Renault worldwide opts for APC warehousing system

DOWNTIME IN the automotive assembly line is a costly affair, which is why French manufacturer Renault has opted to install an automated warehousing solution from South Africanbased APC Storage Solutions in all it factories around the globe. “There is continual demand for small parts and spare parts from production,” explains warehouse operations manager, Juan Cruz. “The assembly and mechanisation lines cannot be halted, and errors or glitches in the distribution of parts cannot be allowed. The car engine production process must flow smoothly.” Renault’s largest plant in Valladolid, Spain, produces the engines for all the European plants, and commissioned an APC/ Mecalux SA miniload system in 2006 to handle the more than 38 000 references in the complex. The miniload system is a fully automated smart system of storage and retrieval. “Currently, the system controls about 3000 boxes with an average of nine references per box. The plant still has capacity enough for over 7000 boxes,” says Cruz “We aim to gain around 50% more space using the miniload,” says Cruz. “The main reason for going with the miniload was for safety reasons, where many parts are stored in very tight spaces, which put a strain on the racking. In the past, operators couldn’t reach the upper spaces to extract parts, which placed them in situations of danger.”