News

Gordon Food Service Canada selects viastore for automation solution

30.09.2014

Automated cold storage warehouse in Alberta, Canada to use automated storage and retrieval for goods to person picking

viastore systems, a leading material handling automation systems and software company, has been selected by Gordon Food Service (GFS), North America's largest family-owned broadline foodservice distributor, to install an automated storage and retrieval solution for the company’s new warehouse in Balzac, Alberta, Canada (near Calgary).

viastore is providing a complete system for the new facility, with the focal point being a 3 aisle mini-load automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS), which will allow GFS to integrate product storage and picking. viastore will also supply the conveyor, equipment controls and systems integration.

The mini-load AS/RS system is actually 3, 1 aisle systems that will operate independently in the grocery and frozen storage areas of the facility. The AS/RS will allow workers in the facility to pick orders from forward pick locations fed by the AS/RS, with the AS/RS automatically replenishing items. Slower moving products will also work through the AS/RS, using dynamic pick shelves.

"We are most excited to become the first Gordon Food Service facility in North America to implement the viastore box buffer AS/RS. We are confident it will benefit our customers, staff and the company thru greater efficiency and accuracy," said David Barber, President of Gordon Food Service, Calgary Division. "Another major benefit of this system is that it will allow for optimum utilization of warehouse capacity."