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A real-life case study
United Launch Alliance, Decatur, AL
Hänel is a reliable partner when it comes to optimizing storage processes
Formed in December 2006, United Launch Alliance (ULA) is a 50–50 joint venture owned by Lockheed Martin and The Boeing Company. ULA brings together two of the launch industry’s most experienced and successful teams – Atlas and Delta – to provide reliable, cost-efficient space launch services for the U.S. government.
Atlas and Delta expendable launch vehicles have supported America’s presence in space for more than 50 years, carrying a variety of payloads including weather, telecommunications and national security satellites that protect and improve life on Earth, as well as deep space and interplanetary exploration missions that further our knowledge of the universe.
Manufacturing, assembly and integration operations are carried out at their state-of-the-art production facility in Decatur, AL. In addition to the main facility where the massive rockets are assembled, ULA has nearby warehouse facilities that feed parts and supplies to the assembly process.
United Launch Alliance was storing all of their inventory on standard pallet racks, which were not ideal for the thousands of smaller components kept in inventory. ULA contacted their local Hänel Channel Partner, Business Systems and Consultants (BSC) of Birmingham, AL to help them get more organized, save space and be more productive when processing larger orders.
BSC recommended the Rotomat® Vertical Carousel from Hänel Storage Systems. The Rotomat® would allow ULA to take advantage of their full ceiling height, storing more inventory in a much smaller footprint. Since the inventory was consistent over time and most items were of a uniform size and shape, it was an ideal application for a vertical carousel.
Rotomats® could also be equipped with a variety of shelves, drawers, bins and dividers to accommodate a wide range of inventory items. Some items would be stored in their original packaging, while others would be placed into bins for easier access.
United Launch Alliance began with a bank of four Rotomat® Vertical Carousels. Using Hänel’s advanced, microprocessor-based controllers allowed the units to be seamlessly integrated into their existing warehouse management system (WMS). Orders can be efficiently processed across multiple machines for maximum productivity and time savings.
The success of the initial units convinced ULA to later expand with two additional Rotomat® units.
Pallet rack, Designed for larger, palletized items, was not ideal for storing small items
The Rotomat® can be outfi tted with a variety of shelves, dividers, drawers, bins, totes and other containers to accommodate all manner of shapes and sizes of inventory items
