Cross-docking is a logistics practice that transfers materials directly between trucks. Materials move from inbound trucks to outbound trucks with minimal storage time. This practice eliminates long-term warehousing.
Warehouses use cross docking to handle LTL shipments efficiently:
Operations receive and sort shipments at staging areas
Workers inspect materials and group them by destination
Sorted materials transfer to outbound docks
Products typically move through facilities within 24 hours
Cross-docking facilities rely on staging areas. These areas connect inbound docks to outbound docks. Materials arrive, undergo sorting and inspection, then move to outbound trucks for final delivery. The staging process allows operations to combine, sort, and redistribute shipments before they leave the facility.
Robotic lift trucks can be used in this application by picking from inbound staging areas and drop those pallets in multiple locations throughout the facility without any manual intervention or commands. Additionally, the robotic lift truck can then pick from defined areas that are designated for outbound and bring them to those locations.
Solutions: Staging Lanes, Pallet Wrappers, Intelligent Pallet Detection
Trucks to Use: Hyster Robotic Lift Truck, OTTO Lifter, OTTO 1500
Staging Lanes
Robotic lift trucks can pick out of staging lanes and move product to drop into other staging lanes. For example, manual operators can offload trucks on the inbound side and stage product nearby. The robotic lift truck can then pick from those lanes and bring those pallets to a central staging area where they are broken down, sorted and the pallets are rebuilt for outbound transport.
Pallet Wrappers
From the central staging areas, the robotic lift truck can lift those new stable pallets and bring to a Pallet Wrapping Machine and trigger a wrapping mission. Once the pallet is wrapped, the robotic lift truck can then move the pallet to an outbound staging lane.
Intelligent Pallet Detection
One of the unique features is intelligent pallet detection. This feature allows a robot to scan staging lanes regardless if the truck is engaged in a mission at the time or not. This allows the robot software to trigger pick missions and order other robots in the fleet to do work that is waiting for them.
This creates a fully autonomous solution that removes another the need for a manual operator to trigger picks and drops. This also requires no WMS/ERP integration allowing for a less complex installations.
Why automation provides an advantage.
The availability of a steady labor force in logistics, warehousing, and manufacturing facilities continues to shrink. With finding labor becoming an issue, robotic lift trucks offer a solution for any operation that requires simple repetitive movement that allow management to move existing labor to more skilled positions.
With the proper applications, a robotic material handling equipment can provide a fast Return on Investment by reducing an operations labor costs. There are other potential realizations of cost savings include: increased productivity from increased cycle efficiency and solving poor attendance as well as the damage reduction of products and equipment.
Why ELT Systems Group
Support Across North America
ELT Systems Group is part of Eastern Lift Truck Company that is staffed with hundreds of qualified service people. The Systems division is equipped with engineers along with their OEM partners to bring you 24/7 support and the ability to travel anywhere across North America to support your operation.
No Infrastructure
ELT Systems Group’s robotic solutions require no additional infrastructure to navigate in your facility. This means no reflectors, no magnets or wires in the ground. This technology allows the robots to navigate and drive within an existing facility without any other considerations outside of safety.
Dual Mode
The robotic Tugger and Lifter solution is a standard truck that has been built to be autonomous. This means that it can be used in manual mode as well as autonomous mode. Any operator (if the client allows for it) can take control of the robotic lift truck for any purpose.
Click this link to view our other application briefs.
If you are interested in automating your material handling application, make sure you reach out to ELT Systems Group and see how we can help.
Contact the ELT Systems Group to get started on an automation project.
