Witron's OFP system brings automated order picking to produce

The first bite is with the eye, therefore, product quality is of extremely important, Witron explains. This makes the fresh food segment one of the most challenging for logistics experts these days. However, the company believes requirements with regard to product sensibility and ergonomics can be resolved with automated systems, like their OFP(Optimal Fresh Picking) system.

The company has applied for a patent that combines all scenarios into the OFP: The store-friendly picking of full totes and cartons as well as the piece picking from totes and cartons is done within one automated system.

"This makes the system cost-efficient, flexible, with short throughput times, ergonomic, space-saving, and compact - with a balanced use of conveyor technology," the company explained.

The customer starts with a basic version that can be expanded due to the scalability of the system.

Fully automated order picking by means of a shuttle
One store order is completed on every pick level. Full totes and cartons of different sizes are removed directly from the pick front by means of a pick shuttles and placed onto a discharge conveyor. The provision of the items in the modules is done according to the store layout to allow shortest driving distances of the shuttle.

Person and machine in one system
Piece picking is done in a pick aisle with automated replenishment. Several pickers work in one aisle - guided by a pick guiding system that boosts pick quality. Walking distances are reduced considerably and all pickers work on the same store order and pick fruits and vegetables from totes and cartons directly into the order totes.

Once the store totes are filled optimally based on a volume calculation, they are supplied to the automated stackers via an outbound lane and stacked for transportation together with the previous full totes or cartons.

For more information: www.witron.de