News
Qubiqa's Layer Picker sets a new standard
for automation in the distribution of retail- and consumer goods
With more than 10 years on the market and more than 160 operating systems worldwide, a Danish developed and patented picking- and palletizing system sets a new standard for the automatic handling of almost any kind of retail- and consumer goods.
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A single so called “Layer Picker” can annually replace approximately 4 million manual handlings. Soon they will be history, the warehouses and packing stations where employees toil or drive around in small forklifts, manually moving goods from one pallet to another. Today 160 Layer Picker systems are operating around the world, working in semi- and fully automatic distribution centers – at manufactures, chain stores and distributors.
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Patented system
The Qubiqa Layer Picker is a patented system for the automatic emptying and filling of pallets with consumer goods in complete layers (palletizing and de-palletizing). The layer picking system has four picking positions, enabling up to four orders to be picked concurrently. The 4-axis picker uses a dual bellows and vacuum-gripping head, which can handle more than 95 percent of all retail goods - safely, precisely and gently. To pick up a layer, the bellows inflate and close around the product to create a seal. The vacuum head exerts just enough pressure to gently pick up the layer while minimizing product damage. This system allows the picker to handle a variety of pallet configurations. A single system can build up to 300 layers an hour, composed of a wide range of goods in boxes, trays, cartons, bottles, bags etc.
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Of the 160 Layer Pickers, which currently are in operation, about 100 are running in Europe, and the rest in USA, Canada and Australia. Among the customers are Coca Cola, Nestlé, Proctor & Gamble as well as several large integrators, e.g. Dematic, Witron, Swisslog, Daifuku and Schäfer.
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Reliable and efficient
Kuhne + Nagel, who is one of the biggest logistics- and transportation companies in Europe, has some of the first Layer Pickers installed. These are i.a. operating in the centraldistribution centers of the company in Veghel and Ultrecht, the Netherlands, and has enabled the automation of large parts of the otherwise manual picking from warehouse to pallets.
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"With a product range which is so diverse like ours, it’s a huge bonus for us to work with the automated Layer Picking solution from Qubiqa which can handle almost all types of products," says Tim Beckmann from Kuehne + Nagel, who now has a good experience with the four Layer Pickers of the company. Two of the systems were installed in 2003, one in 2008, and the latest one, the Layer Picker Flex, which is mounted on a robot, was installed in 2011.
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"Our picking process has now become so efficient that it really provides us a significant competitive advantage," Tim Beckmann says.
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Great flexibility
The patented vacuum system makes the system capable of lifting a wide range of products both gently and safely – in single, double or triple layers. At the same time the Layer Picker in capable of detecting if a layer isn´t complete, and can then shut off the vacuum flow in the “empty areas” of the layer. This provides extra flexibility and breath in the potential use of the system. The Layer Picker can be mounted on a hoist, robot and portal and can operate at temperatures between -28 and +40 degrees.
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The broad application possibilities and great flexibility of the Layer Picker system was crucial when Dematic in Australia just recently chose this solution. Afterwards Dematic has demonstrated that their Layer Picker annually can replace 4 million manual handlings.
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David Rubie, Industry Logistics Manager at Dematic in Australia, says:
"Layer Picker is a key component of our full case picking solution suite because it can handle a greater range and variety of products both safely and accurately. Many distribution businesses are facing rapidly increasing demands for full case picking efficiency and safety within their Supply Chain and these challenges can be met with automatic logistic systems where Layer Picker is included in the design".
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For more information about the Qubiqa Layer Picker please contact: Thorben Larsen, Global Product Manager, +45 2949 0126.
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10th January 2013
Qubiqa Storage Solutions
(the Nordplan brand) – one
of three business units
within Qubiqa A/S will leave
the group.
Qubiqa Storage Solutions
will merge with Bruynzeel of
Constructor Group. Signing
has taken place and
“Closing” of the merger
agreement is expected to
take place on 16th January
2013.
The other two business units within Qubiqa A/S, Qubiqa Automation in Esbjerg and Qubiqa Logistics in Arden are not affected by the merger.
Qubiqa Automation and Qubiqa Logistics are in the same type of industry and this will streamline the
overall business concept within Qubiqa A/S and allow
a more goal-oriented focus
and specialisation of the industrial part.
“We believe to have found the ideal partner for Qubiqa Storage Solutions within the Bruynzeel Division of the Constructor Group, which is already a strong player in
the storage solutions
industry. When the merger is finalized, only Qubiqa
Storage Solutions will change the name to Bruynzeel Storage Systems. The departure of Qubiqa Storage Solutions will allow Qubiqa to focus more on the core business of transportation, packaging, warehousing and logistics”
Axel M Jepsen, CEO of Qubiqa A/S
For further information related to the merger, please visit www.bruynzeel-storage.com/merger - a special website that has been created to explain the merger to customers and shareholders.
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