Mini load ASRS for your light goods logistics

Similar in design to an automated pallet warehouse, the classic automated mini load system is a storage facility for smaller and lighter goods up to a maximum total weight of approximately 250 kilograms per loading unit. It is condensed in its design and referred to as mini load technology.

A classic mini load system includes the following components: 

• A shelving system for single- to multiple-deep storage of various load carriers such as totes, boxes or containers
• One or more rack aisles, each with an automated mini load crane
• Inbound and outbound conveyor systems on the outside.
• Workstations for incoming goods, outgoing goods and order picking.
• Software for controlling all material flows in the mini load warehouse (Warehouse Management System, WMS).

The automated mini load system offers a robust, secure, flexible and dynamic storage solution with particular advantages:

• can be used universally across all applicable industries including retail / e-commerce, food & beverage, pharmaceutical, manufacturing and automotive, etc.
• suitable for both standard and cold storage
• optimal space utilization
• fast access times
• high throughput rates
• continuous and safe workflow
• modular, customizable and scalable
• fully automatic handling of a wide variety of items
• resource-saving thanks to material flow-optimization and energy-saving design and function

An automated mini load system is a software-controlled solution that replaces manual storage and retrieval processes with automated ones. Picking is based on the goods-to-person principle. The mini load system transports the required items to the workstation. The employee removes the required number of items from the load carrier, then the system automatically places the load carrier with the remaining goods back into storage.

The core component of the classic mini load ASRS and the guarantee of its dynamic performance is the stacker crane technology. It travels horizontally on a rail through the aisle, stops at the required position and, with the help of a vertically operating lifting carriage, removes load carriers from various rack levels or places them in storage. The lift carriage has a load handling device: a telescopic loader for loads up to 250 kg or a container loader for loads up to 70 kg.

• Construction: free-standing steel structure inside a warehouse or silo construction as a load-bearing structure for the roof and walls
• Shelf/aisle height: up to 24 m
• Storage density: single, double, or quadruple-deep
• Loading equipment: totes, boxes, containers in standard formats or in customer-specific dimensions
• Stacker crane payload: up to 250 kg (higher loads by special order)
• Travel speed of stacker crane: 6 m/s
• Lifting speed of stacker crane: up to 3 m/s