Crown Equipment’s new QuickPick Remote Advance system has the potential to redefine the way order pickers do their job
August 30, 2011
Crown Equipment’s new QuickPick Remote Advance system has the potential to redefine the way order pickers do their job.
Available on the Crown PC 4500 Series centre console rider pallet trucks, QuickPick Remote Advance allows operators to remotely advance the truck to the next picking point without having to climb back on to the truck or walk along beside it.
“We have literally put the power to move the truck remotely in the hands of the operator thanks to a special glove that has a remote control fitted for controlling the truck’s movement,” says Crown Australia General Manager Marketing Craig Kenchington.
The QuickPick Remote Advance system uses task automating technologies to simplify workflow and improve the picking process, thereby increasing productivity and reducing operator fatigue.
Order selectors simply press a button on a wireless transceiver glove to remotely advance the truck to the next pick location, virtually eliminating the need to return to the operator’s compartment while picking.
The technology consists of a wireless transceiver module that snaps into a holder on the back of the operator’s glove.
“Crown’s QuickPick Remote Advance is the first system of its kind,” says Crown Product Manager Rod Squires.
“It increases productivity by allowing operators to maintain consistent rhythm and pace, making the most of every second in the picking process.”
Utilising lasers, the QuickPick Remote Advance automatically applies the brakes if
an obstacle is detected in the path of a truck.
The lasers can also detect proximity to racks, enabling the system to utilise Crown’s Access 1 2 3® Comprehensive System Control to initiate minor corrections to the travel path to keep the truck moving down the centre of the aisle.
The “glove” module also includes horn and brake buttons for added safety and control.
According to Kenchington, there is a significant reduction in the strain usually associated with low level order picking.
“Our extensive field studies show that this technology helps reduce the number of steps order selectors take on and off the platform by up to 70 percent, as well as reducing the number of steps in the picking process which lowers operator fatigue,” he says.
Customers can choose between two different wireless remotes: a transceiver glove or transceiver trigger.
Both remotes feature a conveniently-located, thumb-actuated button that operators press to advance the truck to the next pick slot.
Crown believes that there is significant opportunity for our customers to leverage new task automating technologies that heighten the performance of their operators and forklift fleet.
“The wireless technology at the heart of the QuickPick Remote Advance system operates independently of warehouse networks, which means it is easy to set up and does not consume valuable bandwidth or require costly IT investments,” Kenchington says.