Define the Load Carrier Early—and Don’t Change it Late
Part of my workshop PCLS (Planning of Complex Logistics Systems) is a discussion of planning principles. One of these principles is: Define the load carrier early on. In this article,…
The Warehouse Engineering Podcast #8: Innovation, Attabotics, and more
In this episode of The Warehouse Engineering Podcast, I discuss expensive conveyors, innovation and pseudo-innovation, the recent bankruptcy of Attabotics, and 6 River Systems—and why I’m not like your grandpa.…
Takeoff Technologies and the Predictable Demise of the MFC Model
A few weeks ago, Takeoff Technologies filed for bankruptcy (Douglas Moran 2024). Takeoff Technologies was one of the first, if not the first start-up to coin the term Microfulfillment Center.…
LogiMAT 2024 Recap & Gebhardt Instapick
https://youtu.be/-9zXG_7k-YQ?si=55fLjFlsfpgGDiK7 LogiMAT 2024 is over – and it was great! In this video I summarize some impressions and also say a few words about Instapick, the Gebhardt Group's new storage…
MODEX and LogiMAT 2024: What’s there to see?
MODEX has just ended, LogiMAT begins next week. As always, the exhibitors – the industry is represented almost in its entirety – are busy advertising and vying for the attention…
Striking the Balance: Investigating Diminishing Marginal Productivity in Warehouse Automation
Introduction In most projects where a warehouse operator is investigating the use of automation, there are a number of different routes that can be taken. I’m not just talking about…
Review of Volume Dive and Comparison with AutoStore
Introduction I have been following the cube storage market for some time. It is remarkable how many variations of the original AutoStore concept have emerged in recent years, some with…
Goods-to-Robot Picking: What’s the Catch?
Almost every time I talk to customers about large goods-to-person systems, the conversation eventually turns to robotic picking. So I thought I should summarize some of the key challenges of…
On Using Totes vs. Original Cartons in Zone Picking Systems with Flow Racks
When I talk to customers about zone picking systems, we often come to the question of whether they should fill their flow racks in the zone picking system with the…
Cube Storage Systems: Market Overview & Comparison
Inspired by the success of AutoStore, a number of entrepreneurs and established vendors have developed their own variations of cube storage systems. In another article, I compared AutoStore to its…