Space-Saving Sorting for Photo Products

Space-Saving Sorting for Photo Products: The CEWE Case Study

Space-saving sorting for photo products is what makes CEWE's order fulfilment work in Germering near Munich. Ferag AG installed a ferag.skysort line for CEWE Stiftung & Co. KGaA, Europe's leading photo service provider, inside an existing building with very limited space. The system is the first of its kind to fully exploit ferag.skysort's 3D capability: trays tilt to either side to empty, then flip upside down for the return stretch four metres up on the ceiling, before turning back to normal orientation as they approach the starting point. Alongside its compact footprint, the system's extremely quiet operation mattered just as much to CEWE — it spares the ears and nerves of employees working in the hall all shift long.

July 13, 2020

Project Challenge

Making the most of available space in an existing building
Optimizing the automatic sorting process
Handling a wide range of article sizes and shapes
Guaranteeing process safety
Maintaining an ergonomic working height

The ferag.skysort solution

Ferag routed the ferag.skysort tilt-tray sorter through all three dimensions to fit the line into CEWE’s existing building. Trays tilt sideways to release photo products at the correct point, then flip upside down for the return journey along the ceiling, four metres above the hall floor, before righting themselves again near the starting point. This 3D routing meant Ferag could add sorting capacity without extending the building itself, while the system’s low-noise operation kept the working environment comfortable for staff nearby.

Results

CEWE now runs a ferag.skysort line that sorts personalized photo products reliably inside a building that was never designed for it. The compact, 3D-routed layout freed up space that a conventional flat conveyor could never have used, and the quiet operation protects staff working close to the line throughout their shifts. The same space-saving sorting for photo products approach adapts just as well to other retrofit projects with tight floor space.