FullPick: TGW presents efficient solution for fully automated picking of mixed pallets

• The advanced system for the food trade
  also covers picking of individual units
• Modular approach based on TGW’s many years
  TGW’s many years of experience in the industry
• This innovation gives customers flexibility and increases their efficiency in a sustainable way.
• FullPick can be used in all temperature areas:
  from the normal temperature area to the refrigerated and frozen area.

(Marchtrenk, 28 April 2023) TGW has developed an innovative system that enables food producers and retailers as well as food service specialists to flexibly adapt to the challenges of the future: with FullPick, both pallets and roll containers can be loaded fully automatically and customer-optimised.

The modular solution for mixed pallet picking (multi-reference order picking) is based on TGW’s decades of experience, including in the area of refrigerated and deep-frozen products. The experts of the intralogistics specialist have analysed and optimised the entire process from goods receipt to sequencing and fully automated order picking. The experiences of best practice examples, including COOP in Switzerland, have influenced the development of these standardised modules.

Automatic loading of pallets and roll containers

TGW offers its customers all service elements from mechatronics to software as a single source. Many years of practical experience have been invested in the new generation of the AutoStax palletising robot. AutoStax can be used for supplying shops with both pallets and roll containers. FullPick also includes an optional, fully integrated module for picking single units. The big advantage: in contrast to conventional systems, this process does not require a separate module.

Flexibility for changes in the shop structure

Order picking for individual products is playing an increasingly important role, as supermarkets rely more and more on shops in small towns that are supplied with individual products instead of commercial packaging. On the other hand, it is important to continue to supply “classic” shops with pallets. “With FullPick, customers have flexibility in the face of changing shop structures and improve their ability to withstand the challenges of the future. Since Heraclitus’ motto ‘Nothing remains but change’ also applies in the food industry and retail, the main question is no longer if, but when to resort to automation”, says Michael Schedlbauer, Vice President Business Development Grocery at TGW.

According to TGW experts, the volatility of supply chains, labour shortages, increasing demands on ergonomics standards and the availability of space are the main drivers for automation. “Especially in the chilled and deep-frozen areas, rising energy prices are an increasingly important criterion. The smaller the volume to be cooled thanks to compact automation, the lower the operating costs,” explains Schedlbauer.

Ideal for Greenfield and Brownfield installations

Chilled and deep-frozen logistics projects are getting an extra boost, as more and more people want to eat healthier than before and therefore sensitive foods such as fruit, vegetables, milk or protein substitutes need to be delivered to the shops as quickly as possible. Even discount shops, which have relied on optimised manual processes for decades, are increasingly opting for automation. FullPick offers the advantage that the system can be implemented in both new (greenfield) and existing (brownfield) buildings.

In order to provide customers in the food and retail industry with even better overall support, TGW offers its expertise: The Grocery Retail business unit, headed by Peter Ehrenhuber, is responsible for the continuous development of customer-optimised solutions.

www.tgw-group.com

About TGW Logistics Group:

TGW Logistics Group is a leading international provider of intralogistics solutions. For more than 50 years, the Austrian specialist has been implementing automated systems for its international customers, from A for Adidas to Z for Zalando. As a system integrator, TGW is responsible for the planning, production and realisation of complex logistics centres, from mechatronics and robotics to control and software.

TGW Logistics Group has offices in Europe, China and the USA and employs more than 4,400 people worldwide. In the financial year 2021/2022, the company achieved a total turnover of 924 million euros.