On March 4, Crossplus announced that it had introduced the "SOTR-S (Sorting Transfer Robot Small)," a small robotic automated sorting system developed by Daifuku, to its Chubu Distribution Center for the first time.
This has resulted in approximately three times the work efficiency compared to before, leading to reduced waiting times for loading and unloading and the elimination of reliance on individual expertise.
<Small robot automatic sorting system "SOTR-S">
With the revised Logistics Efficiency Act coming into effect in April, specific shippers are required to work towards improving logistics efficiency, making regulatory compliance and measures to address rising costs essential. In addition, a shortage of personnel on site and an aging workforce, with 40% of employees at the center being over 60 years old, have also been challenges.
By introducing "SOTR-S" to address these challenges, work efficiency has improved and human errors have been reduced. The robot's ability to handle heavy labor and complex decision-making has created a more inclusive work environment, making it easier for the elderly and inexperienced workers to perform their duties.
<Scenes from work after the installation of "SOTR-S">
The "SOTR-S" small robotic automatic sorting system developed by Daifuku is an automatic sorting system designed for small items such as apparel and cosmetics.
This time, 100 robots have been introduced into the center, achieving a processing capacity of up to 4000 items per hour. There are five induction ports (input ports), and each port processes approximately 800 items per hour, enabling highly efficient sorting.
Furthermore, while taking into account the building code's restriction of a plot size of 1500m2 or less, the design allows for the expansion of the sorted store to a maximum of 300 stores.
Crossplus's Logistics Manager, Maya Nagata, commented, "We need to shift from the previous mindset of 'having things transported' to a mindset of 'designing how things can be transported.' This capital investment is one concrete measure to achieve that."
Daifuku develops forklift-type AMR, achieving industry-leading maneuverability.
