Quad/Graphics Partners with Westfalia Technologies for Lomira Storage Project
Customer Company Size
Large Corporate
Region
- America
Country
- United States
Product
- High Density Storage System
- Storage Retrieval Machines (SRMs)
- Conveyor Systems
Tech Stack
- Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (AS/RS)
- Warehouse Management Systems (WMS)
- Robotic Palletizing Systems
Implementation Scale
- Enterprise-wide Deployment
Impact Metrics
- Productivity Improvements
- Customer Satisfaction
- Cost Savings
Technology Category
- Functional Applications - Warehouse Management Systems (WMS)
- Automation & Control - Automation & Process Control Systems
Applicable Functions
- Warehouse & Inventory Management
- Logistics & Transportation
Use Cases
- Warehouse Automation
- Inventory Management
- Predictive Maintenance
Services
- System Integration
- Hardware Design & Engineering Services
- Software Design & Engineering Services
About The Customer
Quad/Graphics is a leading commercial printing company based in Wisconsin, USA. It is the largest privately held commercial printer in the world, known for its high-quality printing services. The company operates multiple facilities and serves a diverse range of clients, including publishers, catalogers, and retailers. Quad/Graphics is committed to innovation and efficiency, continually seeking ways to improve its production processes and meet the evolving needs of its customers. The Lomira facility, one of its key locations, plays a crucial role in the company's operations, handling a significant volume of printing and storage tasks.
The Challenge
Quad/Graphics, the largest privately held commercial printer in the world, faced a significant challenge in optimizing its storage and retrieval processes at its Lomira, Wisconsin facility. The facility needed to store three different styles of pallets—plastic USPS, plastic 9-block, and a wooden internal pallet—without the need for slave pallets. The existing storage system was not efficient enough to handle the high volume and variety of pallets, leading to delays and inefficiencies in production. The company required a solution that could streamline and expedite production by making work-in-process more readily accessible. Additionally, the solution needed to be scalable and flexible to meet the company's long-term needs.
The Solution
Quad/Graphics partnered with Westfalia Technologies to design, construct, and install a high-density automated storage system at its Lomira facility. The new system features 42,005 pallet positions and measures 776 feet long, 92 feet wide, and 107 feet high. It includes four storage retrieval machines (SRMs) and 1,600 linear feet of conveyors. The system is designed to store three different styles of pallets without the need for slave pallets. Two SRMs are installed in each aisle, effectively cutting the travel distance of the cranes in half. This design, coupled with center-stationed in-feed and out-feed conveyors, ensures extremely high throughput rates. The high-density storage system is expected to streamline and expedite production by making work-in-process more readily accessible. Westfalia Technologies, known for its quality, flexibility, and dependability, has installed similar systems worldwide, making them a trusted partner for this project.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
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