Warehouse Automation and Integration: Amada
With more than £3 million of inventory, including parts, consumables and heavy-duty tooling on site – and growing – global sheet-metal specialist, Amada, needed to introduce warehouse automation – improving space usage, boosting traceability, and enabling rapid access to critical spares across multiple facilities.
As part of a broader strategy for expansion, Amada’s goal was to modernise and futureproof operations while gaining real-time control of all inventory – regardless of where it was stored. Watch the full video case-study, below.
From Manual Picking to Automated Efficiency
Warehouse Automation and Traditional Racking:
To achieve this, Amada partnered with Industore Limited, who worked closely with their warehouse automation and transformation team to understand their current constraints and longer-term ambitions. After detailed analysis and planning, Industore specified and installed two fully integrated Lean-Lifts – high-density vertical lift modules (VLMs) – supported by HänelSoft®, our proprietary inventory management system (similar to warehouse management software (WMS)). This powerful combination now manages all of Amada’s stock, whether inside the lifts or across conventional racking and/or multiple buildings on site. The result is faster picking, near-perfect accuracy, improved safety and ergonomics – and full visibility across Amada’s entire inventory, allowing better decision-making processes as the company continues to expand, and improve decision-making.
From Manual Picking to Automated Efficiency
The first Lean-Lift VLM was installed back in 2014, replacing a legacy mezzanine system that had long been a bottleneck. As Chris Williams, Senior Dispatch Administrator at Amada UK explains:
“We were going up and down stairs to pick parts – it wasn’t as safe as we wanted to be, nor as efficient as we needed it to be. By comparison, the first Lean-Lift alone allowed us to take out the mezzanine entirely, because all the stock originally stored on it could now be housed inside the lift. More than that, everything became more accurate, quicker, and completely traceable.”
Total control through HanelSoft – our proprietary inventory management system
The backbone of the warehouse automation and transformation project is HänelSoft® – an intelligent type of warehouse management software (WMS) that manages inventory across both automated and static storage locations – even those in adjacent buildings. Steve Anderson-Tyso, Senior Sales Manager at Industore and Amada Project Manager explains:
“Using handheld scanners, our MP14 smart units, and workstation terminals, the team pick up their jobs – whether that’s pick or replenish. This shows locations, improving activity speed, and tracking movement instantly. Because the interface is consistent across all devices, there’s little-to-no learning curve – down to the intuitive design. During peak periods, staff can be redeployed into warehousing roles, with any training completed in minutes.”
Accuracy, Safety and Scalability: HanelSoft, Hanel’s Inventory Control System
With pick-to-light technology guiding operators to the correct tray and scan verification eliminating errors, Amada has drastically improved both speed and accuracy. Chris Williams, again:
“You follow the red light to pick or replenish inventory. If someone does, somehow pick the wrong item – which feels nearly impossible – the system flags it as incorrect when it’s scanned, prompting the picker to double-check. I’d say our accuracy is pretty much 100% now.”
Ergonomics have also improved significantly. Heavy tooling is delivered at safe, waist-level height, reducing strain and removing the need for ladders or lifting, which are both riskier in terms of Health and Safety, as well as slower. With fewer manual handling risks, there is less opportunity for inventory loss or shrinkage.
Service, Reliability and Long-Term Partnership with Industore:
Amada’s confidence in Industore’s warehouse automation project has only strengthened over time, as Chris Williams concludes:
“We didn’t even consider other suppliers when it came to buying the second lift. The first’s reliability and performance has been outstanding, and Industore’s support is first-class.
Our local engineer is just 15 minutes away, and with a nationwide team in the background, and no overseas lead times – we know Industore can always be relied on. The annual service gives us total peace of mind – we’ve had clean reports year on year. More than that, Industore knows us, and so does our local engineer. It’s a real partnership with Industore. They’re friendly, responsive and experts in their field. I’d recommend Industore, and their products without hesitation.”
Your Warehouse Automation Project
Whether you’re storing heavy tooling, high-value components, or fast-moving consumables, Industore’s warehouse automation solutions combine vertical lift modules (VLMs) with smart, scalable inventory and warehouse management software (WMS) to deliver visibility, speed, safety and space optimisation.
Already have your own ERP or WMS? We’ll integrate. Prefer a fully Industore-managed system? No problem – just like Amada, Industore can provide you with full traceability and control across all locations, whether VLM or traditional storage – and boost your space optimisation while you’re at it.
Book a visit to one of our UK or Ireland demo centres – or explore our client sites in operation.
