Cimcorp, a manufacturer and integrator of turnkey robotic order fulfilment and tire-handling solutions, has announced that it will install its MultiPick materials handling solution for Synlait Milk at its new liquid milk production facility in Dunsandel in New Zealand.
As a part of a project with food packaging and processing integrator Tetra Pak, the solution will fully automate Synlait’s order picking process, optimising material flow and throughput from production to dispatch.
Synlait is a pioneering New Zealand-based company that combines expert farming with state-of-the-art processing.
Nutritional Milk Products
It produces a range of nutritional milk products that benefit the health and wellbeing of its global customers.
Since 2008, its Dunsandel site has grown to become one of the largest integrated infant formula sites in the world.
To expand its product portfolio to include liquid milk, Synlait is building a new production and packaging facility.
Director of operations at Synlait, Neil Betteridge, said, “We’re excited to work with Cimcorp and Tetra Pak to automate the order picking process within our new production facility.
"The speed and precision offered through automated materials handling will help us streamline operations and maximise the freshness of our new liquid milk products.
"It will also improve the health and safety of our people, as staff will not be required in cold storage areas for long periods of time. We’ll have a modern facility, ready to meet the demands of today’s food supply chain,” Betteridge added.
Notably, the highly efficient MultiPick system will enable Synlait to transport 1,800 crates from inventory to loading, every hour.
It will easily meet production rates of 7,000 crates per day.
Warehouse Control System
At the core of the solution will be Cimcorp’s Warehouse Control System (WCS), which will provide control over all inventory management, system functions and pick planning, as well as integration with the order management system.
Derek Rickard, distribution sales manager, Cimcorp, said, “With an automated picking process, Synlait will be able to significantly increase its order fulfilment speed and shorten its lead times, resulting in maximised product shelf life — a critical aspect of the dairy business.
"Moreover, the WCS software will help Synlait not only optimise material flow with advanced control over product movement and order accuracy, but also collect and provide traceable data to support food safety requirements.”
Installation of the system will commence in the first quarter of 2019.
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