Damate opened Russia's first robotic warehouse for ultra-fresh products
Damate Group, the largest turkey producer in Russia, has developed and implemented a new generation logistics solution – the country's first robotic warehouse for ultra-fresh products. A pilot project with a capacity of 20 tons of storage per day was implemented in Penza at Penzakholod warehouse as part of the implementation of the project on robotization of the company's warehouses in the region. Investments in the robotics project amount to more than 110 million rubles.
The introduction of robots into the warehouse management system provides the opportunity to optimize the use of space and improve inventory management, eliminate errors related to human intervention, which in turn increases the warehouse productivity – the number of completed tasks per order in an hour.
The robotic warehouse is a more profitable and reliable solution than fixed structure warehouses. In addition, the system has high mobility, which allows moving the old robotic warehouse or install a new one in an operational time.
The new warehouse is intended for storage and shipment to customers turkey meat, duck and deep processing products, sold in Penza region. The functionality of the warehouse allows selecting orders for retail both by the piece and boxed.
The work on the implementation of the solution was carried out in two stages. At first, the warehouse at Penzakholod was upgraded: the company's specialists installed a new floor and walls that meet the requirements for robotic warehouses; automatic gates with temperature measurement sensors, allowing for free loading and unloading of goods were installed, as well as video cameras. An important step was the adjustment of the cooling system to maintain a constant temperature of 0-2 + degrees, since previously the room was used as a freezer.
After the preparation of the premises, the specialists started to implement the robotics system manufactured by the company's partner – Smart Dynamics. Mono-platforms and shelving platforms for placing goods were installed here, the height of which allows the robot to freely drive and turn around under it. Each platform has a QR code printed on it to be read by the robot, this helps the robot to find the necessary shelving. An important step in the solution installation is the design of the warehouse topology using QR codes. They are placed in clearly verified locations of the store shelves and are oriented to the cardinal directions for robot navigation. In addition, floor markings were applied for the unmistakable movement of robots around the warehouse. A workstation was installed in the room – an important part of the robot warehouse and the only place where people are present. With the help of the station, the employee monitors the correctness of orders for suppliers, takes the products brought by the robot for each order and finally forms it.
After installing the components, 8 robots capable of transporting up to 600 kg and 2 robots capable of transporting up to 1000 kg were launched into the room. They perform all actions 3-4 times faster than a person can: moving and selecting goods for shipment (picking), taking inventory, compacting and completing pallets for shipment to customers.
It should be reminded, that Damate started implementing the project on robotization of finished goods warehouses in 2020. In 2021, the company launched the robotic warehouse for 900 tons of one-time storage. The warehouse is installed at the largest turkey deep processing plant in Europe and is the first in the food industry of the Russian Federation.
Damate plans to robotize all the company's warehouses located Penza region.
