Increased Storage Capacity And An Interface To ERP Systems

Tower is a fully automatic, modular and secure storage system for 7 and 13 inch SMD component reels or trays. It reduces logistics cost because it can be installed close to the pick and place machines. As such, machine operators can store components and retrieve from stock just where they are needed. At the upcoming productronica exhibition in Munich Essemtec will present a new type, the Tower XL.

The Tower-XL can store a maximum of 336 reels with 13“ diameter, where the conventional Tower can only store 196. The footprint of the Tower-XL is 12 cm (4.7“) wider, which offers the additional room for larger reel storage cassettes. In total, the new Tower can store 406 trays and reels (7 and 13“). When storing a reel, the Tower controls reel diameter and barcode. The access time for each reel is below 12 seconds.

The Tower system is delivered with a stock management software that can control multiple towers. With one mouse click, it can dump all components for a machine from the tower, which results in multiple hours less setup-time compared with conventional storage methods. The software includes, beside others, modules for job planning and tracking of MSL classified components.

The Tower Software supports Remote Orders Protocol, an interface that allows exchange of stock and job data with ERP systems and pick and place machines. The interface is text-based and therefore easy to implement and to adapt.

Be the first to see the Tower XL with ERP interface and visit Essemtec at the upcoming productronica 2011 exhibition in Munich, Germany, in hall A3, booth 358.