RMT Robotics, part of the Cimcorp Group, has announced the sale of an automated storage and picking system for crates to the USA’s The Kroger Co., one of the world’s largest retailers. The equipment will be installed in a new dairy facility in Denver, Colorado, with the initial system going live in the second quarter of 2014. The new solution will fulfill Kroger’s objectives for faster picking, higher accuracy and greater reliability.
The system is designed to store up to 36,000 crates and process in excess of 30,000 crates per day. Crates will be stacked, accumulated and conveyed to four MultiPick gantry robots, which will move the inventory to storage positions on the floor until required for order fulfillment. Order pallets will be picked by the robots, palletized and banded before being loaded onto delivery vehicles.
“We look forward to providing Kroger with leading-edge technology that will demonstrate the collaboration of solution design between our Finnish head office, Cimcorp Oy, and RMT Robotics,” said Derek Rickard, Distribution Systems Manager for RMT Robotics Ltd. “This solution will be the first application of its kind in North America after having many years of success in the European market.”
Larry Noe, Manufacturing Engineering Manager for Kroger Mountain View Foods, commented, “The system developed by Cimcorp/RMT Robotics achieves our objectives of faster picking, accuracy and reliability, enabling us to give our customers excellent standards of service. The system will reduce our operational costs, while ensuring customer orders are picked and shipped quickly and accurately.”
About Kroger Co.
About Kroger Co.
The Kroger Co., one of the world’s largest retailers, employs more than 339,000 associates who serve customers in 2,422 supermarkets and multi-department stores in 31 states under two dozen local banner names including Kroger, City Market, Dillons, Jay C, Food 4 Less, Fred Meyer, Fry’s, King Soopers, QFC, Ralphs and Smith’s. The company also operates 790 convenience stores, 344 fine jewelry stores, 1,141 supermarket fuel centers and 37 food processing plants in the U.S.
