ABB FlexBuffer Robotic Cells

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• Robots (robotics)
• Industrial robots

2021: Automated Order Management Solution Release

On September 22, 2021, the company ABB announced that in response to growing consumer demand for a wide range and fast delivery, it had released a solution in the region - logistics robotic cell FlexBuffer. FlexBuffer provides a high level of flexibility in areas such as logistics,,,, and food industry. health care production consumer goods restaurant business retail The company offers an easily adaptable multifunctional solution for various tasks, such as sorting, short-term storage, warehousing and picking orders.

"The ever-changing nature of the consumption landscape and the growth of e-commerce challenge traditional systems used to process and deliver orders. FlexBuffer helps our customers solve these problems by ensuring automatic storage and processing of goods, as well as their streamlining at all production facilities. Now enterprises of all sizes, from large stores to small pharmacies, can achieve a high level of efficiency in processing a wide range of products. Thanks to FlexBuffer , our customers will have the flexibility they need to store and process goods  in any sequence that meets their production processes and customer needs, as well as the ability  to scale their activities quickly if necessary, " notes Marc Segura, managing director for consumer segments and service robotics at ABB.

In an attempt to meet consumer expectations for faster delivery of an expanding range of goods, operators from different industries face  a number of challenges. Among them are a shortage of labor and the need for quick and flexible delivery directly to the client. Automated processing of goods is the key  to solving these problems, but most of the available systems are large and expensive to install. They also do not differ in the degree of flexibility that companies need to perform tasks of temporary storage and ordering.

FlexBuffer solves these problems. The FlexBuffer system consists of an ABB robot, a set of grips, a software package, storage racks, and loading and unloading conveyors. It is a flexible and cost-effective multifunctional solution for fast handling of a wide variety of orders.

Inbound orders are managed using software that connects  to WMS, ERP, and AMS systems. The software package manages the storage and dispatch of mixed orders, avoiding errors and optimizing warehouse usage. Based on the information from the software, the robot places the goods for  storage on the  corresponding racks depending on the sequence of their shipment. To send the order, the robot selects the required goods in the correct sequence and places them on the unloading conveyor. Due to the processing of goods  according to a predetermined sequence, companies can deliver on time and fulfill individual orders that differ in a certain weight of the goods, their temperature conditions and other special storage conditions.

FlexBuffer can also help companies form a storage device (Order Consolidation Buffer) for temporary storage of goods before further processing.

FlexBuffer is available in two versions: for working with one type of packaging and different packaging. The first version is designed to work with standard boxes used for transporting goods. The second version has additional flexibility  in application due to the adjustable grip, which can handle goods  in various types of containers, including parcels, trays and boxes.

FlexBuffer can handle goods weighing up to 50 kg. The solution can store up to  600 containers and arrange at up to 500 cycles per hour.

FlexBuffer provides additional flexibility with customizable warehouse management software. ON it is possible to use for optimization of processes of temporary storage, warehousing and streamlining. It allows you to manage one or more FlexBuffer cells, allowing you to quickly scale your operations  according to changes in queries. This scalability is suitable for smaller facilities, such as retail stores, pharmacies, hospitals, and fulfillment centers (fullfilm centers), which require a more adaptable and flexible solution for warehousing and processing goods.

The software also helps meet the growing  requirements for real-time order tracking, allowing customers to keep track of their order progress.

In order for customers to achieve optimal performance, ABB offers a range of value added services designed to improve performance time , increase uptime and lifespan of the FlexBuffer solution and its modular cell line.

ABB can also offer its customers fully autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), which will significantly increase the flexibility of logistics operations. With the recent acquisition of ASTI Mobile Robotics Group (ASTI), the global manufacturer of AMR, ABB now offers a full line of solutions for flexible next-generation automation.