Are you ready to see JAX-XL retrieve materials for a lumberyard the way JAX retrieves lumber for a truss plant? In our BCMC booth, you’ll be able to track the movement of lumber and sheet goods from bunks to staging areas live on a monitor via 3D digital twin technology, all without manual labor or forklift handling. You’ll also see the compact footprint of 180 SKUs via a 3D scale model. Moreover, you’ll learn about the next iteration of JAX’s proven technology in Roxie, the future of I-joist cutting optimization and retrieval. JAX, JAX-XL, and Roxie consolidate inventories into a considerably smaller space and reduce most spoilage.
Both JAX-XL and Roxie use a lengthened version of JAX’s overhead gantry, picking from a 2D arrangement of inventory rather than JAX’s linear arrangement. Beneath the proven mechanical functionality of these systems lies sophisticated inventory management software developed by Q4US.
Both innovations were the result of our dozens of visits to lumber and EWP yards, walking through the large acreage devoted to outside storage yards. We watched large forklifts navigating through a maze of material stacks, only to pick a handful of sticks. Adjacent to most stacks was a broken bundle that was unbanded, with loose material exposed to the elements. We also watched lift operators unstack materials by hand, lift individual pieces onto forks, re-band picked pieces, and return through the maze to a flatbed delivery truck.
By relocating all partial bunks to a covered building, JAX-XL can pick from 180 SKUs of sticks or sheet goods, without manual labor, risk of injury, or forklift expense, resulting in considerably reduced inventory shrink. The JAX-XL open-sided enclosure occupies a maximum footprint of 30,000 sq ft and can be tailored to specific requirements. [For all images, See PDF or View in Full Issue.]
Our BCMC model has 31 bays, each containing multiple SKUs, that are accessed by two overhead gantries with end-of-arm tools that automatically traverse along the gantries to the desired bunk location. Each bunk is contained in a cradle that can be accessed from beneath with an automated guided vehicle (AGV). When the cradle for a given SKU is emptied, the JAX-XL gantry removes it overhead, while the AGV moves bunks sequentially to fill the empty space, thereby opening space on the perimeter of the enclosure that can be filled when the AGV delivers a preloaded cradle.
JAX-XL software optimizes the picking process to minimize gantry movements and deliver materials in a sequence that facilitates creation of pyramid-shaped stacks. Also included with JAX-XL is the real-time inventory management system proven by JAX to keep track of stockage levels and report usage to accounting software.
We look forward to meeting you at BCMC and demonstrating the JAX-inspired material handling automation for moving lumber, sheet goods, and I-joists. To see the JAX hardware in operation, please plan to visit our plant near SBCA’s Open Quarterly Meeting on December 8–10 in Charlotte, NC.