Speak the Language of Robotics for DSD - A Field Guide to WES Terminology

Robotics in distribution can feel like its own language. For beverage distributors, understanding the modules of the Pallet Factory™ makes it much easier to see how autonomy actually works. Here’s your quick reference guide.

RoboArm™ Module – Palletizing & Case Handling

  • RoboArm™ – Robotic arms that build customer-ready pallets by picking, rotating, and placing cases.

  • End Effector – The “robot hand” that grips and orients cases in different ways.

  • Pallet AMRs – Mobile robots that deliver cases/pallets to RoboArms™ for palletization.

  • Cycle Time – The time in seconds it takes to complete one case pick. Lower cycle times = higher throughput.

  • P2P (Product-to-Pallet) – The flow of turning product pallets into customer pallets, executed autonomously by RoboArms™ + AMRs.

ACR Module – Dense Case Storage

  • ACR (Autonomous Case Handling Robot) – Robots that store and retrieve cases from dense racking.

  • Case AMRs – Mobile robots that pull cases from ACR racks and deliver them to RoboArms™.

  • Vertical Retrieval Robots – Robots that manage case movement within tall racking systems.

  • Goods-to-Robot – Instead of chasing cases, AMRs bring them directly to RoboArms™ for palletizing.

ASRS Module – Pallet Storage & Replenishment

  • ASRS (Autonomous Storage & Retrieval System) – High-density pallet storage system.

  • 4-Way Shuttles – Robots that move pallets both vertically and horizontally within ASRS racks.

  • Replenishment – Pallets can be automatically retrieved and staged for picking or pushed back into reserve storage as demand shifts.

WES – The Brain Behind It All

  • WES (Warehouse Execution System) – The AI-powered orchestration layer that coordinates all modules: ACR, RoboArms™, AMRs, and ASRS.

  • Optimization – WES decides which cases and pallets move where, balancing cycle times, throughput, and exceptions.

  • Autonomy – WES enables the system to adapt to real-world changes: blocked aisles, shifting SKUs, or urgent orders.

Why This Vocabulary Matters

By learning these terms, stakeholders can:

  • Understand how modules fit together.

  • Ask sharper questions of vendors and partners.

  • See clearly how autonomy solves beverage’s unique challenges.

Takeaway

Speaking the language of robotics means seeing the big picture: RoboArms™ for palletizing, ACR for case storage, ASRS for pallet storage, and WES tying it all together. Together, they form the Pallet Factory™ — the first goods-to-robot stack built for beverage distribution.