How partnering with Ferag takes the risk out of integration
Intralogistics operations are fast becoming highly automated, intelligent systems capable of fulfilling complex processes at ever greater speeds. And as labour becomes more difficult to find and more costly, demand for such systems is on a steep upward trajectory.
For system integrators the opportunities are boundless. But as new technologies emerge, develop and adapt the challenges faced by integrators and contractors in creating the ‘best’ solution for the customer increasingly requires blending technologies from different suppliers, making finding a partner with the right products, skills and experience mission critical.
Ferag is a prominent name in warehouse automation having a long-established reputation for Swiss precision-engineering with the design and fabrication of automated, fast overhead pouch sorters, tilt-tray sorters and low-friction chain conveyors. This deep expertise forms the foundation for the company’s growing business in working with integrators on designing and implementing cutting-edge solutions for large and small to medium sized businesses.
Originally developed for exacting applications in the international print industry, Ferag’s high-speed overhead conveyors are built to be ultra-reliable, offering unfailing performance on daily newspaper production runs in the millions. The same materials, technology and design expertise has been successfully applied by Ferag within the intralogistics sector, bringing reliable, high-performance conveying at speeds of up to 25,000 units per hour to retail, ecommerce, automotive and general merchandise businesses.
Confidence to perform
Reducing exposure to risk is a crucial consideration for an integrator, as failure to perform as promised has the potential to impact all parties integrator, supplier and end customer. Factors, such as the reliability and performance of a subsystem, particularly at peak, are fundamental to the success of any project. So, it’s absolutely essential that a contractor has the utmost confidence in a supplier’s engineering capabilities, its products and its ability to get the job done.
Ferag is as a trusted partner with a growing number of integrators and contractors across multiple geographies. There are sound reasons why leading integrators chose to work closely with Ferag throughout the whole tendering to handover process, from a project’s conception and design, through pitching to the customer, to installation, integration, commissioning and importantly, on to aftersales support and maintenance. Engineering competence, proven technology and over sixty years of experience in delivering advanced Swiss-engineered chain conveyor systems and sorters all play an important part in securing Ferag’s reputation for quality, service and operational excellence.
Agility designed in
Every business finds it difficult predicting the future. So, it’s important for the end customer that their investment has the potential to grow and flex with the business. That’s why Ferag’s products are designed and built to be modular and scalable, offering the customer and the integrator, the ability to simply add to their systems as needed, giving the flexibility and agility the business needs to respond to future market demands.
End-to-end automation
A common problem facing most businesses today is poor labour availability, leading many to seek higher levels of automation to take the strain. End-to-end automation is now a common goal for leading organisations, so integrators, along with their suppliers, need to find solutions that close the gaps between processes. Ferag is continuously innovating, introducing new systems for replacing manual operations, for example, developing technology to automatically load and gently unload pouches on the ferag.skyfall overhead sorter. Often these innovations are initiated as tailored solutions for customers, showing our willingness to think outside the box, and are then added to our wider product portfolio.
This desire for more comprehensive systems capable of outperforming rivals is a competitive force driving greater collaboration between integrators and manufacturers of the most advanced, reliable and robust systems. And a fundamental enabler to closer working between integrator and subsystem provider is the ease with which the software that controls and manages the hardware can be integrated.
All Ferag’s products are designed to be hardware-agnostic, open to integrate seamlessly with other systems and are built on interface-open architecture compatible with common control systems. But importantly, in addition, Ferag offers integrators and their end customers complete flexibility within its proprietary ferag.doWarehouse suite of software: from simple PLCs, to Warehouse Flow Control and right up to WMS. Customers have the choice to select what suits them best.
Once customers make the decision to invest, they usually want the solution installed and commissioned tomorrow! At Ferag, we work with the integrator to make it happen as fast as is humanly possible. Our proven modular solutions enable the shortest implementation times, and as we have high availability, we can offer fast delivery to meet the tightest project timelines.
Importantly, reliability is assured with our low-maintenance systems that reduce long-term operating costs. And when it comes to ongoing support, Ferag can offer a comprehensive range of services, from remote software support 24/7 to complete maintenance and parts provision with international coverage across 18 countries.
Conveying reliability
Principle products in Ferag’s extensive range of innovative sorters and conveyors include:
- ferag.skyfall, an overhead pouch system that combines conveying, buffering, sorting and consolidating, suited to a wide variety of goods weighing up to 20kg. The solution makes efficient use of available overhead space and sorts up to 25,000 units per hour;
- ferag.denisort, a tilt-tray sorter that provides order picking, conveying and sorting in one seamless and scalable solution;
- ferag.denisort compact, a modular vertical sorter designed for items weighing up to 12Kg;
- ferag.easychain, a largely maintenance-free continuous and seamless conveying system with an ultra-narrow curve radii, making it well suited to complex, 3D layouts.
- ferag.deniway, a plate chain conveyor with low-friction rollers for long conveying distances, offering smooth transfers with the minimum number of drive units, creating a low-power usage, sustainable solution;