit for our customers. With automated and digital processes, we increase our quality while saving time when processing orders, which enables us to offer an even better service to our customers", says Benjamin Ertl, Head of Supply Chain at Sonepar Suisse AG. "Our Central Distribution Center is already an undeniable success story in terms of sustainability and automation. We consider the Robotic Piece-Picking system the ideal overall solution for current and future requirements. The robotic-piece-picking project is under execution, going live in Q1.2023. After almost five years of planning and intensive discussions around robotic order picking, a dream is coming true for us."

Fully automated, precise picking with 3D vision

The overall solution, which is being integrated into the existing processes at Sonepar in Switzerland, includes a Piece-Picking Robot that will serve two Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (ASRS) workstations simultaneously by picking items fully automatically from an ASRS bins and placing them into order cartons. Using 3D vision cameras and intelligent software algorithms, the pick and place robot replicates the precision and synchronization of a human's eye-hand coordination. As a result, the robot is able to handle items of various shapes and sizes without master data or teach-in processes. The "auto-learning" function ensures that new articles can be handled efficiently. Furthermore, it enables continuous optimization of operations.

Another integral part of the overall integrated solution is a compact packaging machine which will take care of erecting, providing, sealing, and labeling the order cartons, before transporting them to the shipping area via the existing material flow. The state-of-the-art picking solution will achieve a performance of more than 300 picks per hour.

Designed for 24/7 operation

Fully robotic piece-picking cells can be easily integrated within any brand of Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (ASRS), enabling previously unimaginable performances. They operate 24/7 when needed. This can become a critical component in an era when customers place orders around the clock from all over the world. The advanced features of the pick and place robots enable them to handle a diverse and constantly changing product range. They work with various Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (ASRS) processes, including pick-to-tote, pick-to-belt, pick-to-pallet, consolidation, and replenishment, and they integrate with various warehouse systems, sortation systems and packaging machines. The innovative technology consisting of 3D cameras, flexible mechanical grippers and intelligent software algorithms enables precise detection, localization, gripping and placement of unknown items arranged in any order, even in segmented containers.

All business processes and material flows are fully transparent. Robotic applications enable 100% digitized workflows and significantly improve the quality and reliability of logistics processes.

About Sonepar:

Sonepar is an independent family-owned company with global market leadership in B-to-B distribution of electrical products, solutions, and related services. Through a dense network of 100 brands spanning 40 countries, the Group has an ambitious transformation agenda to become the first global B-to-B electrical distributor to provide a fully digitalized and synchronized omnichannel experience to all customers.

Sonepar USA is made up of 14 locally managed electrical and industrial distributors

Warehouse Automation
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