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Primium Waters Inc. invests in technological efficiency
Technology Category
- Automation & Control - Automation & Process Control Systems
- Functional Applications - Warehouse Management Systems (WMS)
- Functional Applications - Remote Monitoring & Control Systems
Applicable Industries
- Food & Beverage
- Consumer Goods
Applicable Functions
- Warehouse & Inventory Management
- Logistics & Transportation
Use Cases
- Inventory Management
- Warehouse Automation
- Supply Chain Visibility
Services
- System Integration
- Software Design & Engineering Services
The Challenge
Premium Waters, Inc. of Minneapolis, MN, a leader in the private label bottled water industry, faced the challenge of meeting increasing demand and throughput. They needed a solution that could handle high throughput rates and provide efficient storage configuration. Initially considering a pallet flow system, they ultimately chose an Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (AS/RS) and Savanna.NET® Warehouse Management System (WMS) from Westfalia Technologies, Inc. The new system was installed at their Douglas, GA plant to convey products from palletizing, through high-density storage, to outbound staging lanes on the shipping dock. The AS/RS includes two Storage/Retrieval Machines (S/RMs) operating in one aisle, each capable of handling two pallets at a time, which is a key advantage of Westfalia’s flexible high-density warehouse designs.
About The Customer
Premium Waters, solely owned by the Chesterman Company, has been in the bottling business for over 130 years. They bottle water for commercial, residential, and retail clients in multiple sizes ranging from single servings to five-gallon bottles. The company is also known for bottling public brands, including Chippewa Spring and Premium Kandiyohi, as well as private labels for store and custom label bottled water. Premium Waters is a leader in the private label bottled water industry and has a strong reputation for quality and reliability. Their operations span multiple locations, and they are committed to technological efficiency and cost benefits.
The Solution
To handle peak production and order selection times, Premium Waters installed Air Chain Accumulation Conveyors at both the infeed and discharge of the AS/RS. These conveyors provide a buffer for smoothing peak operations and cut the average S/RM travel distance. Pallets of bottled water are sent from production either into the AS/RS or directly to the shipping dock via Westfalia’s unique Drawbridge Conveyor. The Drawbridge Conveyor either lays across the crane aisle for pallets to travel directly to the shipping dock or lifts straight up for the S/RM to move through the aisle. Once pallets are stretch-wrapped and labeled, they enter the automated system. Each pallet is conveyed to a squaring station, where it is centered on the conveyor, profile checked, and scanned for identification. If a pallet load is outside the predefined load envelope or can’t be scanned, it will be rejected and require forklift removal and correction. Pallets that pass the profile check and scanning station are conveyed to the infeed of either S/RM 1 or S/RM 2 and are placed in the storage rack as directed by Westfalia’s Savanna.NET® Warehouse Management System.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
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