Helmut Fischer specializes in metrological solutions for industry and laboratories. The systems are used wherever precision, reliability and easy handling are required. Around 8,000 different items are stored in four Hänel lean lifts with a height of 13 meters over three floors to save space. The goods receiving area is located on the first floor and the orders for production are prepared on the two floors above.

Central warehouse management takes place in SAP

All stored items are recorded in the ERP system with their stocks and warehouse items and are managed exclusively via SAP. This is achieved by seamlessly connecting the lean lifts to SAP. The company creates stock removal orders directly in SAP and also releases them there. By connecting the lifts via a SOAP interface, lift control is also directly linked to SAP. Here, the dialog is displayed in real time on the touchscreens of the controllers using the SAP template from Prismat. The Hänel MP 12 N-HostWeb controller thus becomes an SAP terminal. After the user selects and confirms the article on the controller, the extractor brings the corresponding multifunctional container directly to the picking station. The exact storage location on the multifunctional container is displayed graphically on the control system so that picking can be carried out without confusion. The removal of the article is confirmed directly in SAP at the control system and the warehouse stock is automatically updated. Each item is provided with a label and compiled into an order. This is then transferred to production on the same floor.

Graphical representation of the storage bins

The items to be stored are recorded directly at the lift using a barcode scanner. SAP records the type and quantity and allocates a free storage location in the lean lift. The corresponding multifunctional container is brought to the picking area. In the SAP template in the control system, the user can graphically read the storage position on the multifunctional container.

SAP is available directly at the control system via SOAP protocol at each of the 12 extraction points. © René Marks

Large quantities of electronic components are stored in the Hänel storage lifts. This is why the lean lifts have an ESD design and the multifunctional containers have an antistatic coating to protect the sensitive components from overvoltage damage. The safety aspect is an important factor in storage systems; the high-speed doors mean that picking can be carried out simultaneously at all three picking points on each lift. Another special feature is the sprinkler system with smoke detectors in the Lean lifts, which ensures rapid firefighting in the event of a fire. The sliding doors also close automatically. This prevents a chimney effect during a fire.

Pallet warehouse with withdrawals over three floors

In addition to the four storage lifts for production, there is another lean lift for pallet storage. Thanks to the ground-level removal, entire pallets can be stored and retrieved using pallet trucks. "The Hänel storage lifts together with the SAP connection make our warehouse management highly efficient. We have the entire inventory under permanent control," says Armin Bauer, warehouse manager at Helmut Fischer Institut für Elektronik und Messtechnik.

Bulky goods are stored in the pallet warehouse on three floors. © René Marks

In addition to the space savings and the warehouse organization over three floors, the seamless SAP connection without additional middleware was decisive for the purchase of the Hänel Lean-Lifts.