{"id":41554,"date":"2021-04-20T13:00:45","date_gmt":"2021-04-20T11:00:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.expo21xx.com\/news\/?p=41554"},"modified":"2021-04-10T14:59:51","modified_gmt":"2021-04-10T12:59:51","slug":"swisslog-supply-chain-automation-vertical-farming-reduce-costs-increase-scalability-promote-sustainability","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.expo21xx.com\/news\/swisslog-supply-chain-automation-vertical-farming-reduce-costs-increase-scalability-promote-sustainability\/","title":{"rendered":"Swisslog brings supply chain automation to vertical farming to reduce costs, increase scalability and promote sustainability"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Photo by Swisslog Holding AG<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAt Swisslog, we are continually researching and exploring applications where our automation technology could improve efficiencies, drive industries forward and contribute to our society,\u201d said Dr. Christian Baur, CEO of Swisslog. \u201cBy bringing automation technology to vertical farming, we can help strengthen the food supply chain, transform abandoned urban buildings into growing facilities, contribute to reductions in pollution and, most importantly, eliminate food deserts.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The broad portfolio of Swisslog automation solutions provides enormous flexibility in customizing systems and configurations based on the strategy, growing process, crop type and space availability of\u00a0 the vertical farming operation. For instance, one approach could use a shuttle system with a modular design, such as\u00a0Swisslog\u2019s PowerStore high density shuttle system.\u00a0<\/a>In this possible installation, automated shuttles would move around discrete plant shelving units inside an enclosed room or facility. Each shelving unit could hold multiple plant trays, depending on plant growth height needs. Shelving units would move around the enclosed space based on the needs of the plants for water, nutrients, light, planting, germination, maintenance, harvesting and monitoring.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWithout the help of cost-effective and flexible automation, vertical farming is not profitable or scalable beyond the niche applications it currently occupies,\u201d said Markus Schmidt, President of Swisslog Americas. \u201cBy taking a logistics-market approach to vertical farming, we can provide scalable, adaptable, cost-effective automation solutions for low-footprint, vertically stacked installations that can handle planting, monitoring, maintenance and harvesting \u2013 as well as the complex scheduling and logistics of such an operation.\u201d While the global market for vertical farming is forecasted to increase, many operations are still only able to profitably grow a limited number of crops. The innovative Swisslog automation solutions will help the industry overcome barriers to growth by providing the following potential benefits:<\/p>\n\n\n\n