Automated intermediate picking warehouses for frozen food

An end customer active in frozen food storage and distribution

The equipment had to operate reliably at temperatures down to -25°C. The available space inside the building was extremely limited, requiring optimal use of every centimetre. The existing floor structure could not support the full weight of the products and machinery.

Additional challenges included:

• Handling pallets weighing up to 1,250 kg in one of the warehouses.
• Achieving high operating speeds to meet the required throughput.
• Maintaining production during installation and maintenance periods .
• Loading pallets at a height of only 500 mm.
• Providing storage depths of up to 1.5 meters.

Motus Handling developed crane systems and associated equipment that operate reliably in a frozen environment, using components and materials suitable for low temperatures.

Key elements of the solution:

• Layout optimized to maximize storage capacity by positioning the installations as close as possible to the building structure while remaining within strict tolerances.
• An additional steel support structure installed beneath the system to compensate for the floor's limited load-bearing capacity.
• Two cranes installed where necessary to achieve the required capacity and reliability.
• Cranes operating at speeds of up to 120 m/min.
• A large portion of the installation recessed into the floor to allow pallet loading at only 500 mm height.
• Telescopic forks used to accurately reach the required storage depth.

The delivered crane systems and associated equipment provide:

• Faster handling
• More reliable operations
• Food-safe handling within the customer's automated storage zones

The solution satisfies both the operational requirements and the building's physical constraints.

This project demonstrates Motus Handling's ability to solve complex automation challenges where standard crane solutions are insufficient.