Lotte Aluminium USA LLC issued a final acceptance certificate (FAC) for the high-bay store installed at its new foil production facility in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. The facility is dedicated to producing aluminum cathode foils, which will be integral to manufacturing lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles. For Lotte Aluminium, the innovative high-bay store is a milestone in terms of both coil logistics and process digitalization.
The new high-bay warehouse, supplied by AMOVA, a brand of SMS group, is a cornerstone of Lotte’s operations. With the capacity to store 500 coils or up to 6,000 tons of material, the warehouse features two stacker cranes that operate in a single aisle. This system provides direct access to each product, minimizing unnecessary movements and enhancing efficiency by reducing handling by 30 to 60%. The integrated coil transport systems connect all handling activities and are backed by advanced automation equipment and a proprietary warehouse management system.
AMOVA’s warehouse management software plays a pivotal role in optimizing operations. It offers precise material tracking and real-time location updates to ensure that no product is lost and that operational efficiency is maximized. Seamlessly integrated with SMS’s manufacturing execution suite (MES) and quality execution suite (QES), it further enhances quality control and customization throughout the plant.
The high-bay warehouse technology, in particular the automated high-bay stores, offers significant advantages over manual transport systems. Automated logistics systems are designed to handle the transport and storage of materials more efficiently and with less damage. This is especially important for highly sensitive materials that require careful handling.