Automating a warehouse seems like a no-brainer for a large commercial bakery supplying hundreds or thousands of customers, but smaller bakeries can benefit, too.

“What’s daunting to smaller customers is the idea of having to get into their information technology business, so we’re coming out with a do-it-yourself put-to-light system that will manage up to 50 locations,” said Marc Braun, president, US operations, Pcdata, East Granby, CT. Pcdata calls this latest development Distrib XE and will introduce it to the industry at the International Baking Industry Exposition in Las Vegas, Oct. 6-9.

Bakers can install the system themselves with an installation wizard to guide them through the setup. According to Mr. Braun, the work station is mounted directly onto the support system so there is no need to get into electrical installations. The install usually takes a day and serves up to 50 customers or routes. 

“We think this will be a huge step overcoming this hurdle of automation anxiety that exists in smaller bakeries,” he said.