Power Automation Systems(PAS, powerautomationsystems.com) announced its largest project to date: an automated warehousing solution to move and store more than 72,000 pallets of wine for Trinchero Family Estates. The project is part of the new state-of-the-art bottling and warehousing facility Trinchero is building in Lodi, CA.

The project brings together two Northern California innovation-driven companies. Trinchero Family Estates is an industry leader and innovator in producing trendsetting wines such as Sutter Home and Ménage à Trois. PAS, a subsidiary of California Natural Products, is the inventor and manufacturer of the revolutionary cart and vertical lift storage system (CTVL) known as PowerStor®. Compared to conventional crane based automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS), the CTVL system delivers higher throughput and density required for food and beverage warehouses.

The project includes PAS’ flagship solutions: PowerStor®, PowerStage®, and PASWare™. PAS solutions are completely automated to maximize storage in a new or existing building to reduce labor costs, minimize product damage, and reduce energy usage within the warehouse footprint compared to manual and crane-based AS/RS systems. PASWare 3.0 software incorporates the latest WCS* and WMS** functionality from PAS, specifically designed for PAS customers.

Trinchero Family Estates’ new facility doubles the company’s crushing capabilities and will be the centralized shipping point for Trinchero Family Estates. It will generate more than 300 local jobs in Lodi, Calif., a testament to the company’s goal to use as many local providers and products made in the USA as possible. PAS embodies both of these goals, as nearly 90% of the equipment is manufactured in California and nearby states. The first phase of the installation includes 54,000 pallets and is expected to begin in January of 2014 and be operational by June, 2015.

Trinchero Family Estates chose the PAS CTVL system over traditional stacker cranes (AS/RS). The PAS solution fulfilled Trinchero’s requirements for versatility, simplicity, transfer speeds, safety and energy usage. The CTVL system also allows Trinchero to maximize space utilization by accommodating their requirements to have palletized wine enter on one side of the warehouse and exit to the shipping docks on the other side while still meeting the throughput requirements.

This is achieved through the use of simultaneous and independent movement of the multiple robotic vehicles (carts) throughout the storage structure while being continuously managed and monitored via the PAS proprietary software.

“The Trinchero Family Estates facility will be one of the most highly automated warehouses in the world,” says Cory Hypes, executive vice president for Power Automation Systems, “PAS is proud to be partnering with a legendary industry leader.”