Innovative Use of Vertical Carousels Boosts Retailer’s Efficiency

Lewiston, Maine – Diamond Phoenix, a full service provider of material handling systems, has installed two dozen POWERdepotTM Vertical Carousels for Borders Group Inc., a major book and multimedia retailer. The vertical carousels are part of a larger store order consolidation system developed by Kuecker Equipment Company, Inc. to increase efficiencies and maximize floor space.

The vertical carousels have been installed in two locations – 14 in the LaVergne, Tennessee facility and 10 in Mira Loma, California. The new consolidation system consists of several vertical carousel “pods.” Bulk items are directed into the pods via flow rack and each item is “registered” to a slot with a light display. Directly behind the flow rack is a 16’ tall vertical carousel; each carrier in the carousel is 110.2” wide and has a capacity of 330 lbs. At a single stop, the carousel presents 16 store locations to the operator - two shelves, each with 8 store cartons.

When a group of store locations is presented in the vertical carousel’s pick window, the software directs the operator via the pick to light displays on the flow rack. The lights indicate the total quantity of items to pick for the store cartons currently presented in the carousel. On the carousel, there is a light display for each of the 16 store cartons. Stores that require that particular SKU light up with the necessary “put” quantity. The operator places the appropriate number of items in each carton and presses the “Task Complete” button to finish the transaction.

Orders that can only be partially filled are updated on the displays. If a SKU runs out before the operator is able to pick the required quantity, the software will continue with the remaining stores when more of the SKU arrives at the pod. When a carton is full, a function key is pressed to track all items and quantities that have been placed into that carton. The carton is then removed and sent to shipping while a new carton and label are placed in the carousel for that store.

The vertical carousel “put” system has been up and running at Borders for nearly a year. The company has seen significant improvements in productivity, efficiency, and ergonomics.

For more information, visit http://www.diamondphoenix.com.

Diamond Phoenix is the leading full service material handling provider, offering expert design and integration, advanced software solutions, and innovative technologies. Diamond Phoenix is headquartered in Lewiston, Maine with offices in Atlanta, GA, Charlotte, NC, Cincinnati, OH, Cleveland, OH, Grand Rapids, MI, Los Angeles, CA, Philadelphia, PA and London, England. For more information about Diamond Phoenix products and services, please visit www.diamondphoenix.com.

###