The semi-automated option for order pickers N20 and N20 C

Digital process and supply chains and the growing individualization of products require greater automation of intralogistics processes. Horizontal order picking offers significant optimization potential in the warehouses of retail chains, logistics service providers, supermarkets, and drugstores. This process largely involves employees walking around the warehouse and manually picking and placing goods. These process steps become much more efficient with the help of the semi-automated option of the Linde N20 SA and N20 C SA order pickers, whilst also significantly increasing productivity and throughput in the warehouse.

Higher performance at every turn

As the interface to the human workforce, the industrial trucks play a central role in optimizing order picking. It is one of the most strenuous and time-consuming tasks in the warehouse with 30 to 45 percent of the working day being taken up by employees walking through the warehouse, and another 30 to 45 percent is spent manually picking and placing goods. It's clear to see that the optimization potential can be tapped into with the help of automation.

This is where the semi-automated driving modes of the N20 SA and N20 C SA order pickers come into play. They significantly reduce walking distances and the need to step on and off the truck, which has a direct impact on handling performance and productivity in the warehouse. Every step that the employee doesn’t take increases their performance and picking frequency. Tests using different picking methods showed around 20 percent higher performance with the semi-automated Linde order pickers compared to manually picking orders. One major advantage of the automated functions is that they can be seamlessly integrated into the customer’s processes, allowing employees to keep their usual picking routine but making it significantly faster and safer.

Runs along and drives ahead

Semi-automated operation offers two modes for the most common customer applications. One of the most frequent processes carried out in high rack warehouses is picking on one side of the rack, with a driver walking through the aisle in a U-shape; the “walk-with-me” mode is ideal for this process. In this driving mode, the truck follows the driver’s walking path: If the driver stops, the truck also stops and if the driver continues walking, the truck continues. The driver can stay at the rack and collect the goods making the constant walking to and from the driver’s platform and the end of the forks a thing of the past. The onward journey is triggered by the employee passing a certain point known as a “virtual wall”, and this can be set via the remote control.

In smaller warehouses, the “continuous” mode is ideal as the truck travels through the middle of the aisle and can be loaded from both sides. This will require the driver to walk a Z-shaped path between both sides of the rack to pick up and place goods. The driver benefits from the Stop & Go function by sending the truck ahead while staying on the fork side, thus shortening walking distances. If necessary, however, the driver can simply drive the truck themselves.