________________________________________________________________________________________________ ABCO
Systems happen again . I believe that by learning from our mistakes and addressing them in a positive way , we foster a happy work environment . The ABCO team is very close-knit , and these meetings instil a sense of camaraderie into all of us , making us want to go the extra mile ,” he enlightens .
Moving forward , Thomas discusses the implementation of automation both within ABCO ’ s operations and the wider industry . “ When we think about automation , conveyor systems are what comes to mind first . Whilst conveyance has existed for over 140 years , we must still explore other types of automated solutions that may be more suitable in certain applications . ABCO considers automation on a case-by-case basis , but there are some leading factors that make me question the convenience of conveyance . For instance , the lease term on a facility is a major consideration , as conveyance is a fixed automation which would be exceedingly costly to move from one facility to another if that lease ends . In contrast , automation like robotics allows for greater flexibility . Whether we are looking to move or expand , we would only have to load a few robots onto a trailer , do a little reprogramming and we ’ d be ready for business in a couple of days . Moreover , conveyance can prove very expensive down the road for the end user . Another shift in automation trends occurred with the boom of e-commerce , which has caused the landscape of warehousing and distribution to evolve drastically . To cope with the demand , we have moved away from hiring individuals to manual pick up orders to automation , thus reskilling these employees for more efficient , comfortable , and higherpaying roles . By leveraging automation , notably conveyor lines , crane and elevator systems , we not only optimize our operations but also improve our working environment ,” he elaborates .
As our interview nears its end , Thomas shares ABCO ’ s vision for the remainder of the year . “ Earlier this year , we purchased FastFetch Technologies , which has two core product lines . The first is a suite of pick / put to light solutions
that fit any size operation . These solutions utilize genetic algorithms to improve pick productivity which is typically over 50 percent of warehouse labor . The second product line , IntelliPack , is geared towards minimizing the box size used in packing to save companies on corrugate , dunnage and dimensional shipping costs . For the rest of the year , ABCO will focus on expanding this product line , aiming to make automation accessible to a broader customer base , including entry level companies . Crucially , we have been able to offer less than a year return on investment on our automated solutions , which is unheard of ,” he ends .
Through a culture of learning and expertise in automation , ABCO is well-equipped to continue empowering businesses to make the most of their space with cutting-edge solutions . ■
www
. abcosystems . net
With 40 years in the Material Handling industry , we specialize in Mezzanines , Vertical Lifts & Protective Guarding Products .
• Member of the IBC ( Int ’ l Building Code )
CONTACT US FOR A QUOTE Phone : 267-229-2500 Email : sjastrow @ comcast . net Web : www . warehousestructures . net
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