Lightning Pick Featured in Modern Materials Handling Article on the Evolution of Pick-to-Light

Lightning Pick automation expert describes new advancements in pick-to-light technology

WAUKESHA, WI — Roberto Michel, senior editor for Modern Materials Handling, has interviewed Matthews Automation’s Dave Remsing for their September 2020 issue, “Pick-to-Light’s Evolution”. This article focuses on light-directed systems for order fulfillment, including trends on using pick-to-light, put-to-light and new technology combinations for maximum efficiency.

Dave Remsing is Matthews Automation Solutions’ vice president of market development. For over 25 years, Dave has developed successful automation solutions for major brands, with a focus on light-directed technologies.

Here’s a summary of the main trends, advances and improvements Dave shared in the article.

E-Commerce Sized Orders

Rapid e-commerce fulfillment growth has accelerated even faster due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Dave Remsing believes that pick-to-light is ideal for small, “e-commerce sized” orders. Specifically, Dave comments that internet orders tend to average less than 2 items per order, so it takes a lot of labor and handling to fill those small orders without automation like pick-to-light or put-to-light.

Core Flexibility Enables New Advances

Dave observes pick-to-light is being deployed in increasingly varied – and mobile – ways; some examples include mounting lights on carton flow racks or pallet positions in addition to traditional locations on shelves. Put walls are now being used in combination with other forms of automation, such as automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS).

Many operations are also implementing mobile, light-directed picking carts or sleds, where the items in the order are put directly into the corresponding order container or bin on the cart, rather than having to sort or consolidate items later.

These hybrid-type automation systems are increasing in number because they allow for more flexibility in fulfilling high volumes of small orders.

Further, some distributors are exploring cloud-based deployments of pick-to-light software to circumvent maintaining a server on site.

Fully Lighted Locations and Rolling Put Walls

The article mentions a pick-to-light feature that has evolved recently: LED lights that illuminate an entire cubby on a pick or put wall, in addition to illuminating the standard pick-to-light module. This larger illumination space means extra visibility, resulting in higher productivity and accuracy.

Also, Dave describes applications using multiple, dual-sided put/pack walls are now adopting rolling put wall sections that can be moved to unloading and pack out locations quickly and easily. Put operators who finish putting before the corresponding pack operator has finished can quickly detach and move the finished put wall to a different pack out area for processing, eliminating bottlenecks. Overall efficiency increases with this approach because the putting operator can continue to work rather than having to wait for the unloading operator to catch up.