Management + Systems

Apex has further enhanced its range of ACTYLUS™ smart bin systems with the introduction of two new models – ACTYLUS 8100 and 8200 – which take advantage of automated replenishment to ensure supplies of vital production items never run out.

Apex Supply Chain Technologies® Ltd says its ACTYLUS smart bin systems play a vital role in automating Kanban and vendor managed inventory processes – helping to eliminate the need for labour intensive manual bin scanning, which is known for being inefficient, wasteful and expensive – while virtually eliminating stock-outs and rush shipments of components.

The devices are compact at 37cm, one shelf, and 56cm, two shelves. They are ideal for use in both bench top and wall mounted applications, including assembly cells and individual workstations.

The 8100 and 8200 models offer even greater flexibility, increasing the impact smart bins are already having on inventory replenishment processes. With every inch of floor space being scrutinised as part of continuous improvement programmes, the two new models take the smart bin system’s already space saving footprint to the next level. Either model can be used with an optional riser or wall mount that raises the bins off the work surface conserving bench top workspace.

With these new models, customers and suppliers alike will enjoy all benefits associated with ACTYLUS smart bin systems, including automatic low level alerts; elimination of stock-outs; increased productivity; more efficient supplier relationships; freeing up of staff to focus on value adding activity rather than manual bin counts; optimised cashflow; flexible configurations; ease of set-up and use; and real time inventory visibility via the Apex Trajectory Cloud Platform™ – a secure analytics and inventory replenishment platform that consolidates smart bin data in real time to give distributors and their customers 24/7 visibility of inventory. Stock levels can also be checked and managed online, anytime and anywhere, from a smartphone, tablet or computer.

“ACTYLUS brings several point of work benefits to a company’s operations. Deploying ACTYLUS in individual workstations negates the need for workers to go and search for spares from remote store areas and frees up even more valuable floor space. When it is remembered that ACTYLUS smart bins are handling inventory often considered as part of unmanageable tail spend – the 20% of purchases seen as not delivering value to a company – the impact on efficiency and productivity is considerable,” explains Julian Adams, managing director at Apex Supply Chain Technologies Ltd.