Twin-Tower, Four-Aisle Automated Metal Plate Storage and Side-Discharge System

In the demanding world of sheet metal fabrication, raw material handling is a critical bottleneck. The chaos of mixed plates, the labor-intensive loading and unloading, and the constant safety concerns can cripple productivity and profitability. The solution lies in smart automation. We are proud to introduce our flagship Twin-tower, four-row automated metal plate storage side-discharge silo and double-beam robotic arm – a revolutionary material handling system engineered to transform your workshop into a seamless, high-throughput, and safe operation.

This system represents the pinnacle of intelligent warehousing for sheet metal. Comprising two robust storage towers, each serviced by four independent aisles, it offers unparalleled storage density and access speed. The core innovation is its sophisticated side-discharge mechanism. Unlike traditional systems that require front-facing access, our silo design allows plates to be fed and retrieved from the side. This is made possible by the precision-engineered dual-beam manipulator, a robotic crane that operates on twin overhead beams for exceptional stability and lifting capacity. This configuration is officially termed the Twin-Tower, Four-Aisle Metal Plate Storage and Side-Discharge Rack System with Dual-Beam Manipulator.

Why Side-Discharge is a Game-Changer
The Side-Discharge AS/RS for Metal Plates with Dual-Beam Crane (Twin-Tower, 4 Aisles) fundamentally optimizes workflow. It enables direct and efficient integration with downstream equipment like laser cutters, press brakes, and automated production lines. The side-discharge design minimizes the system’s footprint within the material flow path, allowing for a more logical, linear, and uninterrupted production sequence. The double-beam manipulator ensures that even the heaviest and largest plates are handled with gentle precision, eliminating edge damage and ensuring perfect positioning every time.

System Architecture and Workflow
The Double-tower four-row metal plate storage rack – side discharge – dual-beam manipulator operates under centralized computer control. The process begins at the loading station, where a forklift places a sheet metal stack onto a positioning table. The system scans and records the plate’s dimensions, thickness, and material grade. The intelligent Warehouse Management System (WMS) then directs the dual-beam crane to transport the stack into a pre-assigned storage location within one of the four aisles of a tower.

When the production schedule demands a specific plate, the system springs into action. The WMS communicates with the factory’s MES (Manufacturing Execution System), retrieves the exact coordinates of the required material, and dispatches the robotic crane. The dual-beam arm securely extracts the plate from its rack and delivers it via the side-discharge port directly to the waiting machine’s bed or a transfer shuttle. This entire process is executed without human intervention, 24/7 if required.

Tangible Benefits for Your Business

• Maximized Space Utilization: By leveraging vertical height with a multi-tiered, compact twin-tower design, this system dramatically increases storage capacity per square meter of factory floor space.

• Drastic Labor Cost Reduction: Eliminates the need for multiple operators for searching, loading, and transporting plates. One operator can manage the entire inventory from a control panel.

• Enhanced Safety: Removes personnel from the dangerous areas of heavy plate handling, forklift traffic, and machine loading zones.

• Guaranteed Precision & Traceability: Automated handling prevents misidentification and mixed batches. Every plate is tracked digitally, ensuring full lot traceability and eliminating costly material errors.

• Optimized Machine Utilization: By ensuring the right material is delivered to the right machine just-in-time, it drastically reduces laser cutter or punch press idle time, boosting overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).

Ideal for medium to large-scale fabricators handling diverse plate inventories, our Twin-Tower system is more than storage—it’s the intelligent logistical backbone for the smart, unattended factory of today. Contact us to explore how this automated powerhouse can be configured to unlock new levels of efficiency in your metal processing workflow.