SHAKE-HAND - Belgian Standard Elements Automated Storage

Project Overview

SHAKE-HAND, a distributor of standard machine elements for the mechanical engineering industry serving Belgian and Luxembourg markets, sought to modernize its storage operations to support business growth. The company distributes products from Elesa+Ganter, an Italian and German manufacturer, with machine builders as their primary customers. Facing limitations with manual storage systems, SHAKE-HAND needed a solution that could reduce facility footprint, optimize storage volume, and minimize picking errors that were impacting operational efficiency.

The project began in 2018 when SHAKE-HAND became one of the first customers to implement Kardex VBM systems for single item storage and picking. After nearly four years of successful operation, continued business growth necessitated additional storage capacity. The original VBM systems, while effective, no longer met the expanded storage requirements, prompting the search for an enhanced solution that could support future growth while maintaining operational efficiency.

Kardex proposed their newly launched extended VBM systems, which proved to be the perfect match for SHAKE-HAND's evolving needs. The partnership was characterized by consistent project management and solution-oriented collaboration throughout both implementation phases.

Technical Solution

Kardex Miniload-in-a-Box Systems

The core of the automation solution consists of five Kardex Miniload-in-a-Box vertical lift modules. This includes two standard units dedicated to small parts picking and three extended 18-meter versions specifically designed for full bin picking operations. The Miniload-in-a-Box systems provide automated storage and retrieval within a compact footprint, optimizing vertical space utilization while maintaining easy access to all stored items.

Key Features

The extended VBM units deliver double the storage capacity of standard systems with only minimal impact on performance, providing SHAKE-HAND with significant scalability for future expansion. This capacity enhancement was crucial for supporting the company's continued growth in the Belgian and Luxembourg markets.

The combination of two small parts systems and three full bin picking units creates a comprehensive solution that handles SHAKE-HAND's complete product range. This dual-configuration approach ensures optimal storage and retrieval for both individual components and complete box quantities.

Space optimization is a defining feature, with the vertical lift modules maximizing storage density while minimizing the facility footprint. This allows SHAKE-HAND to store more inventory in less space compared to traditional manual storage methods.

The goods-to-person picking workflow significantly reduces errors by eliminating manual searching and ensuring accurate item retrieval. This feature directly addresses SHAKE-HAND's primary pain point of picking errors in their previous manual system.

Consistent project management from Kardex throughout both implementation phases ensured smooth transitions and effective solution matching. The dedicated support and solution-oriented approach contributed significantly to the project's success.

Results & Benefits

The implementation has successfully doubled SHAKE-HAND's storage capacity through the extended VBM systems, providing ample room for business growth while maintaining high performance levels. This capacity expansion supports the company's expanding product distribution needs.

Picking errors have been significantly reduced compared to the previous manual storage system, improving order accuracy and customer satisfaction. The automated retrieval process ensures the right items are delivered to operators every time.

Storage volume optimization has been achieved while simultaneously reducing the facility footprint. This space efficiency allows SHAKE-HAND to maximize their existing facility without requiring expansion.

The solution has created a foundation for future growth, with the extended capacity and efficient workflows supporting SHAKE-HAND's expanding business in the Belgian and Luxembourg machine builder markets.

Daily customer order processing has become more efficient, with the automated systems enabling faster and more accurate fulfillment for machine builder clients across both served markets.

Challenges & Solutions

SHAKE-HAND's primary challenge was the limitations of manual storage systems, which were causing picking errors and constraining business growth. The Kardex Miniload-in-a-Box solution addressed this by implementing automated vertical lift modules that ensure accurate retrieval and support expanded operations.

The need to optimize storage volume while reducing facility footprint required an innovative space-efficient solution. The vertical orientation of the VBM systems maximized storage density within minimal floor space, solving both storage capacity and space utilization challenges.

When initial VBM systems reached capacity limits after nearly four years of growth, the extended VBM systems provided the necessary scalability. These elongated units doubled storage capacity with minimal performance impact, perfectly matching SHAKE-HAND's expanded requirements without requiring a complete system overhaul.

System Integrator

Kardex served as the system integrator and solution provider for both implementation phases. The company maintained consistent project management throughout, with the same contact person guiding SHAKE-HAND from initial implementation in 2018 through the capacity expansion years later.

Kardex's approach was characterized by collaborative problem-solving, budget respect, and direct, solution-oriented responses. The company worked closely with SHAKE-HAND to understand their specific needs as a distributor of standard machine elements, ensuring the Miniload-in-a-Box systems were perfectly tailored to their operational requirements.

The successful partnership demonstrates Kardex's ability to provide scalable automation solutions that grow with their customers' businesses. By offering the extended VBM systems when SHAKE-HAND outgrew their initial installation, Kardex proved their commitment to long-term customer success and adaptable solution development.