Smart automation reduces complexity of logistics for pharmaceutical industry
03 January 2018
The ability to efficiently and reliably distribute medicinal products could be the difference between life and death. This is why, in the pharmaceutical sector, pre-wholesale is an important linking step on a medication’s path.
Alloga, a logistics companies for pharmaceutical pre-wholesale, has to overcome these challenges on a daily basis, so it invested in a special material handling system from Flück Fördertechnik with modular conveyor technology from Interroll.
When it comes to pharmaceutical products, it is important that they reach the over 13,000 recipients that Alloga supplies - including doctors, pharmacies and hospitals - quickly and that sufficient quantities are available to meet the demand. The standards that Alloga must maintain in order to provide quality and perfect service are incredibly high: “Pharmaceutical manufacturers entrust us with their products. These are pharmaceutical products - not the kind of product that you can look at and tell whether they are in good condition or not”, says Andreas Koch, Head of Alloga. ”This is why we have to ensure this level of quality at all times. But we also have to be efficient, flexible and able to respond to individual requirements in a standardised way."
Alloga's high bay warehouse alone has more than 32,000 storage locations with various controlled temperature conditions. Here, pharmaceutical products from around 80 partners are stored. The rising number of orders and ever-increasing storage capacity, throughput and efficiency requirements made it necessary for Alloga to strategically renew its conveyor technology. To achieve this, Alloga chose the systems integrator Flück Fördertechnik, from Kirchberg, near Bern. From initial idea to commissioning, Flück Fördertechnik draws on its knowledge to create bespoke material handling systems for each of its customers, devising highly individual solutions and innovative concepts. "We see ourselves as a provider of integrated solutions. We like providing solutions based on standard elements but we enjoy developing special systems even more," explains Peter Flück, Managing Director of Flück Fördertechnik AG.
System modernisation during ongoing operations coupled with custom design
One of these special demands from Alloga was to manage a modernisation project during ongoing operations - without interrupting the daily workflow and under significant time pressure. This is why Flück successfully worked together with Interroll, who provided an optimal, scalable solution with its modular conveyor platform. Flück is pleased with the outcome. "The implementation of this was only possible with pre-assembled modules which we were able to obtain from Interroll. This was the only way this project could be successfully carried out in our short time frame."
To optimise the throughput in the existing space, Flück created a custom design for Alloga: Special loading towers in the order picking area that allow workers to load complete, ready-to-ship orders into the conveying lines. The trays are raised to a height of four metres by a vertical conveyor, allowing the space required to be significantly minimised. Using a zero-pressure accumulation conveyor system with energy-saving 24-volt technology from Interroll, Flück was able to create a lot more buffer capacity along the way. With what are referred to as loading islands, they built up storage capacity, meaning that order pickers can unload all the goods at once and then continue with their designated tasks. This concept not only saves valuable time but also space and energy, the latter thanks to the zero-pressure accumulation conveyor system.
With this design, Alloga's highly ambitious aims are achieved.
“Some of the improvements we managed to achieve were to create more loading stations, which meant more possibilities to make use of the conveyor technology. We now have more transport capacity into the shipping department - in fact, we managed to double it - and, as a pleasant side effect, I would also like to mention that the conveyor system is quieter now too.", says Andreas Koch.
A new lease of life: Thanks to the cleverly engineered upgrade, Alloga has optimised its complex flow of goods and increased its throughput, putting it on track for future growth!
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