Hamburg/Hannover, 5 May 2011 – STILL presents an intelligent solution for order picking combining the benefits of voice-controlled order picking (Pick by Voice) with the advantages of an automated STILL EK-X vertical order picker.

Automated vertical order picking with “Pick by voice”

More and more staff working in the order picking of large warehouses make use of voice-controlled order picking systems (Pick by Voice) to complete pick jobs. The goal of these systems is to allow the order picker to concentrate on the job in order to avoid picking errors. When picking, the attention frequently shifts between the pick order and moving the order picker truck. Often this impairs concentration.

Automated order picker trucks (Pick and go) that follow the voice command of the operator can be of great help in this situation. However, current “Pick and go” solutions only allow automatic horizontal order picking.

25 percent higher pick efficiency

In contrast to these solutions STILL makes it possible to use automated vertical order picker trucks for picking up to reach heights of 3.9m. This new system reduces wrong picks and increases the pick performance by 15 to 25 percent.

The STILL transport control system sends the automated order picker truck to the right storage location. At the same time the operator is informed via headset about the pick job to be completed.

While the truck control unit automatically moves the truck to the correct storage location, the “passenger” can fully concentrate on the pick job at hand. The order picker confirms the correct location and the quantity of articles to be picked, as was indicated via the headset. Then the correct articles are manually placed on the pallet.

While the first pick job is being completed, the transport control system already calls a second EK-X. When the order is completed, the order picker simply changes the trucks and boards the second EK-X. The first EK-X then automatically drives to the transition bay and is made available for the next pick job.