Smarter material flow: Optimising storage with HOMAG
There’s no denying the extent to which modern beam saws, edgebanders, CNCs and other processing machines have transformed the woodworking industry. However, as these technologies continue to advance, other areas of production are under increasing pressure to keep pace
For many manufacturers, the focus has widened to storage and material flow, where inefficiencies can still exist. Time lost searching for panels, poor material visibility, unnecessary handling and underutilised machines can all limit output.
HOMAG’s STORETEQ P-300 and STORETEQ P-500 storage systems are designed to eliminate these bottlenecks by creating a fully optimised, intelligent material flow across production.
Eliminating search times
One of the biggest hidden inefficiencies in panel processing is the time spent locating and moving materials. With STORETEQ systems, that problem disappears. Panels are automatically stored, tracked and retrieved using HOMAG’s intelligent woodStore software, ensuring the right material is available at the right time.
Cutting optimisation only uses available stock, helping to ensure machines are continuously fed without interruption, as Mario Beck, owner of Tischlerei Mario Beck, explains: “This automatic storage system allows us to save time, which is an important competitive advantage.
The search time, quality and speed have become noticeably improved. In particular, the material overview, offcuts management and the more structured processes have already paid off many times over.”
Built for flexibility & growth
One of the key strengths of the STORETEQ P-300 and P-500 is their flexibility. Both systems can operate as standalone storage solutions or be seamlessly integrated with saws, CNC machines or complete batch size one production lines.
Standardised interfaces make integration straightforward, allowing manufacturers to build a fully connected production environment.
For higher-performance applications, the STORETEQ P-500 also offers advanced Twin and Dual system configurations.
The Twin system uses two bridges operating side by side to increase capacity and accelerate material flow, while the Dual system uses two bridges arranged vertically, doubling storage capacity while minimising floor space.
These options allow businesses to scale their storage and logistics capabilities in line with production demands while reducing downtime, delays and manual handling, as Josef Eibl, owner of Josef Eibl GmbH, puts it: “No one is as conscientious, tenacious and fast as our storage system. The investment pays for itself. It frees up employees we urgently need elsewhere and makes the business much more predictable.”
Gentle handling
Material handling is about maintaining quality as much as it is about speed. With this in mind, STORETEQ systems use intelligent suction traverses with integrated weight control and panel correction to ensure safe, precise handling of a wide range of materials, from standard panels to more delicate or exotic surfaces.
The system’s self-learning cross rail requires just two input parameters – surface and flexibility – with all other handling characteristics determined automatically. This ensures reliable separation and consistent performance, regardless of material type.
“Seeing the STORETEQ in action was breath-taking,” recalls Graeme Brown, Sales Executive at Browns 2000. “The robotics are so advanced – they don’t move like typical machines that stop and start. Instead, they flow seamlessly, almost human-like. And the speed is incredible.”
Intelligent material management
At the heart of the system is woodStore, HOMAG’s scalable storage management software. Designed to grow alongside the business, it provides full control over materials, from incoming stock
through to offcut management.
The system intelligently manages material usage, ensuring only the required quantities are stored and processed. Offcuts are automatically tracked, stored and reused where possible, reducing waste and improving sustainability.
It also provides valuable production insights to help businesses make smarter decisions about material purchasing and usage, as Brett Baldwyn, Managing Director at Performance Panels, attests: “Operational transparency has been greatly enhanced with the woodStore software,
as it provides complete visibility over stock locations and movements. Our team can easily track and manage material and flag any quality issues that arise.”
Advanced automation combined with intelligent software can transform storage from a static necessity into a dynamic, value-adding part of production.
Crucially, this is a solution for businesses of all sizes. Small workshops and industrial-scale manufacturers alike can integrate HOMAG’s STORETEQ systems to provide a future-proof approach to material storage and logistics.
For more information or to arrange a demonstration of the STORETEQ P-300 and STORETEQ P-500, contact HOMAG UK on 01332 856 500 – selecting option 4 for the sales department – or email info-uk@homag.com.
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