Noble launches automated robotic store

Plumbing and HVAC supplier Noble has implemented AutoStore, a fully automated warehouse solution operated by autonomous robots that will redefine inventory management and order processing operations. The automated system was developed and installed at Noble’s Concord, ON, location by Dematic, a global supplier or integrated automated technology, software, and services. AutoStore is a picking and fulfillment system designed to maximize warehouse space and minimize inefficiencies through automated robots programmed to collect orders from thousands of storage bins. "Driven by our 30-year commitment to helping our customers succeed, AutoStore is faster, more accurate, and will help us offer a wider range of products to the trades," says Jim Anderson, general manager at Noble. "The volume of products you can stock in a small footprint with AutoStore far exceeds anything else on the market. In our case, we can fit 21,000 SKUs in less than 5,000 square feet, dramatically impacting the amount of inventory our teammates can quickly supply to our clients." With the introduction of Noble's new eCommerce platform later this year, AutoStore will make the picking and fulfillment process even more straightforward. Furthermore, the AutoStore grid can be easily increased and gradually filled with more bins and extra robots as SKU and storage needs grow, all with minimal impact on business operations and the environment.