how e-commerce is leading the rise of automation …...how e-commerce is leading the rise of...
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BASTIAN SOLUTIONS
HOW E-COMMERCE IS LEADING THERISE OF AUTOMATION AND ROBOTICS
INNOVATION Bastian Solutions
HOW E-COMMERCE RISE OF AUTOMATIOBASTIAN SOLUTIE-COMMERCE IS DRIVING THE CHANGES IN THE INDUSTRY. INNOVATION IS DRIVING BASTIAN SOLUTIONS’ GROWTH.
As the demand for faster delivery of products
continues to reach the apex of possibility,
many companies and their supply chains are
struggling to keep up.
Automation and robotics are moving from
passing trends to necessities on warehouse
fl oors, but many of the companies interested
in utilizing the technology don’t know where to
start. Luckily, we know an expert.
BOSS Magazine introduced our readers to
Bastian Solutions in our March 2017 issue.
The material handling expert is committed to
optimizing warehousing and manufacturing
for its clients.
“The requirement from the industry to deliver
products directly to the consumer’s doorstep
has made problems more complicated and
systems and solutions more sophisticated,”
said Greg Conner, Vice President of Bastian
Solutions. “It challenges us from an engineering
perspective to provide critical solutions to
produce the business goals our clients require.”
IS LEADING THEON AND ROBOTICS:IONS PART TWO
April 2017 | thebossmagazine.com | 2
BORROUGHS CORPORATION
From heavy-duty industrial shelving to modular drawer cabinets, Borroughs Corporation has produced a wide variety of storage options for projects large and small. Through its 75-year history, the company has proven its willingness to keep pace with changing markets, business, and competitive challenges.
One such example is the company’s multi-level systems, which includes freestanding mezzanines and catwalk shelving systems. These solutions allow a facility to double or even triple its storage space and save costly building expansions or expensive moves.
Borroughs’ smart solutions start with better people and better products. Businesses like Bastian Solutions benefi t from a partnership with Borroughs Corporation.
INNOVATION
Conner attributes the growth in the industry
to rapid changes in the e-commerce market.
Today, technology is pushing boundaries
of manufacturing and distribution’s speed
of goods.
“In a distribution warehouse, it used to be that
operators would go down aisles, pick items,
place them on a conveyor that then led to a
pallet,” he said. “The operator was spending
the majority of his time traveling from one
location to the next.
“But today, automation and robotics are doing
the so-called heavy lifting. By utilizing a robot
or a shuttle to pick and deliver a product to
an operator, the time between picks is greatly
reduced, thus increasing overall effi ciency. This
technology is referred to as Goods-to-Person.”
And just like automation and robotics are
guiding the industry toward effi ciencies
that weren’t possible two years ago—let
alone a decade ago—this tech is also in part
responsible for driving the incredible growth
at Bastian Solutions.
On top of this, the company’s continuous
improvement strategies, and customized
client experiences and products—such as
ZiPline Conveyor and Exacta: Supply Chain
®
autostoresystem.com
Robots on top of things.Sophisticated Goods-to-Person Robotics
INNOVATION
Software—complete a balanced growth
plan designed to take Bastian Solutions
successfully into the future.
Innovation Driving Growth
“Our growth has come from how quickly we’ve
adopted and employed these new technologies
in our solutions for clients,” Conner said.
It’s not easy staying at the forefront of
innovation, but Bastian Solutions is an old pro
at it. Internally, the company employs a team
that focuses on the evolution of technology.
Research and development demand a lot of
time, money, and energy, but the organization
is committed to producing the best and most
advanced solutions for its clients.
Although much of the company’s research
and development is kept under wraps, Conner
was able to give us an insider’s look into
the types of technology Bastian Solutions is
currently pursuing.
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IT’S NOT EASY STAYING AT THE FOREFRONT OF
INNOVATION, BUT BASTIAN
SOLUTIONS IS AN OLD PRO AT IT.
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QIMAROX
Qimarox is a leading manufacturer of components for material handling systems. As a manufacturer of palletizers, product lifts, pallet lifts, packaging machines, and shielding systems, Qimarox distinguishes itself by its contemporary vision and approach, in which innovation, quality, and added value are of paramount importance.
Qimarox currently supplies more than 200 system partners around the world, active in various sectors such as logistics, machine construction, and end-of-line packaging systems.
Harderwijk, Netherlands, operates as Qimarox’s headquarters. Qimarox opened an offi ce in the United States in 2011 to quickly and effectively serve the North American market.
A stronger, lightweight, and longer-lasting
composite pallet could replace the standard
wooden pallet used since the start of material
handling. The company has also spent time
developing tracking tags for pallets, utilizing
the IoT for a better understanding of where
products are at any given time.
Conner and the leadership team at Bastian
Solutions believe augmented reality will play
a huge part in distribution centers shortly. The
company is currently beta-testing the Microsoft
HoloLens for a more advanced picking system
in distribution warehouses.
Currently, pick to light is a technology that is
widely applied. Lights and LED indicators direct
operators to every product. But you need to
have a light and an indicator for every location
in the warehouse.
“Augmented reality is a great fi t for our
industry,” Conner said. “HoloLens can direct the
picker to the right location in the warehouse, as
well as display the quantity needed and even an
image of the product.”
Automating the loading and unloading of
a semi-trailer and other monotonous and
sometimes dangerous jobs are also getting
the Bastian Solutions’ technological upgrade.
Continuous Improvement Driving Excellence
Bastian Solutions’ motivation behind its
signifi cant investment in R&D is more than
fi scal. Continuous improvement and lean
practices are incredibly important to the team.
ISO certifi cations, aligning its decisions with
Six Sigma principles, and safe practices within
the company and on the job help drive the
company’s commitment to constant evolution.
“Advanced technology drives our culture,”
Conner shared. “Our projects employ state-
of-the-art technology, which wouldn’t
INNOVATION
“ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY DRIVES OUR CULTURE, OUR PROJECTS EMPLOY STATE-OF-THE-ART TECHNOLOGY, WHICH WOULDN’T BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT OUR COMMITMENT TO CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT.”
- GREG CONNER, VICE PRESIDENTOF BASTIAN SOLUTIONS
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INDUSTRY LEADER IN THE AREA OF MATERIALHANDLING INSTALLATION FOR OVER 30 YEARS
2665 Pine Grove Road, Suite 200, Cumming, GA 30041 • [email protected] • asbeco.comELECTRICAL INSTALLATION • MECHANICAL INSTALLATION • START UP SUPPORT • PROJECT MANAGEMENT
ASBECO
ASBECO is an industry leader in the
realm of material handling installation.
The company is ISO 9001 certifi ed
and has performed the electrical and
mechanical installation of complex
motor- and process control-based
systems for a variety of material
handling applications such as assembly
line conveyors, robot palletizers, high-
speed sortation systems, and bottling
machinery. Since 1986, ASBECO’s
key employees have successfully
installed these systems nationwide and
internationally. The company prides
itself on providing the highest quality
work, on time, and on budget.
be possible without our commitment to
continuous improvement.
“If you stand still in this industry, the competition
will pass you in no time.”
Customized Solutions Driving
Client Satisfaction
Bastian Solutions knows it’s all changing: how
products are made, batch sizes, how batches
are distributed, the quantities being distributed.
Automation and robotics are determining how
products move within the market, and every
single one of Bastian Solutions’ client’s needs
are different.
“Each project is unique,” said Conner. “Just
because a customer competes in the same
industry as another doesn’t mean the two need
the same—or even a similar—solution. What we
do brings engineering and creativity together.”
INNOVATION
Bastian Solutions’ experts consult with each
customer before providing a solution. The
teams learn about its client’s business, take
measurements, and apply analytics for how
effi cient the client’s current setup is. By working
with the customer to create a custom design,
Bastian Solutions’ customers can achieve their
goals, and Bastian Solutions can quantify how
the new solution saved on labor and/or money.
One of the company’s larger clients in the
electronics industry recently benefi tted from
Bastian Solutions’ customized user experience.
The company had an online presence through
which it received orders throughout the day.
To meet the company’s goal of processing the
order on the same day it was received, Bastian
Solutions helped improve how quickly the
company could complete picks. The company
is now able to process new orders in minutes
to keep up with the demand for overnight and
next-day delivery.
It’s only a matter of time until more companies
large and small will need to operate at this level.
As a leader in material handling automation,
Bastian Solutions knows it can continue making
an incredible impact on the effi ciencies needed.
“The growth of our company is facilitated
by our tremendous supplier network and
our incredibly committed and passionate
employees. There is no doubt our growth
would truly not be possible without our
customers pushing us to develop new and
better methods to get their goods to market.”
“THE GROWTH OF OUR COMPANY IS FASCILITATED BY
OUR TREMENDOUS SUPPLIER NETWORK
AND OUR INCREDIBLY COMMITTED AND
PASSIONATE EMPLOYEES.”
- GREG CONNER, VP OF BASTIAN SOLUTIONS
POWERED BY
BASTIAN SOLUTIONS
10585 N Meridian St. 3rd FloorIndianapolis, IN 46290
Ph: 888.725.3046Fax: 317.575.8596Email: [email protected]
www.bastiansolutions.com