Automated warehouses use an AS/RS to place pallets on high racking instead of forklifts and wide aisles. In return, the building must be taller, the structure must carry the racking load, floor tolerances are much tighter than in a regular warehouse, and fire protection cost rises with height, not with floor area.
CGD handles the construction works around the equipment: structure, floor slab, building envelope, MEP, fire protection and master layout. The equipment supplier handles the mechanical and software parts. Our job is to bring the two into a single set of documents, so the owner does not have to modify the building after the equipment is finalized.
Scope of work
- Option comparison: regular racking and AS/RS at several height levels, brought to the same basis of comparison
- Itemize the construction costs incurred by automation: structure, floor slab, building envelope and fire protection by height
- Cross-check operating costs: the number of forklifts and workers that can be replaced, calculated over the operating life cycle
- Footprint and pallet capacity of each configuration
- Structure designed for racking loads and loading equipment loads; floor tolerances to supplier requirements
- MEP, water supply and drainage, and fire protection for high-bay warehouses
- Layout of inbound, outbound and buffer areas and vehicle routes within the master layout
Why choose CGD for this work
- A comparison table of investment performance has been prepared for regular racking and five AS/RS configurations at heights from 11.5 m to 23 m, covering both construction and operation.
- Structure, MEP, water supply and drainage, and fire protection each have lead engineers in-house.
- We work with Aubot — the warehouse automation unit of CF Group — so we understand the real constraints of the equipment, not just the catalog.
Projects delivered
New service, not yet linked to any project in the public portfolio.
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Related articles
- AS/RS warehouse: six interfaces between building and machine to lock down before signing the equipment purchase
- AGV, AMR or AS/RS: which step should businesses automate first?
Frequently asked questions
Does CGD also supply AS/RS equipment?
No. CGD is a construction consultancy and does not sell equipment. We design the building and infrastructure around the equipment, and help owners compare suppliers' proposals on the same calculation framework.
At what height does it make sense to automate a warehouse?
There is no universal threshold. It depends on land cost, labor cost, throughput and number of shifts. That is why the first step should be an option comparison table, not drawings.
Has CGD completed an automated warehouse project?
Not yet. What we have done are investment option comparison documents and designs for large-scale regular warehouses. We state this clearly so that owners can evaluate us accurately.
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