4/28/2011
Why use manual fork lift trucks?
A valid question posed by Elettric 80
Elettric 80 disputes the erroneous assertion that a manual forklift truck costs less and is easier to maintain. These arguments do not take the complete system function into consideration. According to Mikael Renström, Marketing Director, Elettric 80, “This comparison is ludicrous. A FLT is a transportation tool driven by a driver, and brings along uncertainties like safety issues, flow optimisation issues and risk of damage to both goods, the vehicle itself and everything around it.
Over the last ten years Elettric 80 has successfully developed a systematic approach to automate complete material flows with laser guided vehicles (LGVs). When designing an automated warehouse or logistic solution, the vehicles become “building blocks” used to safely, timely and reliably move the goods in question.
On top of this Elettric 80 has developed a process to achieve optimal goods flow designs, ingenious yet simple interfaces, integration to existing FLT systems and processes, such as order picking , shipping and receiving, and above all - optimal usage of the warehouse space available. All of these solutions are implemented in conjunction with Elettric80s SMART WMS solution that seamlessly interfaces to the client’s existing software system.
In an automated system LGVs run at 99% availability in 24/7 operations; levels never achieved in manual environments. This comparison makes the manual FLT resemble a dinosaur, not designed for maximum productivity.
Elettric 80 is unique in the material handling industry because of the substantial investment in developing a “standard” product line. During CEMAT 2011 Elettric 80 will also share examples of its large installed base of LGVs operating in consumer goods manufacturers’ warehouses.
Although custom automatic guided vehicles usually contain one-of-a-kind features, Elettric 80 has the broadest offering of standard LGV types, a fact that minimises delivery time and cost. Its rigid and attractive design has been praised worldwide. Experience has provided Elettric 80 with the knowledge to create efficient warehouse automation solutions that have proven successful in the most demanding environments. This experience also enables us to limit the risks associated with the unique aspects of any automation project.
Elettric 80 is a global provider of end-of-line automation solutions designed to increase operational efficiency for high volume Consumer Products manufactures. These solutions called Freeway® are a highly flexible material handling system.
The Freeway® material handling system is based on a simple concept:
• Robotic palletising cells handle goods at the end of the production line
• LGVs transport pallets to stretch wrapping and labelling
• LGVs transport finished pallets to the warehouse
• A WMS software integrates fully into existing customer ERP/system and runs the automated system
The technologies are highly adaptable and have a degree of built-in flexibility making them suitable for any plant layout or design. These progressive, fully automated solutions substantiate why Elettric 80 question the traditional FLTs.
About Elettric 80 group
Founded in 1980 and headquartered in Viano, Italy, Elettric 80 is a global provider of end-of-line automation solutions which increase operational profitability and efficiency – put simply its technology helps companies save money and move product out of the warehouse in a fast and effective manner.
Due to years of experience, Elettric 80 understands the automation and storage handling challenges faced by different businesses and has subsequently developed a systematic approach which is proven and underpinned by continuous investment in research and development.
Above all, Elettric 80 values its relationship with its customers. It is committed to offering high value consultancy and supplying solutions which are flexible, durable and provide a good return on investment.
Its proposition is based on Freeway® - a highly flexible and scalable material handling system which utilises palletising robots, Laser Guided Vehicles (LGVs), high speed wrappers (Silkworm) and a pallet control system. The entire process is managed centrally by a state-of-the-art Warehouse Management System (WMS).
Elettric 80 has subsidiaries in the United States, United Kingdom, Sweden, Australia and Poland, and is therefore able to offer customers local expertise coupled with international insight. The group has 350 employees and the annual turnover for 2011 is forecast to be 100 Million Euro.
For further information, don't hesitate to contact
Biancamaria Bonazzi
Tel: +39 0522 762 238
bonazzi.b@elettric80.it
9/24/2010
Open House in Viano a success
Open Doors to Technology: from June to September 2010, Elettric 80 celebrated its first 30 years in business and presented its most recent technologies.
Elettric 80’s Non Stop Open House should have lasted from June 3rd to August 13th, but so many people participated and so many requests were received that it was extended beyond the middle of September. The Open House event provided the company with an opportunity to celebrate the 30th anniversary from its establishment and to present its latest developed technology.
It was a big challenge, but the number of people who participated exceeded the most optimistic expectations: 540 representatives from 205 different companies came to visit us from 24 countries scattered throughout all 5 continents. This result proves how research and the continuous development of new products are still the best ways to overcome difficult economic situations.
As Chairman Enrico Grassi pointed out, “If you want to grow and improve, you must remember that customers never change: they always want to buy the best product at the best price. This is why we have always strived towards innovation and constant product improvement, ever since our Company was established. Our philosophy is to present the market with previously unavailable solutions never copy the existing ones. This is why we are appreciated by our customers, and their constant esteem is the best guarantee for our future.”
Lots of events took place during the Open House period, events that attracted the customers, with days dedicated to applications for specific sectors, like the one held on June 30th, for the printing industry. But they also involved the local community and the employees with their family members.
The events began on June 3rd, when the new office building and the new area dedicated to technical departments were inaugurated in the presence of Antonella De Miro Prefect of Reggio Emilia, the mayor of Viano Giorgio Bedeschi and Claudio Bassi, who represented the workers.
All the speakers enhanced how important it had been for Elettric 80 to develop while maintaining strong roots in the area. Our Company has also been capable to take advantage of the opportunities offered and required by the globalisation process, thus becoming an excellence in the district.
Family Day was the appointment on Saturday July 31st. Elettric 80 opened its doors to all the staff members and their families. It was the chance to show children, wives, husbands, brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers the technologies we design, build, sell and install in all parts of the world as well as an opportunity for everyone to meet in a cheerful atmosphere.
The venue certainly drew the crowds, especially kids and youngsters, who were able to enter the marvellous world of robotics accompanied by two young engineers from the Research & Development division. These were Francesco De Mola, who explained how our systems worked, and Daniele Benedettelli, who operated a series of robotised models he had built and thrilled the participants with his simulations.
The morning ended with a buffet for all and a surprise cake to celebrate the birthday of our Chairman Enrico Grassi.
Elettric 80 currently counts over 300 employees, including those who work for the branches. Elettric 80 considers its employees to be its most important resource. As Enrico Grassi quotes: “My aim is that when they’re not at work, they feel they’re missing something. Over half our employees are university graduates. They are high-profile staff members who, once trained, consider the company as it was their own and one of the things that make our company unique is the strong friendship that unites us all and that goes beyond our merely economic interests.”
When it comes to Elettric 80’s state-of-the-art technology, there’s the Freeway® system. Created in 1994, it’s the first totally integrated robotised goods handling and palletising system with laser-guided vehicles that run along the ground, completed by labelling system, product traceability function and monitoring function via PC.
Freeway® is a highly flexible system designed for handling materials that integrates all of Elettric 80’s products. It provides a complete, powerful, flexible and reliable solution for end-of-line and warehouse automation, including truck preparation and loading. The Freeway® system also offers a number of benefits, including: low maintenance, a quick return on investment, an immediate improvement in overall performance, real-time checks on load data, a safer work environment, rapid installation and simple expansion procedures. Thanks to Freeway®, companies are able to cut their costs and handle their products as they are manufactured and stored in a fast and economical way.
The latest products designed by Elettric 80 include the high speed and extremely flexible Dragon robot, which knows no limits when it comes to layer preparation and is ideal for all manufacturing sectors, and the CB series 4th generation laser-guided vehicles (LGV) able to operate with the utmost accuracy and in total safety up to a height of 11 m.
You can see them in action, along with the Silkworm robotised stretch wrapper featuring the new universal wrapping head, at the Manutention 2010 trade fair in Paris, which will be held from November 22nd -25th, 2010 (Hall 3, Stand G 014)
Photos available
For further info:
Bianca Maria Bonazzi
+39 (0)521 762 238
bonazzi.b@elettric80.it
5/5/2010
Case study; Carlsberg
In 2004 Elettric 80 installed the first two Laser Guided Vehicles (LGVs) at the brewery of Carlsberg in Falkenberg, Sweden. These were single pallet fork lift trucks, intended for the supply of empty pallets in the production area. A few years later Carlsberg placed an order for 22 additional fork lift LGVs, now aiming for complete automation of the warehouse process, which was then manual.
With a minimum of disturbances to production, Carlsberg have achieved full warehouse automation through a solution which allows dynamic updates and modifications whenever required by process changes within Carlsberg’s operations.
The warehouse comprises approx 20000 pallets; 11500 in block storage and 8500 in gravity racks and a few single racks for the preforms. Careful planning, consideration and open communication between the parties made system installation possible during full production in the brewery, as the warehouse was automated in a few steps, gradually taking over new areas from manual handling.
In 2008 Elettric 80 commissioned the automation system, consisting of the previous two LGVs, and 22 new LGVs out of which 10, thanks to collapsible forks, can adapt to carrying either one or two pallets, depending on the character of the mission. The other twelve always carry two pallets at a time for optimised efficiency.
With production operational 24/7, up to 500 pallets per hour are transported.
Kristoffer Andersson, Warehouse Manager of Carlsberg, says: - “The system capacity fulfils all expectations and is sufficient also at production peaks. Through the installation of Elettric 80’s LGV system we have obtained more stable operation and the handling of pallets from production to warehouse is now considerably more cost effective. In addition to this, the system is user-friendly.”
As the system is extremely flexible, it has been constantly updated to meet changes in handling procedures, and during 2010 a major update of shipping and preform handling will be implemented.
Reliable millimetre precision, which is particularly important for pallet stacking, is maintained throughout the whole handling in the warehouse, ensuring enhanced personal safety and minimised product damage. The vehicles can lift pallets of more than 1000 kg up to the required five metres.
The whole storage process is automated by the LGVs, from pick up at the end of the production lines to the gravity racks and floor storage of the warehouse. Pallets are also retrieved from the warehouse and delivered either at the picking area, where prepared pallets are collected further on or directly to the shipping area.
The LGVs also handle the regular supply of empty pallets and other consumables from an infeed conveyor system, linking a manually handled outdoor storage area to the automated warehouse, and preforms from single racks to the production lines. This means that the goods types have quite different properties with pallet weights ranging from 100 to 1000 kg.
The LGVs are electrically powered. To compensate for their quiet nature, they emit a signal to notify people in its immediate surroundings.
Battery exchange is completely automatic. When the battery is running low, the LGV goes to the charging station, where the system master indicates which slot to approach to leave the discharged battery, and from which to retrieve a new, fully charged, one. The LGV has a smaller battery which provides the power necessary to move between the slots without the main battery. This procedure typically takes only a couple of minutes, after which the vehicle returns to work for another 10-12 hours.
For client specific reasons the WMS system is a shared responsibility between Carlsberg and Elettric 80.
As an extra service to Carlsberg, Elettric 80 will provide embedded engineering service at the Falkenberg plant. The engineer will service the LGV fleet to ensure maximum efficiency is maintained, and support Carlsberg operators when required.
About Elettric 80:
Founded in 1980 and headquartered in Viano, Italy, Elettric 80 is a global provider of end-of-line automation solutions which increase operational profitability and efficiency – put simply its technology helps companies cut cost and move product out of the warehouse in a fast and effective manner.
Due to years of experience, Elettric 80 understands the automation and storage handling challenges faced by different businesses and has subsequently developed a systematic approach which is proven and underpinned by continuous investment in research and development.
Above all, Elettric 80 values its relationship with its customers. It is committed to offering high value consultancy and supplying solutions which are flexible, durable and provide a good return on investment.
Its proposition is based on Freeway® - a highly flexible and scalable material handling system which utilises palletising robots, Laser Guided Vehicles (LGVs), high speed wrappers (Silkworm) and a pallet control system. The entire process is managed centrally by a state-of-the-art Warehouse Management System (WMS).
Elettric 80 has subsidiaries in the United States, United Kingdom, Sweden, Australia and Poland, and is therefore able to offer customers local expertise coupled with international insight. The group has 320 employees and the annual turnover is 75 million euro.
About Carlsberg:
Carlsberg Sverige (Sweden) is Sweden’s largest brewery, and the company develops, produces and market beer, soft drinks and mineral water. Marketed brands are Carlsberg, Falcon, Pripps Blå, Pepsi, Ramlösa, Fanta, Festis, Schweppes and more.
Carlsberg Sverige is a part of the international Carlsberg Breweries group, which was founded in 1847 and is present in 40 countries worldwide.
The brewery in Falkenberg is the largest Swedish Carlsberg plant, producing beer and soft drinks. At Ramlösa, known since hundreds of years for its health-bringing spring, natural mineral water is bottled, both still and sparkling. It is also available in many different, non sweetened, flavours, which have become increasingly popular in the Swedish market in the last decade.
The company has 1200 employees, and the turnover of 2007 exceeded 3.1 billion SEK.
9/29/2009
Automatic success at drinktec 2009
Elettric 80 Marketing Director Mikael Renström concludes that drinktec 2009 was a great success for the company, which made a great impact on the market through the live demonstration of a fully operative automated end-of-line chain, incorporating Elettric 80’s latest innovations for the beverage industry.
- “The visitors of the fair were mostly highly qualified and in a position which allowed them to make decisions and take initiatives. Their positive response together with agreements made for the future imply that we have positioned ourselves as the leading supplier of end-of-line automation for the beverage sector”, says Mikael Renström. “The fact that Elettric 80 was able to finalise a new contract with a major Mexican beer producer made the summing up of the drinktec week even more exciting”.
Elettric 80’s intention was to make their concept of end-of-line automation and its benefits as clear as possible. Indeed, the drinktec stand was highly complimented by visitors because of its interesting and self explanatory content.
On show were the palletising robot Dragon for Beverage, which allows the positioning of goods in optimised patterns for stability, leaving any empty spaces inside the outer frame. It switches between products through easy software changes without losing any of its extreme and durable precision. The further developed laser guided reach truck Giraffe which can be implemented in existing racks up to 11 m high, and as narrow as 3 m, now also incorporates advanced energy saving technology.
The stretch wrapping robot from the series of Silkworm, using a 1000 mm roll, demonstrated its efficient and material saving wrapping method which achieves a pre-stretch of up to 400% and prevents the film edges from tearing, yet producing extremely stable pallets.
These were eventually loaded into a “trailer”, by the Laser Guided Vehicle CB25, which belongs to Elettric 80’s new generation of counter balance LGVs, also suitable for truck loading.
The demo chain handled different kinds of packages in sequence, in order to show how smooth change-over is made through quick software adjustments, without any mechanical modifications. Large PET bottles, can trays and packages of beer cans all passed the process with equally impressive results.
Approximately 25 international representatives from Elettric 80 and BEMA, commercial partner belonging to the Elettric 80 group and producer of the Silkworm wrappers, guided visitors and explained the plant in different languages, and the restaurant set up for the occasion served Italian delicacies, drinks and espresso to the visitors, during meetings or while waiting for assistance in the often rather busy stand.
Mikael Renström predicts and looks forward to an intense year in many markets, partially as a result of drinktec.
Product details, explanatory films and animations can be found at www.elettric80.com.
For further information, please contact:
Linda Brånell
+46 31 708 60 36
Branell.l@elettric80.it
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8/10/2009
Automation on stage
Elettric 80 is making their concept of automation remarkably clear at the Drinktec fair in Munich Sep 14-19 2009. A complete, fully operational, end-of-line chain will be built, and during the fair visitors will be able to follow the demonstration around the demo plant.
Different beer cans, bottles and trays from various Elettric 80 clients will be handled from the end-of-“production”-line, palletised, stretch wrapped and transported by Laser Guided Vehicles (LGVs) to the warehouse area and loaded into a trailer.
The displayed Freeway® system will consist of the following machinery:
The newly developed, specialised palletising robot Dragon for Beverage, will demonstrate its ability to switch between handling cans, bottles and packages of different kinds and sizes, without any mechanical adjustments. Changeover between different products is therefore quick and easy, as is maintenance and cleaning due to its innovative construction. Especially the cleaning procedures have been simplified, and interruptions for cleaning are considerably shorter than those of traditional palletisers.
A stretch wrapping robot, from the series Silkworm, which from the basic version can be extended and complemented to reach a capacity of 180 pallets per hour. Visitors will be able to verify the unique pallet stability ensured by Silkworm wrappers, partially due to maximum pre-stretching.
Two Laser Guided Vehicles; a single pallet reach truck; a Giraffe; which can handle goods as high as 11m, and a counterbalanced truck with collapsible forks for single or dual pallet handling, demonstrating block storage with millimetre precision, and automated trailer loading.
The safety and calmness of the automated environment will be obvious, as the machines will be working within the large stand, where representatives of Elettric 80 will meet the visitors, guide them through the plant and maybe invite for a meet upstairs in the high quality Italian restaurant, set up for the occasion.
Adjacent to Elettric 80, System Logistics will show among other things their equipment for space and time saving picking, which can be perfectly combined with Elettric 80’s systems.
The Elettric 80 systems can be found worldwide, mainly in three industry sectors; Beverage, Tissue and Food. Among the clients are Carlsberg in Sweden, Heinz in Canada, Ferrero in Italy and Garcia Carrion in Spain.
Photo available on request.
For further information, please contact:
Linda Brånell
+46 31 708 60 36
branell.l@elettric80.it
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7/13/2009
Automating Warehouses
Elettric 80 challenges the notion that only production companies benefit from automation. Also the activities of distribution centres can be automated to advantage by Laser Guided Vehicles, increasing both warehouse efficiency and safety while reducing costs.
A considerable advantage of the Elettric 80 LGV systems is that they are usually implemented in existing warehouse environments, with little or no site modification required. Consequently, the investment is budget-friendly and quickly returned.
Depending on the storage method, the type of goods and the volumes that are shipped, the warehouse owner can opt for different types of LGVs; counterbalanced or straddle vehicles, capable of transporting one, two or more pallets at a time. The system can adapt to most methods depending on the type of goods, for instance block stacking, drive-in racks, gravity racks, push back racks and narrow aisle racking, giving the warehouse unparalleled flexibility.
Elettric 80’s latest innovation, Giraffe is a single pallet reach truck, which targets the needs of warehouses with very high racks. It can handle goods at eleven metres high.
All the Elettric 80 LGVs need, in order to perform their work with extreme precision, is small passive reflectors located within the area to be automated.
Everyday procedures such as goods receiving, storing and shipping can relatively easily be automated this way. Daytime shipping can be facilitated by nighttime pre-staging, allowing prepared goods to be loaded into any waiting trailers or containers as soon as the working day begins. Under certain conditions, the LGVs can even handle the loading.
At any desired interval, and usually during night, the LGVs can perform so called housekeeping. For instance, they can concentrate pallets with the same kind of goods into full bins, leaving others empty, for rational and time-saving handling during daytime, and fill up the racks closest to the shipping area with the most frequently shipped products.
In addition to the optimisation of the warehouse, personal safety is increased, not only because of the centimetre-precision handling characteristic of the Elettric 80 LGVs, but also thanks to their advanced safety technology which continuously scans the immediate surrounding area. If an obstacle is detected, the LGV slows down and eventually stops, until the obstacle is removed, avoiding collision.
The tasks performed during nighttime further reduce the required goods movement during the day, which makes the whole environment calmer and easier to manage. This efficient use of the system also reduces the total number of LGVs needed.
The flexible and adaptable Elettric 80 Warehouse Management System (WMS) integrates seamlessly with most existing computer systems and does not require the existing system to be exchanged. All pallets can easily be traced through it at any point.
Clients’ orders, entered the same way as always, will also generate orders for the LGVs.
The Elettric 80 systems can be found in warehouses worldwide, mainly in three industry sectors; Tissue, Beverage and Food. Among the clients are Carlsberg in Sweden, Heinz in Canada, Ferrero in Italy and Garcia Carrion in Spain.
Photo available on request.For further information, please contact:
Linda Brånell
+46 31 708 60 36
branell.l@elettric80.it
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6/22/2009
It doesn't have to be all or nothing
Cutting costs by rationalising and optimising the operations of the plant is a common target among production companies. Elettric 80’s scalable Freeway system provides the ideal solution through custom-designed automation for fast-moving consumer-goods plants, especially those with two-shift operations, or more.
The system can either automate the whole end-of-line process of the production plant at once or, focussing on an ideal future solution, be limited to chosen parts of it, in which case it can be extended and complemented at any time without significant extra cost or trouble. Furthermore, the systems can be implemented with minimal disruption, often while production is still up and running.
However, important decisions that would result in great advantages and a competitive edge, are sometimes postponed as they seem too complicated or radical. Questions arise; how large an investment does the budget allow; which is the best solution for the whole plant and will it still be sufficient some years from now?
Perhaps it starts with an urgent need for a new stretch wrapper or palletiser, or the wish to automate at least one function within the warehouse. Or maybe all of it, but the budget does not allow it all in one year.
Anyone with experience in plant logistics will know that there are often many people involved, with different opinions of whether, when or where to invest in improvements. Elettric 80’s Freeway technology allows companies to take one step at a time, no matter where they decide to start, and leaves time for evaluation.
Thorough consideration before the initial purchase is, however, rewarded further on, as selecting the best option for the specific plant will simplify future expansion. There are a vast range of machines that suit different requirements, and Elettric 80 engineers ensure that their clients get the most out of their investment.
New parts integrate perfectly with existing ones, thanks to the fact that the Elettric 80 group designs and supplies all of the equipment themselves, from their production plant in Italy. This assures perfect compatibility, even in the future, between the palletisers, stretchwrappers and Laser Guided Vehicles (LGVs) for the transportation of palletised goods within the warehouse.
The vehicles, along with the Warehouse Management System, can be reprogrammed to include the material handling in new areas of the plant, or new tasks within the original area.
The Elettric 80 systems can be found worldwide, mainly in three industry sectors; Tissue, Beverage and Food. Among the clients are Carlsberg in Sweden, Heinz in Canada, Ferrero in Italy and Garcia Carrion in Spain.
Photo available on request.
For further information, please contact:
Linda Brånell
+46 31 708 60 36
branell.l@elettric80.it
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Danish | Dutch | Finnish | French | German | Italian | Norwegian | Polish | Portuguese | Russian | Spanish | Swedish
6/1/2009
The human factor and warehouse safety
Apart from cost efficiency, an important warehouse management issue is safety. The human factor often causes risks and accidents that are hard to foresee. These can be limited effectively through Elettric 80’s custom-made end-of-line automation solutions. The systems can automate parts, or the whole, of the end-of-line process for clients within the fast-moving consumer-goods sectors, from palletising of finished product, to stretchwrapping of pallets and storage/retrieval in the warehouse. Compared to work environments with manual, diesel-powered fork lift trucks, Freeway environments are noticeably safer due to reliable technology, calmer and free from exhaust fumes.
Also, after the first years have passed, and the return on investment is realised, these improvements still remain.
The transports within the warehouse are carried out by Laser Guided Vehicles, LGVs, equipped with advanced safety technology such as PLS (Proximity Laser Scanning) which continuously scans the immediate surrounding area, dividing it into two safety zones. When an obstacle is detected in the outer zone, the LGV slows down. If the obstacle remains and enters the inner zone, the vehicle stops completely, until the obstacle is removed.
Sensors in the vehicles’ forks and around the vehicles will furthermore control their exact position when cargo is picked up and unloaded. In addition to the safety provided by this technology, a LGV is never tired or distracted and never speaks on a mobile phone or radio while driving.
In the Freeway Systems, robots palletise the goods in a stable pattern which the robotic stretch wrappers secure, in turn providing very stable pallets. The risk of goods collapsing on the pallet due to internal instability is thereby reduced to a minimum, and such pallets resist even block storage in a safe way, especially when performed by LGVs.
While palletising and wrapping, the robots are well closed behind protective partitions. It is virtually impossible to get too close to their moving parts unintentionally.
In a warehouse with a Freeway
® System there is little reason to worry about walking through the block storage area, as the LGVs will sense your presence and the perfectly stable pallets will be stacked with a precision of a few centimetres; something that the average fork lift truck driver may not always be able to do.
The system furthermore secures an even material flow. Housekeeping and prestaging in the shipping area, which makes the next day’s work smooth and rational, can also be done during the night by the LGVs. This flattens out peaks that cause stress and minimises the required pallet movements in the warehouse during the day, both good factors when it comes to risk reduction.
The Elettric 80 systems can be found worldwide, mainly in three industry sectors; Tissue, Beverage and Food. Among the clients are Carlsberg in Sweden, Heinz in Canada, Ferrero in Italy and Garcia Carrion in Spain.
Photo available on request.
For further information, please contact:
Linda Brånell
+46 31 708 60 36
branell.l@elettric80.it
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3/2/2009
Dragon with open/close layer shutter
Elettric 80 has developed a high-speed palletising robot concept that changes product handling. The present system can be used in all sectors.
Details and Video
10/31/2008
Heinz Canada appoints Elettric 80 to supply LGV technology
Oct 22, 2008 – In November 2007 Elettric 80 had been awarded a contract by H. J. Heinz Company of Canada Ltd (Heinz Canada) to provide five Laser Guided Vehicles (LGVs) for its facility in Leamington, Ontario. The installation was completed in September 2008 and has an overall order value of €1 million.
Heinz is Canada’s leading processor and marketer of high-quality ketchup and condiments, infant foods, pasta sauces, canned beans and pasta, and specialty sauces and salad dressings through all retail and foodservice channels. The manufacturing site in Leamington, Ontario, is the second largest Heinz factory in the world. The LGVs, each with a two pallet capacity, will be tasked with transporting finished goods from various conveyors within the factory, to four dedicated staging areas. Each staging area has a 49 pallet footprint (seven rows of seven double stacked pallets) and, following an emulation process, the solution supplied by Elettric 80 handles 50 pallets per hour.
Due to the differing requirements of the Canadian and American markets, the LGVs will handle both Commonwealth Handling Equipment Pool (CHEP) Canadian and USA pallets. Elettric 80’s LGV solution integrates seamlessly with the existing end-of-line technology within Heinz Canada’s Leamington plant; one of the key objectives of the roll out is to lower handling costs without compromising flexibility of operations.
Adam Schiefer, Project Manager at Heinz Canada, said “As we are the largest and most sku-intensive Heinz food manufacturing facility in North America, we naturally have a vast assortment of products moving through the plant on a daily basis. Therefore, we required a reliable end-of-line partner whose technology had to be proven and flexible. After sitting down with Elettric 80 and discussing the various automation options, we are confident that we have ordered a solution which will not only provide cost efficiencies but will also improve safety within our production environment.”
Photography available on request.
For more information contact:
Elettric 80 AB
Linda Brånell,
Tel: +46 (0) 31 708 60 36
E-mail: branell.l@elettric80.it
About Elettric 80 – www.elettric80.com
Founded in 1980 and headquartered in Viano, Italy, Elettric 80 is a global provider of end-of-line automation solutions which increase operational profitability and efficiency – put simply our technology helps companies cut cost and move product out of the warehouse in a fast and effective manner. Due to years of experience, Elettric 80 understands the automation and storage handling challenges faced by many different businesses and has subsequently developed a systematic approach which is proven and underpinned by continuous investment in research and development.
Above all, Elettric 80 values its relationship with its customers. It is committed to offering high value consultancy and maintaining a track record of supplying solutions which are flexible, durable and provide a long term return on investment. Our proposition is based on Freeway® - an innovative and unique approach to end-of-line logistics which provides clients with a clear competitive edge.
Freeway® is a highly flexible material handling system which utilises palletising robots, Laser Guided Vehicles (LGVs), high speed wrappers (Silkworm) and a pallet control system. The entire process is managed centrally by a state-of-the-art Warehouse Management System (WMS). During all phases of implementation an experienced and skilled team is at hand to assist and advise on the deployment of the solution; from the initial concept and design, through trials and simulations, to final deployment and after sales support.
Elettric 80 has subsidiaries in the United States, United Kingdom, Sweden, Australia and Poland, and is therefore able to offer customers local expertise coupled with international insight.
About Heinz Canada
Best known for its iconic Heinz Ketchup, the Heinz Canada is the country’s leading processor and marketer of high-quality ketchup and condiments, infant foods, pasta sauces, canned beans and pasta, and specialty sauces and salad dressings through all retail and foodservice channels. With a host of favourite brands, including Heinz®, Chef Francisco®, Richardson®, Classico®, Bagel Bites®, HP Sauce®, Lea & Perrins®, Renée’s Gourmet®, Diana® and Weight Watchers®* SmartOnes®, Heinz Canada employs more than 1300 people in Ontario and across the country.
Headquartered in Toronto, Heinz Canada has been making family-friendly food for nearly 100 years. It is an affiliate of the H.J. Heinz Company (NYSE:HNZ) based in Pittsburgh, PA. Information on Heinz is available at www.heinz.com.
* Weight Watchers on foods and beverages is the registered trademark of WW Foods, LLC and is used under license.
9/10/2008
Elettric 80 strengthens relationship with Ferrero via LGV-based solution
June 10, 2008 – Ferrero, the world leading confectionery company, has awarded Elettric 80 with a contract to provide nine Laser Guided Vehicles (LGVs) for its plant in Alba, Italy. The solution will be deployed in the shipment area of the facility to increase efficiency and safety. The relationship between the two companies commenced in the late 1990’s following the installation of a number of robotic palletising cells in various areas of the plant. The system is scheduled to go live in December 2008.
Ferrero Technicians said: “We have been working with Elettric 80 for a number of years and over that time have become more and more impressed with their sector knowledge and technical excellence. From our perspective, they are a partner we can trust. The technology that they provide is both reliable and flexible, two critical factors which has ultimately led to this new engagement. We needed to modernise our shipping environment, while maintaining a degree of flexibility. After discussions with Elettric 80, we chose a LGV-based solution which was designed specifically for our shipping requirements.”
All of Ferrero’s high street brands such as Ferrero Rocher, Nutella, Tic Tac and Kinder Surprise are manufactured at the Alba facility in separate production areas. The LGV solution – fork with a two pallet capacity – was chosen primarily due to its versatility and high performance and will be tasked with handling Euro pallets (800 x 1,200) directly from the standard and automated warehouse environments. The pallets will then be transported directly to the shipping areas. The LGVs will also manage incoming products from other plants and separate accordingly.
Enrico Grassi, President of Elettric 80, said: “For us, the most pleasing aspect of this particular deal is the continuity we will be providing to Ferrero. As a long standing client, they have come to recognise the benefits that our systems provide. If leading global brands such as Ferrero are using our end-of-line solutions then it sends out a very positive message to the rest of the industry. Our Freeway® system has been at the forefront of warehouse and plant automation for over a decade because we continue to innovate and listen to what our clients need. If we didn’t, then we wouldn’t have such a high client retention rate.”
For more information contact:
Elettric 80 AB
Linda Brånell
Tel: +46 31 0708 60 36
E-mail: branell.l@elettric80.it
About Elettric 80 – www.elettric80.com
Founded in 1980 and headquartered in Viano, Italy, Elettric 80 is a global provider of end-of-line automation solutions which increase operational profitability and efficiency – put simply our technology helps companies cut cost and move product out of the warehouse in a fast and effective manner. Due to years of experience, Elettric 80 understands the automation and storage handling challenges faced by many different businesses and has subsequently developed a systematic approach which is proven and underpinned by continuous investment in research and development.
Above all, Elettric 80 values its relationship with its customers. It is committed to offering high value consultancy and maintaining a track record of supplying solutions which are flexible, durable and provide a long term return on investment. Our proposition is based on Freeway® - an innovative and unique approach to end-of-line logistics which provides clients with a clear competitive edge.
Freeway® is a highly flexible material handling system which utilises palletising robots, Laser Guided Vehicles (LGVs), high speed wrappers (Silkworm) and a pallet control system. The entire process is managed centrally by a state-of-the-art Warehouse Management System (WMS). During all phases of implementation an experienced and skilled team is at hand to assist and advise on the deployment of the solution; from the initial concept and design, through trials and simulations, to final deployment and after sales support.
Elettric 80 has subsidiaries in the United States, United Kingdom, Sweden, Australia and Poland, and is therefore able to offer customers local expertise coupled with international insight.
About Ferrero
The Ferrero Group, headed by the Chief Executive Officers Pietro and Giovanni Ferrero, has 36 operating companies, 15 factories and about 19, 600 employees worldwide. The consolidated turnover of the financial year 2005-2006 was over 5.6 billion euro. The group produces confectionery, chocolates, drinks and bakery products, and among their brands are the wellknown Kinder and Ferrero products.
8/25/2008
Re.Le.Vi. Purchases LGV System from Elettric 80
25 August, 2008 – Re.Le.Vi., famous for their market leading household care products, like detergents, moth-killers and deodorants, have placed a new order for an extension of their Elettric 80 plant, which was installed three years ago. This next step will automate most of the product handling processes at their production facilities in Rodigo, Italy.
The new Elettric 80 plant is planned to be implemented in September this year and will be able to handle goods in rack storage, at levels as high as 11 m within the 36 000 m² vast Re.Le.Vi. premises.
In 2005 Re.Le.Vi. began their cooperation with Elettric 80, when the first part of the large Rodigo plant was automated with a system of Laser Guided Vehicles (LGVs). This was a clear success; and now the Elettric 80 automation concept is being rolled out in the remaining plant; from the output of the production area to the warehouse, and in due time to the shipping area. A completely new warehouse with an area of 8000 m² has been built and will be served only by LGVs. The Elettric 80 LGVs will automate all goods transportation, thus making the Rodigo plant one of the most modern of its kind.
The new system consists of three Giraffe LGVs and two narrow aisle side lift LGVs, able to handle goods both on the ground level and at the sometimes required 9.5 - 11 m height. The Elettric 80 system will receive the next morning’s picking orders during the night, and will then arrange the required pallets in an optimal way for the pickers. The physical equipment installed is linked to a Warehouse Management System (WMS) to make day to day handling of the plant efficient and easily accessible both to monitor and control and to provide detailed product tracking possibilities.
Mr Fabio Pagani, General Manager, says this extension of the existing system will further increase profitability by leaving the operators free to dedicate themselves to optimising the production instead of moving the products, as the handling itself adds no value to the product, and is time consuming within the large plant which has a total area of 36 000 m².
For more information contact:
Elettric 80 AB
Linda Brånell
Tel: +46 (0) 31 743 47 40
E-mail: branell.l@elettric80.it
About Elettric 80 – www.elettric80.com
Founded in 1980 and headquartered in Viano, Italy, Elettric 80 is a global provider of end-of-line automation solutions which increase operational profitability and efficiency – put simply our technology helps companies cut cost and move product out of the warehouse in a fast and effective manner. From our years of experience, Elettric 80 understand the automation and storage handling challenges faced by many different businesses and has subsequently developed a systematic approach which is proven and underpinned by continuous investment in research and development.
Above all, Elettric 80 values its relationship with its customers. It is committed to offering high value consultancy and maintaining a track record of supplying solutions which are flexible, durable and provide a long term return on investment. Our proposition is based on Freeway® - an innovative and unique approach to end-of-line logistics which provides clients with a clear competitive edge.
Freeway® is a highly flexible material handling system which utilises palletising robots, Laser Guided Vehicles (LGVs), high speed wrappers (Silkworm) and a pallet control system. The entire process is managed centrally by a state-of-the-art Warehouse Management System (WMS). During all phases of implementation an experienced and skilled team is at hand to assist and advise on the deployment of the solution; from the initial concept and design, through trials and simulations, to final deployment and after sales support.
Elettric 80 has subsidiaries in the United States, United Kingdom, Sweden, Australia and Poland, and is therefore able to offer customers local expertise coupled with international insight.
About Re.Le.Vi. – www.relevi.it
Relevi was set up in 1967, initially producing camphor tablets. The technological evolution was immediate and this led to the production of toilet and room deodorisers. Thanks to this line of production Relevi brands soon gained a strong reputation.
As a result Relevi started producing for multinational companies, with distribution operations both within and outside Italy. Today Re.Le.Vi is one of the leading Eurpoean companies producing detergents for WC, deodorants, moth-killers and starch, and you may well recognize their product lines, such as Granforte, Forza Blu, WaterScik, Tarmiblok and Linea Fresh.
A high flexibility, combined with a commitment to research performed by internal and external laboratories, allows the company to create tailored products to meet in the best way the requirements both of the commercial multinational partners of the sector and of companies within the big scale distribution.
Clients are further assured of high reliability and consistent quality through the ISO 9001:2000 certificate, the perfected systems of antipollution tools and the scrupulous adherence to relevant environmental legislation.
For further information, please visit the a.m. website, available in Italian and English.
8/21/2008
Elettric 80 wins FANUC Robotics’ Technology Award
The newly instituted FANUC Robotics’ Technology Award consists of three different awards; Elettric 80 was the winner of the category “Base Business”, for making “outstanding contributions to robotics and robot applications within the European region”.
All Elettric 80 robots are based on Fanuc Technology (Motors and Drives) and can incorporate Fanuc Robot arms when applicable. Over the years, the combination of Elettric 80 engineering and Fanuc Robot Technology has provided our customers with unparalleled levels of flexibility and service. Robot palletisers are proven to provide a more flexible palletising function when compared to traditional layer palletisers.
The FANUC Technology Awards were presented by Diane von Württemberg, better known under her artist-pseudonym, “DxDiane,” who had created a sculpture which, scaled down somewhat, served as a model for the awards.
Gerald Mies, managing director of Fanuc Robotics Deutschland, welcomed numerous representatives from the field to the awards ceremony.
Duilio Tissino, managing director of FANUC Robotics Italy, gave the laudatory address for the “Base Business” category.
Enrico Grassi, president of the Italian industrial automation provider “Elettric80,” was “surprised, but pleased,” that his company had been chosen to receive the award. The dynamic Mr Grassi, recalling the early days of their collaboration with FANUC, remarked that, “Back then, still being a fairly small company, we were honoured that a large, multinational concern like FANUC would enter into a partnership with Elettric 80.” However, that might well be the secret of FANUC Robotics’ success.
The other winners were LEWA Attendom in the category “Tier 1 Suppliers”, and FFT-EDAG in the category “Automotive”.
For more information contact:
Elettric 80 AB
Linda Brånell
Tel: +46 31 708 60 36
E-mail: branell.l@elettric80.it
Photographs and video is available here:
http://www.elettric80.com/downloads/e80-wins-fanuc-award.aspx
FANUC Robotics, a subsidiary of FANUC Ltd. and a global player, sold more than 18,000 robots worldwide in 2007 and has sold more than 200,000 to date, around half of which were for use outside the automotive industry. The company currently has a manufacturing capacity of 2,500 robots monthly. The more than 50 models of robot it manufactures, which have rated payloads ranging from 1 kg to 700 kg, cover virtually all types of application areas. Specialized systems houses engineer systems based on Fanuc’s products and supply them to users, complete with applications know-how. In Germany alone, FANUC Robotics collaborates with more than 200 systems houses.
7/3/2008
Elettric 80 to provide J Garcia Carrión with flexible end-of-line solution
3 July, 2008 – Elettric 80 has been awarded another contract by J Garcia Carrión, Spain’s leading wine and juice manufacturer and the producer of the Don Simon range of products, to supply Freeway®, its end-of-line automation system. It will be installed in J Garcia Carrión’s Daimiel plant in Castilla La Mancha and follows on from the successful implementation of two similar solutions in the customer’s Huelva plant. The deployment is expected to go live during the summer of 2008 and has an overall order value in excess of €2 million.
Freeway® is a flexible and reliable material handling system that integrates palletising robots, Laser Guided Vehicles (LGVs), pallet control systems, high speed stretch wrappers and labelling equipment. All of these technologies are centrally controlled by a Warehouse Management System (WMS) to further reduce product handling costs and improve operational efficiencies.
For its Daimiel plant, J Garcia Carrión required a cost effective automation solution which was flexible, agile and could accommodate increases in production levels. Consequently, Elettric 80 designed a system which will handle finished goods in the production, warehouse and shipping areas. Data tracking capabilities are also incorporated into the design which will enable each pallet to be assigned an individual product identifier. This not only guarantees the correct communication of data to various points in the plant but also the synchronised movement of pallets to be labelled. The end result is a smooth and robust flow of product through the facility.
As part of the agreement, Elettric 80 will supply two palletising cells that will each include two Fanuc robot arms; one conveyor-bed LGV with a four pallet handling capacity; a single fork LGV and a dual fork LGV. In addition, two high speed stretch wrappers will be provided to complete the end-of-line solution. The LGV Storage & Retrieval System (LGV SRS) was primarily chosen by J Garcia Carrión due to the high levels of flexibility it brings to the warehouse automation environment. All of the hardware will be tasked with handling quarter, half, UK and Euro pallets.
Pablo Puerta Vizcaino, Investments and Industrial Director at J Garcia Carrión, said: “As we have partnered with Elettric 80 before we knew that we were purchasing technology which was reliable and could be scaled up if we deemed it necessary. At the end-of-the-line, flexibility is crucial to us as we use all sorts of different sized pallets. As far as we’re concerned, Elettric 80 leads the market in this respect. Its technology is adaptable and can accommodate complicated pallet configurations without the need for manual intervention or the stopping of the production process. Undoubtedly, when the system goes live, we will benefit from both time and cost efficiencies.”
For more information contact:
Elettric 80 AB
Linda Brånell
Tel: +46 31 708 60 36
E-mail: branell.l@elettric80.it
Photography is available on request.
About Elettric 80 – www.elettric80.com
Founded in 1980 and headquartered in Viano, Italy, Elettric 80 is a global provider of end-of-line automation solutions which increase operational profitability and efficiency – put simply our technology helps companies cut cost and move product out of the warehouse in a fast and effective manner. Due to years of experience, Elettric 80 understands the automation and storage handling challenges faced by many different businesses and has subsequently developed a systematic approach which is proven and underpinned by continuous investment in research and development.
Above all, Elettric 80 values its relationship with its customers. It is committed to offering high value consultancy and maintaining a track record of supplying solutions which are flexible, durable and provide a long term return on investment. Our proposition is based on Freeway® - an innovative and unique approach to end-of-line logistics which provides clients with a clear competitive edge.
Freeway® is a highly flexible material handling system which utilises palletising robots, Laser Guided Vehicles (LGVs), high speed wrappers (Silkworm) and a pallet control system. The entire process is managed centrally by a state-of-the-art Warehouse Management System (WMS). During all phases of implementation an experienced and skilled team is at hand to assist and advise on the deployment of the solution; from the initial concept and design, through trials and simulations, to final deployment and after sales support.
Elettric 80 has subsidiaries in the United States, United Kingdom, Sweden, Australia and Poland, and is therefore able to offer customers local expertise coupled with international insight.
About J Garcia Carrión
J Garcia Carrion is a privately held company, engaged in retailing beverages. The company offers wines and juices such as NFC orange juices and smoothies and multi fruit juices under its brand name Don Simon. Additionally, the company offers soya juice, chilled products, soups and soft drinks. The company primarily operates in European, American, African and Spanish markets. It is headquartered in Madrid, Spain.
It is the leader in the Spanish Juice and Wine Markets. Its raw material such as wines, fruits and vegetables are purchased exclusively from Spanish farmers and co-operatives. Projections from 2003 to 2010 imply that, apart from consolidating its leading position in the Spanish Market, JGC will establish itself in the EU as one of the top wine producers and the main producers of juices.
To develop its strategic plan, wineries and production facilities adopt up-to-date technology, pioneering at both a national and international level:
- J. García Carrión (Jumilla, Murcia) where the company stems from with a production plant capacity of 600 million litres a year;
- J. García Carrión La Mancha (Daimiel, Castilla La Mancha) produces 800 million units a year which makes it the most efficient plant in Europe;
- Cítricos del Andarax, (Gador, Almeria), launched in 2003, the facility specialises in the treatment of vegetables such as gazpacho, vegetable soups and stocks with a capacity of 120 million kilos per annum; and
- Cítricos del Andévalo (Huelva), launched in 2006, the factory specializes in NFC orange juice and other brands of high value added products.
6/12/2008
Lebedyansky purchases second Freeway® System from Elettric 80
Lebedyansky, the largest natural juice producer in Eastern Europe has broadened its relationship with Elettric 80 and ordered Freeway®, a complete end-of-line automation solution, for its production and storage facility in Lebedyan, Russia. The new instruction follows on from the successful installation of another Freeway® system in a plant in Lebedyan in 2006. The second implementation is scheduled to go live in the summer of 2008. Alexander Kobzev, General Manager at Lebedyansky, said: “From our perspective, there is no other system on the market that has the flexibility of Elettric 80’s Freeway. We are one of the top ten juice producers in the world, which means we produce, store and ship huge volumes. Therefore, it is critical that our end-of-line technology can scale as we look to consolidate and build our market position. For the Lebedyan factory, we needed to introduce efficiencies into the production process and streamline the four daily shifts that occur if we were to reduce our annual storage handling and distribution costs. The Freeway system will undoubtedly help us to achieve this objective as it will reduce our expenditure on maintenance, improve productivity and optimise the floor space we have available. Moreover, based on our previous experience, the installation will be quick and will have minimal impact, if any, on our production levels.”
Lebedyansky’s high profile brands such as Ya, Tonus, Fruktovy Sad juices and nectars, Frustyle juice drinks, Edo ice tea, Tusa Jusa juice are manufactured at the Lebedyan facility. For the new contract, Elettric 80 will supply ten single line Eagle palletising robots, two Laser Guided Vehicles (LGVs) with a four pallet capacity and two stretch wrappers.
In 2006, in Lebedyansky’s other Lebedyan facility, Elettric 80 installed 31 single line Eagle palletising robots, four LGVs with a four pallet capacity, three stretch wrappers, labelling machines and data tracking software which provides each pallet with an individual product identifier.
Enrico Grassi, President of Elettric 80, said: “The Eastern European market is very important to our strategic direction and this is a significant contract in expanding our presence in the region. We are having numerous conversations with companies who understand the concept of Freeway and the business benefits it provides. In essence, Freeway is adaptable and has a degree of built-in flexibility which makes it suitable for any plant layout or design. As one of the world’s leaders in juice production, Lebedyansky has to have an innovative and flexible approach to its end-of-line if it is to stay ahead of the competition. Freeway is a combination of technologies, such as LGVs and palletising robots, and is proven to provide cost and operational efficiencies. For this reason, our relationship with Lebedyansky goes from strength to strength.”
For more information contact:
Elettric 80 AB
Darren Cottom, PR and Marketing
Tel: +44 (0) 7713 652 216
E-mail:
cottom.d@elettric80.itPhotography is available on request.
About Elettric 80 – www.elettric80.comFounded in 1980 and headquartered in Viano, Italy, Elettric 80 is a global provider of end-of-line automation solutions which increase operational profitability and efficiency – put simply our technology helps companies cut cost and move product out of the warehouse in a fast and effective manner. Due to years of experience, Elettric 80 understands the automation and storage handling challenges faced by many different businesses and has subsequently developed a systematic approach which is proven and underpinned by continuous investment in research and development.
Above all, Elettric 80 values its relationship with its customers. It is committed to offering high value consultancy and maintaining a track record of supplying solutions which are flexible, durable and provide a long term return on investment. Our proposition is based on Freeway® - an innovative and unique approach to end-of-line logistics which provides clients with a clear competitive edge.
Freeway® is a highly flexible material handling system which utilises palletising robots, Laser Guided Vehicles (LGVs), high speed wrappers (Silkworm) and a pallet control system. The entire process is managed centrally by a state-of-the-art Warehouse Management System (WMS). During all phases of implementation an experienced and skilled team is at hand to assist and advise on the deployment of the solution; from the initial concept and design, through trials and simulations, to final deployment and after sales support.
Elettric 80 has subsidiaries in the United States, United Kingdom, Sweden, Australia and Poland, and is therefore able to offer customers local expertise coupled with international insight.
About Lebedyansky – www.lebedyansky.comLebedyansky JSC is the largest natural juice producer in Eastern Europe and one of Russia’s leading baby food manufacturers. The Company has three production facilities: Lebedyansky production and storage complex (Lebedyan, Lipetsk region), Progress juices, concentrates and mineral water bottling plant (Lipetsk) and TROYA-Ultra juices plant (St. Petersburg).
Lebedyansky produces Ya, Tonus, Fruktovy Sad juices and nectars, Frustyle refreshing juice drinks, Edo ice tea, juice Tusa Jusa, Lipetsky Buvet mineral and drinking water and a wide range of FrutoNyanya baby juices and purees.
Lebedyansky's current market volume share in juices and nectars category is 33.2% (source: AC Nielsen Urban Russia retail audit, 2006), 43.8% in baby juices category (source: MeMRB retail audit, 2006) and 32% in baby fruit and vegetable purees category (source: MeMRB retail audit, 2006).
The Company's revenue has grown from $ 376 million in 2004 to $ 710 million in 2006 (IFRS). Revenues for 2006 increased by 38% compared to 2005. The Company derives 87% of its revenues from juice, 12% from baby food and 1% from drinking water.
3/18/2008
Elettric 80 completes phase two of end-of-line automation solution for Spain’s leading wine and juice producer
18 March, 2008 – Elettric 80 has completed phase two of an end-of-line automation solution for J Garcia Carrión, the producer of the Don Simon range of products which includes fruit juices, wines, soft drinks and soups. Following the success of the initial system roll out in 2006, J Garcia Carrión took the strategic decision to enhance and expand its automation solution. This second phase was duly completed by Elettric 80 in February 2008. Both installations have benefited the Daimiel plant in Castilla La Mancha which concentrates primarily on the production of juice drinks. The overall order value is approximately €1 million. The integration of both deployments has provided J Garcia Carrión with a fully automated plant environment. Initial discussions between Elettric 80 and J Garcia Carrión commenced in 2005 and following a review of the specific requirement, Elettric 80 designed an end-of-line solution that operated on two levels; the handling of finished palletised product and the transportation of materials (labels, film reels, empty pallets, etc) to and from the production lines and to designated drop-off zones.
Phase one of the solution included a conveyor-bed four pallet handling LGV which collects finished product and transfers it to the wrapper; a LGV that transports empty pallets and raw material to and from the production line; five dual fork LGVs that takes product from the wrapper to the warehouse and shipping docks; and a flexible stretch wrapping solution which can handle quarter, half and Euro pallets directly from the production line without the need for manual intervention or the stopping of the production process.
Once this stage was completed and deemed successful, J Garcia Carrión then instructed Elettric 80 to provide a flexible robotic palletising solution that would integrate seamlessly with the existing technology and would be capable of handling the various pallet configurations that are used in the facility. Both installations are now fully operational.
A further enhancement is currently under consideration which will include another robotic palletising system, as was deployed in phase 2. The system currently in operation also incorporates data tracking capabilities meaning that each pallet is assigned an individual product identifier. This not only guarantees the correct communication of data to various points in the facility but also the synchronised movement of pallets to be labelled.
Pablo Puerta Vizcaino, Investments and Industrial Director at J Garcia Carrión, said: “During the last three year’s we have worked very closely with Elettric 80 to ascertain what type of end-of-line technology will maximise our production levels. We have been very impressed with their sector knowledge and technical know-how, which is why this has become a long-term relationship which goes way beyond the initial instruction. As a market leader, we always need to evaluate how technology can be used to improve operational performance. The facility at La Mancha produces 800 million units a year and now that it is fully automated is one of the most efficient plants in Europe.”
For more information contact:
Elettric 80 AB
Darren Cottom, PR and Marketing
Tel: +44 (0) 7713 652 216
E-mail:
cottom.d@elettric80.it Photography is available on request.
About Elettric 80 –
www.elettric80.comFounded in 1980 and headquartered in Viano, Italy, Elettric 80 is a global provider of end-of-line automation solutions which increase operational profitability and efficiency – put simply our technology helps companies cut cost and move product out of the warehouse in a fast and effective manner. Due to years of experience, Elettric 80 understands the automation and storage handling challenges faced by many different businesses and has subsequently developed a systematic approach which is proven and underpinned by continuous investment in research and development.
Above all, Elettric 80 values its relationship with its customers. It is committed to offering high value consultancy and maintaining a track record of supplying solutions which are flexible, durable and provide a long term return on investment. Our proposition is based on Freeway® - an innovative and unique approach to end-of-line logistics which provides clients with a clear competitive edge.
Freeway® is a highly flexible material handling system which utilises palletising robots, Laser Guided Vehicles (LGVs), high speed wrappers (Silkworm) and a pallet control system. The entire process is managed centrally by a state-of-the-art Warehouse Management System (WMS). During all phases of implementation an experienced and skilled team is at hand to assist and advise on the deployment of the solution; from the initial concept and design, through trials and simulations, to final deployment and after sales support.
Elettric 80 has subsidiaries in the United States, United Kingdom, Sweden, Australia and Poland, and is therefore able to offer customers local expertise coupled with international insight.
About J Garcia CarriónJ Garcia Carrion is a privately held company, engaged in retailing beverages. The company offers wines and juices such as grape juices and multi fruit juices under its brand name Don Simon. Additionally, the company offers soya juice, chilled products, soups and soft drinks. The company primarily operates in Spain. It is headquartered in Jumilla, Spain.
It is the leader in the Spanish Juice and Wine Markets. Its raw material such as wines, fruits and vegetables are purchased exclusively from Spanish farmers and co-operatives. Projections from 2003 to 2010 imply that, apart from consolidating its leading position in the Spanish Market, JGC will establish itself in the EU as one of the top wine producers and the main producers of juices.
To develop its strategic plan, wineries and production facilities adopt up-to-date technology, pioneering at both a national and international level:
- Jumilla (Murcia) where the company stems from with a production plant capacity of 400 million litres a year;
- Daimiel (Castilla La Mancha) produces 800 million units a year which makes it the most efficient plant in Europe; and
- Gador (Almeria), launched in 2003, the facility specialises in the treatment of vegetables such as gazpacho, vegetable soups and stocks with a capacity of 120 million kilos per annum.
1/17/2008
High-Lifting Giraffe Breaks New Ground for End-of-Line Automation
17 January, 2008 – Elettric 80, a global provider of end-of-line automation solutions, will be showcasing its latest end-of-line LGV Storage & Retrieval System (LGV SRS) technology at the Logistics Link South show on 5-6 February 2008 at Sandown Park on stand number 143.
At the show, Elettric 80 will be visually presenting the Giraffe LGV, the latest addition to its LGV family. The Giraffe has a reach capability of 9 metres and a maximum pallet weight of 1,200 kg and is able to work alongside manual fork lift trucks in a rack storage environment to ultimately improve safety, increase flexibility and reduce storage handling costs on-site. The Giraffe can be programmed to manoeuvre in a 3 metre wide corridor and due to its small footprint can replace existing manual fork lift vehicles in a facility without the need to change the racking environment. The Giraffe complements Elettric 80’s existing technology, such as multi pallet handling LGVs for block stacking, which are proven and being used by some of the biggest brands in the world such as Carlsberg, Foster’s, Damm and Miller.
Elettric 80’s LGV-based SRS combines storage, warehouse management and transportation capabilities and can handle block stacking of up to four pallets high, gravity racking, single deep racking and drive-in pallet racking. Solutions are installed quickly and with minimal disruption to production; in fact Elettric 80 implementations are often conducted while production is still running. The LGV systems that Elettric 80 deploys are tightly integrated with the process lines and the palletising needs of the customer.
Elettric 80 has developed its own Warehouse Management System (WMS) which works alongside and integrates with any existing WMS or Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system. This means that the existing WMS requires minimal change and any additional WMS functionality required for the automation process can be easily integrated with the help of Elettric 80’s software.
Elettric 80’s WMS software design incorporates product location, quantity, size, and order information to determine where to stock, where to pick, and in what sequence to perform these operations. As Elettric 80 has an in-depth knowledge of the beverage sector, the standard WMS software modules are tailored to a specific requirement and can be intelligently programmed to cope with seasonal variations or cycles within a warehouse or production area.
For more information contact:
Elettric 80
Darren Cottom
Tel: +44 (0) 7713 652 216
E-mail: cottom.d@elettric80.it
Photography is available here:
http://www.elettric80.com/downloads/Logistics-Link-South-2008.aspx
About Elettric 80 – www.elettric80.com
Founded in 1980 and headquartered in Viano, Italy, Elettric 80 is a global provider of end-of-line automation solutions which increase operational profitability and efficiency – put simply our technology helps companies cut cost and move product out of the warehouse in a fast and effective manner. Due to years of experience, Elettric 80 understands the automation and storage handling challenges faced by many different businesses and has subsequently developed a systematic approach which is proven and underpinned by continuous investment in research and development.
Above all, Elettric 80 values its relationship with its customers. It is committed to offering high value consultancy and maintaining a track record of supplying solutions which are flexible, durable and provide a long term return on investment. Our proposition is based on Freeway® - an innovative and unique approach to end-of-line logistics which provides clients with a clear competitive edge.
Freeway® is a highly flexible material handling system which utilises palletising robots, Laser Guided Vehicles (LGVs), high speed wrappers (Silkworm) and a pallet control system. The entire process is managed centrally by a state-of-the-art Warehouse Management System (WMS). During all phases of implementation an experienced and skilled team is at hand to assist and advise on the deployment of the solution; from the initial concept and design, through trials and simulations, to final deployment and after sales support.
Elettric 80 has subsidiaries in the United States, United Kingdom, Sweden, Australia and Poland, and is therefore able to offer customers local expertise coupled with international insight.
11/5/2007
Elettric 80 Inc unveils new facility as sales growth continues
Skokie, Illinois – 5 November, 2007 – To accommodate sales growth and the consequent increase in staff and spare parts requirements, Elettric 80’s North American subsidiary has relocated to a larger facility at 8100 Monticello Avenue, Skokie, IL 60076.
In North America, Elettric 80’s market focus is on high volume consumer packaged products, primarily in the beverage, tissue and food sectors.
A major source of recent growth has been generated from repeat sales. Elettric 80 has a track record of supplying solutions which improve operational efficiencies, increase storage capabilities and guarantee reliability. When a system is implemented senior decision makers quickly realise the benefits, often resulting in additional orders for other facilities. Scalability and flexibility are inherent within any Elettric 80 system design, which enables end-of-line systems to be upgraded and enhanced.
Following a strategic review at Elettric 80, it was decided that more space was required to cater for future market demand; LGV-based storage and retrieval systems (LGV SRS) are becoming more prevalent in the United States and there is a growing industry acceptance as to the advantages Elettric 80’s technology provides. The new premises enable Elettric 80 to increase the size of its spares depot and recruit more expertise.
“Our main objective is to provide the best systems and support for all our North American customers, an objective we feel is being met by the amount of repeat business that we have recently acquired.” said Marco Ferrarini, General Manager, at Elettric 80 Inc. “We will continue to hire qualified technical support staff to ensure that all our resources keep pace with current and predicted growth. Almost all our customers are signed up to a preventative maintenance program. Our new building not only allows us to provide high quality technical support, but also ensures that we have the space to deliver on any inventory requests we may receive from customers.”
The new facility will house systems engineers, technical support engineers, a 24/7 help desk and the spare parts depot. In addition, when required, it will host customer demonstrations and training programmes.
For more information contact:
Elettric 80 Incorporated
8100 Monticello Avenue
Skokie, IL 60076
(847) 492 8060
e80usa@elettric80.it
www.elettric80.com
Photography is available on request.
About Elettric 80 – www.elettric80.com
Founded in 1980 and headquartered in Viano, Italy, Elettric 80 is a global provider of end-of-line automation solutions which increase operational profitability and efficiency – put simply our technology helps companies cut cost and move product out of the warehouse in a fast and effective manner. Due to years of experience, we understand the storage handling challenges faced by many companies and have subsequently developed a systematic approach which is proven and underpinned by continuous investment in research and development.
Above all we value our partner approach and are committed to maintaining a track record of supplying solutions which are flexible, durable and provide a long term return on investment. Our proposition is based on Freeway® - an innovative and unique approach to end of line logistics which provides our clients with a clear competitive edge.
Freeway® is a highly flexible material handling system which utilizes palletizing robots, Laser Guided Vehicles (LGVs), high speed wrappers (Silkworm) and a pallet control system. The entire process is managed centrally by a state-of-the-art Warehouse Management System (WMS). During all phases of the implementation process an experienced team is at hand to assist and advise on the deployment of the solution, from the initial concept and planning through simulations and development to after sales support.
8/21/2007
Carlsberg appoints Elettric 80 to provide warehouse automation solution
Gothenburg 21 August 2007 – Elettric 80, a global provider of end-of-line automation solutions, has received an order from Carlsberg to roll out its technology at a facility in Falkenberg, Sweden. Elettric 80 will supply Carlsberg with a Laser Guided Vehicle (LGV) Storage & Retrieval System which will automate material handling. The total order value for Elettric 80 is approximately 4 million EURO. The solution will increase operational efficiencies at the plant by automating the movement of palletized products from the production line and receiving docks. Depending on order requirements, the technology will manage the storage of pallets at the facility and ensure the transportation of product directly to the shipping docks. Elettric 80 will provide twenty-two dual pallet handling LGVs, which will complement the two single LGVs which are currently in use at the warehouse.
"Over the last few years, we have worked on improving our logistical infrastructure. When the decision was taken for the next step of efficiency improvements, to automate the end-of-line process in Falkenberg, it was natural to consider an LGV-based solution. E80 had a solution which worked for our existing facility, offering conventional block storage capabilities and the ability to store in different types of rack. In conjunction with the LGV technology, we also invest in rack solutions which enable us to maximise storage space for our range of products which cannot be stacked,” says Peter Nilsson, Supply Chain Director at Carlsberg Sweden.
“This is clearly a major contract and a breakthrough for us in the Northern European beverage market. Carlsberg is a brand leader in its sector and the fact that it has chosen our logistics solution demonstrates the esteem in which our technology is held, not just in terms of the innovation we offer but also the way we work with companies to ensure that the most appropriate solution is implemented,” says Mikael Renström, Managing Director for Swedish Elettric 80 AB, a subsidiary of Italian Elettric 80 S.p.A.
The system is to be in full operation June 2008
For more information contact:
Elettric 80 AB
Mikael Renström, Managing Director
Tel: +46 31 743 47 40, +46 768 88 02 00
E-mail: renstrom.m@elettric80.it
For pictures please contact Bianca Maria Bonazzi, bonazzi.b@elettric80.it
About Elettric 80
Founded in 1980 and headquartered in Viano, Italy, Elettric 80 is a global provider of end-of-line automation solutions which increase operational profitability and efficiency – put simply our technology helps companies cut cost and move products out of the warehouse in a fast and effective manner. Due to years of experience, we understand the storage handling challenges faced by many companies and have subsequently developed a systematic approach which is proven and underpinned by continuous investment in research and development.
Above all we value our partner approach and are committed to maintaining a track record of supplying solutions which are flexible, durable and provide a long term return on investment. Our proposition is based on Freeway® - an innovative and unique approach to end of line logistics which provides our clients with a clear competitive edge.
8/14/2007
Elettric 80 expands Eastern European presence with new office in Poland
14 August, 2007 – Elettric 80, a global provider of end-of-line automation solutions, has opened a new engineering facility in Krakow, Poland.
Elettric 80 chose Krakow as its foothold into Eastern Europe due to the large number of technically gifted students that are produced by the Universities in the city. One of Elettric 80’s prime ambitions for the site is to develop a research and development facility for both hardware and software, and the young talent that is generated by the academic courses will be critical to the success of this long term strategic goal.
Initially, Elettric 80 will look to employ between 10 to 15 automation engineers, who will be tasked with supporting new customer installations, providing after-sales support and improving the company’s software proposition.
The office is located in the Krakow Technology Park; Elettric 80 Sp.z.o.o, Copernicus Building, Al. Jana Pawla II 41c. The key contact for the office is Stefano Cavirani. To communicate with Stefano, either email him at cavirani.s@elettric80.it or call on +48 694 198 107.
For more information contact:
Elettric 80
Darren Cottom, PR and Marketing
Tel: +44 (0) 7713 652 216
E-mail: cottom.d@elettric80.it
Photography is available on request.
About Elettric 80 – www.elettric80.com
Founded in 1980 and headquartered in Viano, Italy, Elettric 80 is a global provider of end-of-line automation solutions which increase operational profitability and efficiency – put simply our technology helps companies cut cost and move product out of the warehouse in a fast and effective manner. Due to years of experience, we understand the storage handling challenges faced by many companies and have subsequently developed a systematic approach which is proven and underpinned by continuous investment in research and development.
Above all we value our partner approach and are committed to maintaining a track record of supplying solutions which are flexible, durable and provide a long term return on investment. Our proposition is based on Freeway® - an innovative and unique approach to end of line logistics which provides our clients with a clear competitive edge.
Freeway® is a highly flexible material handling system which utilizes palletizing robots, Laser Guided Vehicles (LGVs), high speed wrappers (Silkworm) and a pallet control system. The entire process is managed centrally by a state-of-the-art Warehouse Management System (WMS). During all phases of the implementation process an experienced team is at hand to assist and advise on the deployment of the solution, from the initial concept and planning through simulations and development to after sales support.
6/29/2007
Foster’s appoints Elettric 80 to provide LGV-based solution
28 June, 2007 – Elettric 80, a global provider of end-of-line automation solutions, has received an order from Foster’s to provide Laser Guided Vehicle (LGV) Storage & Retrieval System for its wine facility in Karadoc, Victoria, Australia. The total order value for Elettric 80 is approximately 3 million Euro. In all, following an extensive emulation process, Elettric 80 will provide twelve LGVs.
The solution has been designed by Elettric 80 to primarily transport finished goods from the various production lines to the storage areas. Two types of LGVs will be used at the site; a dual fork version will take 2 pallets at the time to a block storage area and a single fork high-lifting reach LGV will store products up to 8 meters high in a racking system. The facility includes both block storage areas for stackable products and rack-based storage for non-stackable. The design of the Elettric 80 solution takes into account that the majority of finished product will be stored in racks. Rules and regulations surrounding rack-based storage have been included in the Elettric 80 design.
The LGV vehicles will also bring finished goods from the store and picking areas to the various shipping positions for transportation to Foster’s worldwide client base. In addition, LGVs will supply the production lines with empty pallet stacks and dry goods and remove waste materials.
The Karadoc facility will use Elettric 80’s own Warehouse Management System (WMS) for the physical automation of products within the warehouse, whether it concerns taking pallets directly to the shipping area or storing them. In essence, the Elettric 80 software will work alongside Foster’s existing WMS system and will automate the store, traffic and shipping management process.
Arnold Nuzzo, Warehouse Automation & Technology Manager, from Foster’s, said: “We needed to upgrade our distribution capabilities at the Karadoc facility. That included improving our IT infrastructure and being more sophisticated in our approach to end-of-line automation. We chose to use Elettric 80’s LGV SRS system because of their thorough understanding of our particular industry requirements and seamless integration with our existing WMS system. Through our partnership with Elettric 80, we’ll build our distribution capabilities and increase safety.”
“This particular system needed to be flexible as it is an automated process that interfaces with existing manual processes. Naturally, before recommending a system we needed to fully understand the production process and introduce new routines to ensure that once live our solution provides clear business and operational efficiencies,” remarked Mikael Renström, Managing Director for Swedish Elettric 80 AB, a subsidiary of Italian Elettric 80 S.p.A.
For more information contact:
Elettric 80 AB
Darren Cottom, PR and Marketing
Tel: +44 (0) 7713 652 216
E-mail: cottom.d@elettric80.it
Photography is available on request.
About Elettric 80 – www.elettric80.com
Founded in 1980 and headquartered in Viano, Italy, Elettric 80 is a global provider of end-of-line automation solutions which increase operational profitability and efficiency – put simply our technology helps companies cut cost and move product out of the warehouse in a fast and effective manner. Due to years of experience, we understand the storage handling challenges faced by many companies and have subsequently developed a systematic approach which is proven and underpinned by continuous investment in research and development.
Above all we value our partner approach and are committed to maintaining a track record of supplying solutions which are flexible, durable and provide a long term return on investment. Our proposition is based on Freeway® - an innovative and unique approach to end of line logistics which provides our clients with a clear competitive edge.
Freeway® is a highly flexible material handling system which utilizes palletizing robots, Laser Guided Vehicles (LGVs), high speed wrappers (Silkworm) and a pallet control system. The entire process is managed centrally by a state-of-the-art Warehouse Management System (WMS). During all phases of the implementation process an experienced team is at hand to assist and advise on the deployment of the solution, from the initial concept and planning through simulations and development to after sales support.
About Foster’s Group Ltd
Operating as three regional businesses in Australia, Asia and Pacific, the Americas and Europe, Middle East and Africa, Foster’s owns markets and distributes an international portfolio of beer, wine, spirits, cider and non-alcohol brands.
Internationally, Foster’s owns the world’s leading portfolio of premium wine brands including Penfold’s, Wolf Blass, Rosemount, Lindemans, Saltram, Seppelt, Wynns and Yellowglen from Australia, Beringer, Etude, Stag’s Leap and Chateau Souverain from North America, Matua Valley and Secret Stone from New Zealand and Castello di Gabiano from Italy.
In Australia, Foster’s operate a unique multi-beverage business producing and distributing Australia’s leading drinks brands, including our international wine portfolio, Crown Lager, Victoria Bitter, Carlton Draught, Cascade, Cougar, Strongbow and Black Douglas.
Based in Melbourne, Australia, and publicly listed on the Australian Stock Exchange, Foster’s employs around 10,000 people and our products are sold in more than 155 countries worldwide.
12/12/2006
New facilities in Viano.
The new building is approximately 3000 m² and will be open in 2007. Besides increasing our production facility the new factory will also allow us to increase our capacity to test drive all machinery and solutions before they are shipped to our customers – further guaranteeing a fast and safe installation.
12/12/2006
Local service in the UK.
For after sales queries in the UK and Ireland, please contact Luca Guidetti on +44 (0)77 33266105 or via email on
guidetti.l@elettric80.it