  |
||||||||
|
The Dallas Morning News
AS/RS & Savanna.NET WMS Case Study
The Dallas Morning News, one of the country’s largest daily newspapers, recently installed a new Automated Storage & Retrieval System (AS/RS) and Savanna.NET® Warehouse Management System (WMS) from Westfalia Technologies, Inc. in its new South Dallas post-press and distribution facility. The system provides efficient conveying and storage for free standing inserts (FSI). Free standing inserts are advertising supplements, often in full color, which typically are printed outside of the printing facility and inserted into the newspaper before delivery.
Doug Barlow, Assistant Production Manager for The Dallas Morning News, states “The reason we chose Westfalia’s system is the design allowed a larger amount of storage capacity for our building footprint. The single aisle for the SRMs (storage retrieval machines) freed up a lot more space than other companies options. We have almost 1,000 additional storage spaces than offered by Westfalia’s competitors’ designs.”
System Features:
- High density AS/RS with two storage retrieval machines
- Savanna.NET® Warehouse Management System
- 400 linear feet of conveyors
- 4,400 pallet positions
- Incorporates slave pallets into warehouse systems
- Measures 243 ft. (l) x 58 ft. (w) x 67 ft. (h)
Pallets of free standing inserts are received into the facility and transferred into the AS/RS by the Westfalia conveying system. The high density AS/RS encompasses two storage retrieval machines , 400 linear feet of conveyors, and measures 243 ft. (l) x 58 ft. (w) x 67 ft. (h). The storage system incorporates automatic slave pallet dispensing and stacking, stretch-wrapping, weighing and profile checking, and interfaces with Burt Planning Software. The pallets are then conveyed to a 10-level rack system with 4,400 pallet positions where they are buffered and later sequenced to several collators.
Westfalia’s modular Warehouse Management System (WMS) Savanna.NET controls the movement and storage of all pallets within the facility. When signaled, Savanna.NET directs the Storage/Retrieval Machines to retrieve the pallets from storage and place them on the out-feed conveyor. The system then directs fork truck operators to pick up the pallets and deliver them to the proper collator via fork truck-mounted computers. All FSI pallets remain in full control of Savanna.NET from storage to collator consumption.
Savanna.NET’s modular structure allows Westfalia software engineers to build a custom design system to match the exact needs of each facility, and have it integrate with 0ther existing systems. This kind of experience give Doug Barlow of The Dallas Morning News confidence in Westfalia, as he says “Westfalia’s software expertise is greater than other companies.“
According to Al Kafka, Newspaper Sales Specialist for Westfalia Technologies, more newspapers and printers are selecting Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems to handle the time- and labor-intensive task of storing and conveying newspapers, inserts and paper rolls throughout their warehouses and plants. “Like most businesses, newspaper and printing companies are looking for increased efficiencies in their operations,” says Kafka. “Our AS/RS equipment and WMS reduce warehouse space requirements, increase efficiency and accuracy, and ultimately, save money.”
The Dallas Morning News new South Dallas post-press and distribution facility will be fully functioning in June 2007.
        |
|
