Logistics that always Keep Up Kasto Technology Provides Aluminum Profiles Precisely on Point

Related Vendor

SIMTOS (Seoul International Machine Tool Show)

TIR Technologies from Kilsett near Strasbourg manufactures sun protection technology. Around 3,500 tons of profiles need to be handled efficiently each year. Kasto technology helps with that ...

Every year, tons of aluminum profiles up to 7.5 meters (approx. 24.6 feet)  in length pass through the halls of TIR Technologies. They also need to be picked. The French company has been manufacturing sun protection systems such as awnings, pergolas, blinds, and shutters for over 20 years. With 330 employees, TIR achieves an annual turnover of 110 million euros (approx. $118 million)—a remarkable size that poses high logistical demands. To specifically support production and leverage improvement potential, TIR Technologies has been relying on automated storage systems and industry-specific technology from Kasto since 2019. Two systems are currently in use, internally referred to as "Kasto 1" and "Kasto 2."

Two Honeycomb Storages Pay Off

Kasto 1 refers to a Unigrip honeycomb storage system with 1,200 storage locations. It reliably supplies the pergola assembly with the required profiles. In 2022, Kasto 2 followed as another automated honeycomb storage system of the same type. However, with 2,000 storage locations at a height of 13 meters, the system manages the aluminum profiles for awning production. The unique feature of Kasto 2 is its ability to handle a technically demanding task: on minimal space, it simultaneously manages two different cassette types with only one storage and retrieval machine (SRM). For TIR Technologies, the switch to automated honeycomb storage systems is clearly paying off. On the same floor space, the systems now store twice the amount of aluminum profiles because they shift the goods vertically, maximizing the available capacity. Each inbound and outbound movement is also automatically recorded. Labor-intensive lists and manual transports are a thing of the past, error sources are minimized, and staff are noticeably relieved, according to the French company’s experience. The profiles are stored dry, protected from wind and weather, and are always ready to be moved to the next production step.

No Insular Thinking

Kasto Showcases This on the Topic of Sawing, Storing, and Automating at the AMB

Precision Through Sensor Technology and Control

The entire system is controlled by the Warehouse Management Software Kastologic—essentially the brain of the storage facility. It coordinates storage and retrieval operations, optimizes travel paths, monitors material flow in real time, and ensures that production runs smoothly, safely, and quickly. This transforms efficient material handling into a genuine competitive advantage for TIR Technologies. However, adapting Kasto 2 to the project-specific requirements also required extensive development work in terms of mechanics and software. The storage and retrieval machine of the honeycomb system is designed to handle profiles six meters (approx. 19.7 feet) on one side and profiles 7.5 meters long in cassettes on the opposite side. A dual sensor system on the storage and retrieval device detects the type of cassette and its exact position. This information guarantees precise braking and secure handling of the load. Additionally, reference points and gripper travel cycles were adjusted to reliably map different pathways along the transport chain. Only through these mentioned adjustments was it possible to achieve this level of performance on the available floor space.