Phoenix Contact Goes Live with viastore systems' Automated Storage/Retrieval System (AS/RS) for Its New Automated Distribution Center in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Feb. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- viastore systems, a leading automated material handling provider, went live in September with a new Automated Storage/Retrieval System (AS/RS) for Phoenix Contact's new state-of-the-art Distribution Center in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. viastore systems manufactured and installed a four aisle mini-load AS/RS using its viaspeed line of mini-load Storage/Retrieval machines.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090210/DE69027LOGO-b )

The four aisle AS/RS stores approximately 44,000 totes of product, weighing up to 66 lb. each. In addition, viastore systems provided a conveyor system including vertical sequence buffers feeding workstations for picking and packing customer orders and an automatic robotic combination tote depalletizer/palletizer.

The controls for the system included the PLC controls for the conveyor, two Phoenix Contact Industrial PC (IPC) controls for the S/R machines, the viad@t MFC and the WMS software packages. The system is designed to handle 1,200 totes in and out of the AS/RS per hour and in excess of 3,000 order lines per day.

The new 51,200 square foot automated distribution center is located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The new facility was built to support the distribution of electrical products well into the future as the building is already large enough to add storage capacity for an additional 88,000 totes in eight additional aisles of AS/RS.

"Thanks to viastore's software solutions, the proven design and performance of their S/R machines, and their integration capabilities, Phoenix Contact's new automated Distribution Center can better serve the growing demand from our customers in North and South America -- now and for years to come," said Phoenix Contact Director of Logistics Lou Paioletti.

viastore systems, Inc. - viastore systems is a leading manufacturer of Automated Storage Retrieval Systems (AS/RS), Conveyor Systems and WMS Software Solutions. Located in Grand Rapids, MI viastore systems, Inc. works closely with each client to develop full material handling system solutions utilizing one or many of our expanded capabilities: AS/RS manufacture and integration, conveyor system design, control system design and upgrade, custom software design, robotic systems, retrofits and refurbishments, and custom design and manufacture of special equipment.

Phoenix Contact is a world leader in the manufacture and distribution of electrical connection, electronic interface and industrial automation technologies.

The complete installation summary (with pictures) is available at Phoenix Contact Installation Summary.

For more information visit our website at www.us.viastore.com or contact info.us@viastore.com.

Contact: Amanda Bongard, 616-977-3950