Automated warehouse even for the smallest parts

The construction of trailers, semi-trailers, BE trailers, cargo boxes and ram carriers requires a lot of large and small parts. A&C Noyens has an extensive parts warehouse for its own assembly, but also for professionals and do-it-yourselfers. The Noyens brothers recently invested in an automated warehouse type Hänel Lean-Lift® for the efficient storage of small components. They turned to DDD Technics for the engineering, assembly, commissioning and aftercare of this installation.

Anyone looking for a custom trailer, semi-trailer or truck has come to the right place at A&C Noyens in Olen. The company was founded in 1998 by Frans Noyens and his wife Rita Wens, and is today led in the second generation by sons Hans, Sven and Jan. The industrial vehicles are realized entirely in-house: design and engineering, production, finishing, delivery and after-service. 

"We develop and build two-, three- and four-axle trailers, as well as trailers for transporting containers, for internal transport at industrial sites or for coupling to agricultural vehicles, even custom-made market and promotional trailers (Promostreamer®)," says Jan Noyens. "Furthermore, customers can come to us for the most diverse trailers: closed, with sliding tarpaulin or with opening side walls, crane trailers, city and racing trailers, refrigerated trailers.... We have also been known for years for our custom-built trucks with open load floors, curtainsiders or closed bodies, as well as refrigerated trucks, tippers, medical examination trucks, mobile workshops, animal transport vehicles or glass transports.... Finally, BE trailers, mobile stages, roadshow trucks, promotional trucks and tourist trains are also among the possibilities."

Thorough comparison

At Noyens, they don't shy away from any challenge. So they are not only responsible for the construction of new vehicles, but also for repairs. For this, the family business naturally has an extensive stock of large parts and small components. Moreover, this warehouse is a store, where professionals and do-it-yourselfers can find parts. The larger parts are stored in racks, but due to the wide range of smaller components, the warehouse space proved too small. That's why the brothers went looking for a solution to compactly store those pieces, among other things, during Matexpo. They were impressed by automated warehouse towers and, after thoroughly comparing the options, opted for the Hänel Lean-Lift®, distributed by DDD Technics.

"Thanks to this platform lift system, all parts can be stored in an orderly manner. After input via the intuitive touchscreen, the retrieved items are automatically brought to the work opening within seconds, where they can be taken out at an ergonomic height," explains Marc Mertens, technical sales representative at DDD Technics. "The Hänel Lean-Lift® central in the Noyens warehouse has 41 shelves. It is 2460 mm wide, 825 mm deep and 6000 mm high."

Increased efficiency

The platform elevator was assembled some three months ago, and today the final touches are being made to lay out the platforms and integrate the parts and components. 

"We are very satisfied with our investment. We save a lot of warehouse space because everything is stacked in this compact tower. Moreover, we can quickly and efficiently retrieve all components, which saves us a lot of time," Jan Noyens concludes. "In case of questions, we contact the DDD Technics team and are immediately helped remotely or on site. In the future, we want to link this Hänel Lean-Lift® to our ERP software, which will further optimize the operation of our warehouse."