Geek+ completes PopPick rollout at MISUMI's western Japan distribution centre
MISUMI’s eastern and western Japan facilities now have a combined 149 robots, 15 stations and 801 shelving units.
Geek+ has completed installation of its PopPick system at MISUMI’s West Japan Distribution Center in Kawanishi, Hyogo prefecture. Together with MISUMI’s established East Japan deployment, the two sites now have 149 robots, 15 workstations and 801 shelving units.
MISUMI moved the western centre from Sanda to Kawanishi, expanding its floor area by 7.5 times. The distributor handles machine components, tools and consumables with widely varying shapes and sizes, using the expanded facility to support short delivery windows and changes in product mix and shipment volumes.
PopPick brings stored goods to workers at fixed picking stations. Mobile robots transport shelving, and the stations present the required containers within reach. The configuration reduces warehouse walking and manual reaching while allowing different products to move through a common container-handling system.
Geek+ reports approximately twice the previous productivity and storage efficiency at MISUMI’s East Japan operation. MISUMI standardised work procedures, shortened on-the-job training and refined the system using worker feedback. The western deployment incorporates those procedures and operational improvements, with Geek+ providing robot installation and technical support.
MISUMI plans further improvements to receiving and stocktaking alongside picking, followed by automation of adjacent processes. It also intends to apply lessons across its eastern, western and central Japanese distribution operations.