This month, Norwegian wholesale warehouse Asko Vest will receive its first pallet sorting robot, with Solwr, which specialises in automated and robotic logistics solutions, currently at the site set to assemble and install it.
The 45,000m² (484,376ft²) facility was established in 2007 and is reportedly Western Norway’s largest wholesale warehouse for groceries.
The robot, name Sort, is reportedly capable of handling all types of pallets and reduces the need for human pallet handling. Solwr claims that Sort can handle up to 400 pallets per hour and automates a manual and time-consuming process.
Asko Vest intends to use Sort to automate some of the warehouse processes, in the hope that automation will bring efficiency and HSE benefits, such as the reduction of repetitive and heavy work for the employees.
According to the solution provider, Sort does not require a dedicated operator, which should enable warehouse staff to handle the robot in combination with other duties.
The first installation of the Sort robot was in autumn 2020 at the regional Asko warehouse of H.I. Giørtz Sønner in Ålesund. The robot was designed to enable a short installation time and to give scope for scaling if necessary.
What’s more, the machine is equipped with sensors and cameras to ensure pallets are sorted correctly according to, among other factors, pallet type and wear.
Since May 2021, Solwr claims that Sort has handled around 175,000 pallets at the Asko warehouse of H.I. Giørtz in Ålesund, with a reported operating stability of more than 99%.
The logistics firm says it has some of Norway’s largest retail players as customers, to which it delivers software for managing goods across channels, efficient order and stock management.
Moreover, the company reports approximately 100 employees in Ålesund, Oslo and Trondheim, with high expertise in logistics, software development and automation.
Solwr (Stand 112) will be at Robotics and Automation 2022 on 01-02 November at the Coventry Building Society Arena. For more information about this unmissable event, or to register to attend, please visit www.roboticsandautomation.co.uk.
