Alois Schmitt GmbH & Co KG (Eisen Schmitt) stores and processes aluminum sheets in St. Ingbert. The automatic Stopa Compact II sheet metal storage system forms the basis for storage. Stopa Anlagenbau GmbH, Achern-Gamshurst, has developed interfaces to ensure efficient communication between the Stopa WMS 4.0 warehouse management software, the operator's ERP system and the cutting optimization software (VOS) of the sawing systems. As the data from the transport orders generated by the WMS is automatically transferred to the saws via the interfaces, there is no need for manual input and the error rate is reduced.

Eisen Schmitt books incoming goods in its ERP system, which forwards the information to the Stopa WMS 4.0. The WMS generates the putaway orders and initiates the provision of empty pallets. The warehouse operator loads the raw material at the goods-in station onto the load carrier selected by the WMS, exactly according to the coordinates specified by the software, into which the pallet is divided.

Customer orders are assigned to one of the saws, which cut parts ranging in size from 40 x 20 to 3,000 x 1,500 mm. The WMS transfers the information received from the ERP system into the data format of the VOS. Smooth communication between the systems results in shorter production cycles and significant process optimization.

The VOS distributes the orders to the stock in the sheet metal warehouse, which is around 22 m long, 11 m high and 5.7 m wide and has an annual handling capacity of around 450 tons. The software takes care to nest orders tightly and thus save material. Depending on the quantity of blanks ordered, the WMS specifies the number of pallets required for retrieval. Load carriers with residual sheets have a higher priority in order to reduce their stocks. While the WMS initiates the retrieval orders, the VOS sends the cutting data to the selected saw. As there are usually several material remnants on a pallet, the operator identifies the sheet to be removed using a barcode label that is affixed after each saw cut.

Eisen Schmitt stores the offcuts from the sawing systems. The VOS generates files from their number and sizes, which the WMS reports to the ERP system and uses to generate putaway orders. The decision to divide the pallets into fields means that the WMS knows where individual blanks are located on the load carriers.

As the automated warehouse at Eisen Schmitt consists of ten blocks arranged in two rows, the full-range supplier benefits from a considerable storage capacity. In addition, the two-mast storage and retrieval machine (SRM) ensures a high level of safety because it automatically checks the storage locations above and below the selected storage locations with regard to their loading and thus prevents collisions.