Start with the material flow, not the largest capacity number. The right SMT storage system fits your reel mix, operator access and the transactions your factory needs to record.
Four storage categories, different trade-offs
Manual shelving
Open shelves provide direct physical access. Operators locate reels using labels, lists or a separate software system. Evaluate the time spent searching, the consistency of registration and how the layout works during changeovers.
Light-only guidance
Lights direct an operator to a position. The light itself is not evidence that the correct reel has been removed or registered. Ask how completion is confirmed and how reel identity is linked to the position.
Sensor-confirmed pick-to-light shelves
Nordec Smart Shelves use LEDs to identify positions and position sensors to detect removal or placement. Scanning links each reel to its position in Nordec WMS, so the system always knows what is stored where. Once the LED lights up, an operator can pick the indicated reel in around 3 seconds.
Automated towers
Automated towers retrieve material through a controlled mechanism rather than direct shelf access. Assess the reel formats supported, retrieval workflow, simultaneous access, footprint and service arrangements of the particular system. Towers suit some workflows well, while open guided shelves often give faster, simultaneous access at the line.
Build a realistic inventory profile
- ▸Count reels by diameter: 7-inch, 13-inch, 15-inch and other formats.
- ▸Record tape widths and the stock levels you actually need to buffer.
- ▸Distinguish central stock, line-side replenishment and mobile kitting.
- ▸Check aisle access, operator walking routes and whether both shelf faces can remain accessible.
- ▸Include the scanning and stock-registration process, not only the physical shelf footprint.
Choose a Nordec configuration
- 7-inch double-sided
For high volumes of small reels: up to 1,344 reels in six layers configured for 8 mm tape. Supports 8–44 mm tape widths; wider on request.
- 13/15-inch single-sided
For large reels with access from one face: up to 448 reels in four layers configured for 8 mm tape. Supports 8–72 mm tape widths; published depth is 400 mm.
- 13/15-inch double-sided
For large-reel buffers accessed from both faces: up to 896 reels in four layers configured for 8 mm tape. Supports 8–72 mm tape widths; published depth is 700 mm. Plan access on both sides.
- Mobile Smart Shelf
For kitting and line refill: an onboard touchscreen and four configurable layers. Capacity depends on reel mix and layer configuration.
These capacities are configuration-specific maxima. Wider tape and mixed reel inventories change the usable reel count. Review your actual inventory with Nordec before selecting units.
How storage connects with your existing systems
Nordec WMS is included with Nordec Smart Shelves. Tell us which ERP, MES or material-management system you use and what you want the workflow to do. We’ll review the connection options and plan the setup with your team.
See how it works in production
At Plejd, Nordec Smart Shelves and ASMPT WORKS connect production-schedule-driven material flow. The first-week indication was around 90% fewer picking and storing tasks. Norautron shares its own experience of daily use. Every factory is different, so we plan each setup around your workflow.
Plan your space and prepare for a quotation
Use the Floor Planner to define a floor area, place shelf models, review footprints and access in 2D or 3D, then export or share a layout for Nordec review. Share your layout and reel inventory with us. We’ll help you work through shelf placement, operator access and the next steps towards a quotation.