Layer Picker®

For operations that need to de-palletize pallets into single cases or produce mixed layer pallets through pallet-to-pallet picking, the Körber Layer Picker is considered by many as the go-to solution.

Warehouses and distribution centers face a range of challenges when it comes to layer picking:

• The more items that need to be picked, the greater the operational demands
• Fast-changing SKU profiles leading to complex layer and case picking
• Space requirements due to increased picking activities
• Recruiting manual labor for picking
• Providing ergonomic working practices
• Increasing cost of damaged products
• Picking errors in the manual picking process

Improve your product picking performance

Layer picker technology - A unique automated solution for de-palletizing and pallet-to-pallet handling

Using the unique, patented combination of suction and clamping techniques, our innovative Layer Picker can pick up to 98% of all product types in food retail. With more than 700 installed worldwide, Körber Layer Pickers are helping customers meet the growing challenges of picking goods today, whether that is in a food retail distribution center, a 3PL operator’s premises or at an FMCG warehouse.

The Körber Layer Picker is designed to eliminate manual picking, increase warehouse efficiency and drive down labor costs. It meets the demands of highly dynamic industries such as the food retail sector, where the requirements for efficient and reliable logistics processes are constantly increasing. Complex order structures, high volume throughput and increasing demand for faster delivery require flexible handling of a high variety of articles.

When it comes to deployment, it can be installed in freezer warehouses, delivering the same level of picking automation as in the ambient environment. It contributes significantly to increased efficiency and lowered costs in freezer warehouses, compared to manual labor.

It can be integrated into many types of warehouse management systems (WMS) and warehouse control systems (WCS). It can also be delivered as a standalone solution, complete with its own WCS to facilitate order execution, pallet replenishment and full traceability through the WMS.

Having the Körber Layer Picker installed on 3 sites gives Kuehne + Nagel a very flexible setup and has meant a lot of rationalization in the competitive 3PL market. Without the added value from the Layer Picker, this would not have been possible.

John Pelzer,

Technical Manager, Kuehne + Nagel

More often than not, products are distributed in single cases rather than in full pallet and full layer quantities, especially in the retail industry. That’s why we’ve designed our Layer Picker and downstream equipment to fully automate the delivery of high volumes of products, from pallets to single cases, onto a system tray.

With our Layer Picker Robot, Hoist and Gantry, we have a solution for almost every application. We can also tailor our modular solutions to your business requirements, adding downstream equipment components, such as the Stripper Plate (to remove slip sheets between layers), Descrambler (to split layers into single cases), Box Turner (to orientate cases), and Tray Loader (to load cases onto system trays).

Our range of turnkey solutions and in-depth knowledge means we can help you manage the entire process to deliver single cases on system trays, using the Layer Picker with complete downstream equipment.

Key benefits

Our Layer Picker can handle up to 98% of all product types in the food retail sector, using the same head to simplify your warehouse operations.

With more than 600 Layer Picker units working worldwide, the technology has proven its worth.

It’s versatile, and operates in temperatures ranging from −28°C to +40°C (−19°F to +104°F).

Our 20 years of experience, and continuous innovation, led us to an in-depth understanding of the complex automated layer picking and pallet-to-tray process. Try our products for yourself – visit our showroom today.

KPIs

The Körber offer

[Layer Picker Hoist](/content/supply-chain-solutions/supply-chain-material-handling/layer-pickers/-hoist "Layer Picker Hoist"/index.html)

The Körber Layer Picker Hoist provides efficient de-palletizing operation with a very small footprint. It operates by hoisting source pallets to the Layer Picker head at the mezzanine level.

[Layer Picker Gantry](/content/supply-chain-solutions/supply-chain-material-handling/layer-pickers/layer-pickerr-gantry "Layer Picker Gantry"/index.html)

The Körber Layer Picker Gantry is primarily used for pallet-to-pallet handling. It allows a large number of source pallets to be available for picking at the same time.

[Layer Picker Robot](/content/supply-chain-solutions/supply-chain-material-handling/layer-pickers/layer-pickerr-robot "Layer Picker Robot"/index.html)

The Körber Layer Picker Robot is equally well suited for pallet-to-descrambling and pallet-to-pallet picking – or a combination of both. It is efficient and flexible, and suits many logistics solutions.

[Layer Picker AMR](/content/supply-chain-solutions/supply-chain-automation-solutions/layer-picker-systems/layer-picker-amr " Layer Picker AMR"/index.html)

A flexible and high-performing turnkey solution for fully automated layer picking.

Layer picking in use

[Layer picking in a 3PL warehouse](/content/resources/g-h/layer-picking-in-a-3pl-warehouse "Layer picking in a 3PL warehouse"/index.html)

Layer picking in a 3PL warehouse

Kuehne + Nagel invests in Körber automation equipment to achieve intelligent material flow control in distribution centers

The company implemented Körber’s groundbreaking automated layer picking equipment at their distribution centers in Raamsdonksveer and Veghel, which led to an “Oscar” for best European distribution platform from the French magazine Le journal de la logistique.