Multi-level tote shuttle system
One shuttle per level, thousands of totes per hour: the core of e-commerce picking.
One shuttle per level, thousands of totes per hour: the core of e-commerce picking.
A multi-level shuttle system has one shuttle per rack level handling that level's totes, with high-speed lifts moving totes between levels. Because all levels work at once, aisle throughput is far above a miniload, and vehicles can be added or removed with the business. Paired with goods-to-person stations, it is the most common solution for piece picking in e-commerce, retail and pharma.
Typical uses
- Piece picking in e-commerce and omnichannel retail
- Pharmaceutical and cosmetics wholesale
- Order consolidation and outbound sequencing buffers
- Sequenced supply of materials to production
Key figures
| Tote sizes | 600×400 mm, 200–400 mm high; cartons per project |
|---|---|
| Load per tote | ≤ 50 kg |
| Shuttle speed | ≤ 4 m/s, acceleration ≤ 2 m/s² |
| Load handling | Single- or double-deep telescopic, mixed sizes supported |
| Rack height | 4–24 m |
| Lifts | 600–1,000 totes/h each |
| Aisle throughput | 1,000–3,000 totes/h, the sum of the aisle's lifts (600–1,000 totes/h each) |
| Software | WCS fleet control + WMS, order priority and sequencing |
Figures are typical configuration ranges; exact specifications are set per project.
Options
- 2–20 goods-to-person stations
- Automatic case erecting, packing and sealing lines
- Link to cross-belt or matrix sorters
- Chilled version
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
- SKUs, totes and order profile (lines per order, units per line)
- Peak order lines per hour
- Floor plan and clear height
- Existing WMS and ERP