Four-way pallet shuttle system
Dense storage with a flexible layout: the shuttle runs in all four directions, and cold stores are where it shines.
Dense storage with a flexible layout: the shuttle runs in all four directions, and cold stores are where it shines.
A four-way shuttle drives along and across the rails of each rack level to reach any pallet location, with lifts moving pallets between levels. No crane aisles are needed, so density is higher than a crane AS/RS, the layout can be irregular and the system can be extended in phases. The number of shuttles follows the throughput, and one failed vehicle does not stop the warehouse. Cold stores, where no one needs to enter, are the classic application.
Typical uses
- Frozen and chilled stores (-25 °C to +10 °C)
- Retrofits in existing halls and irregular floor plans
- Dense finished-goods and raw-material storage
- Warehouses built in phases
Key figures
| Pallet load | 1,000–1,500 kg |
|---|---|
| Speed | Loaded 1.0–1.5 m/s, empty ≤ 2 m/s |
| Direction change | ≤ 5 s |
| Power | Lithium battery or supercapacitor, automatic charging |
| Rack height | ≤ 30 m, level pitch per pallet height |
| Lifts | Pallet lifts ≤ 1,500 kg, ≤ 120 pallets/h each |
| Density | More pallets than a single-deep stacker-crane AS/RS on the same footprint and clear height |
| Environment | -25 °C to +40 °C |
Figures are typical configuration ranges; exact specifications are set per project.
Options
- Multi-deep lanes (the shuttle drives into the lane to store and retrieve pallets)
- Interfaces to pallet conveyors and palletising lines
- Fleet management software and digital twin
- Phased addition of shuttles and rack blocks
- New low-profile shuttles (about 120–125 mm high) that save height between rack levels
Scope of supply
- Machine, drives and control cabinet, assembled and dry-run tested before shipping
- The equipment's own control and fleet software; interfaces to your existing WMS / ERP as the project requires
- Drawings: general arrangement, foundation and anchor plan, electrical schematics
- Conformity documents for the equipment and the whole line, the split of responsibilities and the acceptance criteria are set out in the contract according to the project scope
- Spare-parts list and wear-part recommendation; a first batch can ship with the equipment
- Factory acceptance (FAT): attend in person or follow by live video
- Installation, commissioning and operator training can be included in the offer
What we need for an offer
- Pallet locations, pallet sizes and loads
- Pallets per hour in and out
- Temperature requirements
- Floor plan, clear height and floor flatness