Brewery selects order picking system and keg gripper
Finnish brewery Olvi has ordered a new dolly picking system and modified solution for keg handling from Cimcorp for its HQ.
The Cimcorp solution includes gantry robots for handling the dolly picking as well as software, which controls the material flow after production – from the high-bay warehouse to the loading docks for order fulfillment.
Olvi’s previous order picking solution by Cimcorp has been modified to handle kegs, designed to store pressurised beverages like beer, cider or long drinks, in addition to beverage trays. Cimcorp also provided the software modifications needed for controlling the keg gripper.
Marjatta Rissanen, customer service and administration director, Olvi Brewery, said: “30-litre kegs are hard to handle because of their size and weight. Previously, kegs were picked manually and added to customer-specific pallets. During the summer season, the amount of kegs picked each day increases dramatically due to heightened demand. The new keg gripper will not only help optimise handling during peak times of the year, but also make it safer for our employees and get products to our customers faster.”
Olvi and Cimcorp started their partnership in 2005, when the Finnish brewery first invested in its initial automated order picking system. The long-standing partnership helped with the development of the keg gripper.
“We struggled with handling kegs for a few years. Suddenly our Technical Manager realised that Cimcorp has a gripper that handles tires. Tires are heavy and round, just like our kegs,” Rissanen added. “It seemed like a natural fit.”
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The modified keg gripper was customised in spring 2018, just in time for the summer peak season.
“Despite the tight schedule, the implementation was excellent. The equipment has worked well from the beginning,” adds Pekka Kääriäinen, technical manager, Olvi Brewery.
