U.S. Navy Stacker Crane Case Study

This application discusses the ASKARS project, which involved the modernization (retrofit) of two Naval Aviation Depot sites. The Navy's primary goal for the retrofits was to improve stacker crane performance and to increase storage capacity. The goal was met by replacing outdated controls and cranes with state-of-the-art equipment and software.

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AS/RS Automated Storage Retrieval

One of the AS/RS systems consists of a 3 - aisle Supreme mini-load AS/RS with conveyor and workstations, and a 1-aisle Munck unit-load stacker crane with conveyor and workstation. Instructions from the host computer system were sent to the stacker crane system and conveyor equipment controllers, which in turn directed the loads to the workstations and reported their completed function back to the host.

The host then sent a display to the workstation terminals. When the work is completed, the workstation operator reports the task as complete to the host, which instructs the system controller to return the container (pan) or pallet to its assigned stacker cranes.

The RETROTECH Advantage

RETROTECH employs state-of-the-art, non-proprietary designs in its upgrades to allow customers
complete self-sufficiency. By performing the upgrades “live,” so customer inconvenience and downtime is kept to a minimum.

	Both Naval Aviation Depots have the reliability, flexibility, and self-sufficiency to operate at high volume with minimal downtime.
	Because components are non-proprietary, parts are easily accessible “off-the-shelf.”
	Each site has the ability to support and maintain the upgrade independent of RETROTECH.
	The new stacker and conveyor PLCs enable quick diagnostics of all electrical devices used in the design.
	The graphical and user-friendly screens of the new PCs give operators the ability to complete transactions and diagnostics easily.
	Choosing RETROTECH’ s AS/RS Modernization approach allowed the Navy to improve stacker performance and increase storage capacity in the most cost-effective manner.