The globally active family business Göpfert, founded in 1950 and based in Wiesentheid, Franconia, is on course for growth and is continuing to modernize its intralogistics with Klinkhammer. Following the automation of manual processes in 2016, the Klincat multilevel shuttle warehouse is now set to ensure a further increase in performance.

Hybrid between storage and retrieval machine and classic shuttle
The rail-bound multi-level shuttle warehouse, with a length of 60 meters, is equipped with three Klincat shuttles including three maintenance platforms. Each shuttle has a lifting function and serves seven container levels. With a rack height of 7.80 meters, the single-aisle shuttle warehouse offers space for 6,720 bin storage locations. Compared to conventional small parts warehouses with storage and retrieval machines, the multi-level shuttle system has around three times the capacity. Klinkcat, a hybrid between a stacker crane and a single-level shuttle, closes the gap between the performance of a stacker crane of around 120 double cycles and that of a classic shuttle solution of up to 1,000 double cycles per aisle and hour.

Space-saving platform construction for conveyor technology
A high-performance lift acts as a link between the conveyor technology and the shuttle warehouse. The storage and retrieval lanes of the shuttle warehouse are located on a platform and connect the warehouse with the existing system and the three picking and goods receiving stations. The conveyor technology is already designed for a further expansion stage with 800 storage and 800 retrieval stations.

A large number of different components are required in the production of printing, creasing and cutting machines for the manufacture of corrugated cardboard packaging. A special detail in automated storage is the flexible container division, which offers many advantages, especially for small parts such as screws or semi-finished products. Depending on the size of the goods to be stored, a container can be divided into up to 16 different compartments. This compacts the available storage space and multiplies the storage capacity. The exact subdivision of the storage bins is visually displayed in the warehouse management software and supports order pickers in their work.

Digital networking of processes
The Klinkhammer warehouse management software integrates the various warehouse areas due to the wide range of items of different weights and sizes. Göpfert stores a total of 32,000 items, from screws to five-ton rollers. Of these, 25,000 items are stored in the three automated systems. Manual warehousing is supported by a forklift control system and hand-held terminals. Production is also connected to the software and the forklift control system with eight assembly line warehouses and 15 pre-assembly stations.

At the same time, incoming goods with incoming goods inspection for external manufacturers and outgoing goods for new and spare parts are integrated into the material flow and digitally networked. The Klinkvision visualization system also ensures transparency in the warehouse and enables rapid alarm diagnostics thanks to its detailed views down to sensor and drive level. as