The current project of Siempelkamp Handling Systeme GmbH (SHS) once again proves the company’s expertise in storage technology. The expert in storage system technology implemented for Clarion Laminate LLC an integrated logistics solution.

Clarion Industries’ specifications for this project incorporated a continuous, fully-automatic production line designed for a yearly capacity of 24 million m²/year. The customer requested a logistics concept for base materials including decor papers and MDF/HDF boards, for intermediate products such as unfinished panels, and for finished and packaged laminate flooring. SHS met this requirement with an automated logistics system which effectively combines the individual production processes through a symbiosis of storage technology, material handling, and transport logistics. 

In close cooperation with the American customer the storage system technology division of SHS designed an integrated logistics solution based on a material flow study including a cost-benefit analysis. This approach aimed at combining the transport system of an in-house material flow with storage technology and company logistics to an economically advantageous concept. The result is a high integration of the value added chain which pays off in increased performance and decreased costs!

Modular intra-logistics concept

The high-bay storage system with a length of 117 m, a width of 14 m and a height of 18 m is operated via two fully-automatic material transport vehicles with a load capacity of 3.5 t and is equipped with the camera system Visulex for diagnostics reasons. The storage capacity comprises of about 1,240 stack locations for unfinished flooring material and about 360 locations for decor paper pallets. Positioned next to and between two (2) short-cycle tandem presses with integrated cut-off saws and two (2) profiling lines for flooring material respectively, the storage system performs a smooth process flow regarding the supply with decor papers and unfinished boards. The maturation of the unfinished panels before edge processing as well as the integration into the profiling lines is also part of the concept. Automatic transport vehicles ensure that the role of the control and logistics system is not limited to storage only but also interlinks all other equipment which are part of the production. Programmable logic controllers (Siemens S7) as well as the modular and computer-based logistics hardware and software Ordox II are part of an important support system. Ten (10) control sections have their eye on customer-specific functions as well as the integration into an ERP system (Movex). As far as hardware and software is concerned, this solution is custom-fit to the entire logistics of the company.

High benefit through economic and logistic efficiency

The SHS integrated storage system technology has proven to be the optimal solution. Thorough project planning in connection with the modular intra-logistics concepts based on the SHS experience of many years made it possible to implement this application economically and logistically sensible. The customer is fully satisfied with this solution. According to the operator the advantages of the fully-automatic high-bay storage system by SHS are obvious:

• Easy access to papers, semi-finished parts and cover boards in one storage system
• In contrast to conventional high-bay storage systems with fork lift operation (block storage), “First In – First Out“ is possible
• No fork lift traffic and no corresponding damages
• Very short conditioning times of pressed boards due to a separation according to the type of lamination (Reduction from six (6) to two (2) days)
• Good organization of the turnover which is set by the tempo of the presses (1,000 boards per hour) and profiling lines (16,000 floorboards per hour) – a definite advantage compared to block storage!
• No manual data transfers from stacking papers (as usual in block storage)
• Point-and-click inventory