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Box opening, box cutting or lid removal is fast becoming the most repeated manual process in order fulfillment warehouse operations. The evolution in warehouse automation from distribution centers to order fulfillment centers, shipping direct to consumers, has created the “box opening” gap in automated workflow. eCommerce is definitely driving the high demand for boxes to be opened at the fulfillment centers.
Box opening is performed in two specific areas at these centers:
The receiving dock has evolved and no longer just takes items into bulk storage. Most boxes are depalletized, sorted and allocated at receiving in fulfillment centers. While some items do go to bulk storage, by pallet or box, many need to be opened and processed, as quickly as possible, often at manual Decant work cells.
Decant is a new term that uses the same manual process, except the product is typically transferred directly to a tote that is part of an automated inventory management system using a robotic ASRS. The ASRS manages the storage of inventory and transfers the items to operators in the “doner-storage totes” to then be paired with orders. Then the tote is returned to ASRS storage, allowing the operator / picker to be stationary and far more efficient at building orders.
Is created by a downstream automated work cell (GTO) driving demand at box opening and Decant. The Goods To Operator (GTO) fulfillment work cells have become highly efficient at filling orders – output – that has increased the demand on – inbound – boxes to replenish inventory. Now replenishment is a “high volume” requirement that needs to be efficient and not a bottleneck in the fulfillment process.
Manually opening boxes to replenish GTO fulfillment is inefficient and manual stations take up a great deal of room, as does feeding the boxes to these stations.
The robotic ABOT features LiDAR point cloud imaging and is the first precision robotic box opener that provides automated decant in an adjoining robotic work cell to the ABOT. The single robot can decant individual or multiple items, from an opened box. The point cloud software has improved the accuracy and application range of box types and sizes the robot can open in sequence.
Growing demands in warehouse automation. The highly repetitive volume of box opening requires a robotic system to maintain workflow in a smaller foot print, while eliminating the ergonomically demanding process and work hazard performed by operators.