Construction and Standard Installation Procedures & Specifications of Suzhou Automated AS/RS

With the continuous upgrading of Suzhou’s smart manufacturing and smart logistics industries, automated stereoscopic warehouses, featuring high efficiency and intensive utilization, have become a key option for warehousing upgrading in local manufacturing, e-commerce, pharmaceutical and other sectors.The construction and installation quality of automated stereoscopic warehouses directly affects equipment operational stability, working efficiency and operational safety. Following standardized installation procedures and specifications is critical to ensuring project delivery results and extending equipment service life. Combined with local construction scenarios in Suzhou, this paper analyzes the standardized installation process and core criteria for automated stereoscopic warehouses in detail, providing a reference for project implementation of enterprises in Suzhou.The construction and installation of automated stereoscopic warehouses in Suzhou must strictly comply with relevant national and industrial standards, including Code for Design of Automated Stereoscopic Warehouses (GB/T 38707-2020) and Code for Design of Stereoscopic Warehouse Racking Systems (GB/T 39681-2020). Taking into account the characteristics of local warehouse sites and differentiated industrial demands in Suzhou, a standardized construction process is formulated to balance construction efficiency and project quality, ensuring that the installed equipment can steadily adapt to enterprises’ actual operational requirements.The standardized construction and installation process of automated stereoscopic warehouses consists of six well-connected and strictly controlled phases, as detailed below:

I. Pre-construction Preparation

Three core tasks must be completed before construction to lay a solid foundation for subsequent work.First, drawing review and technical disclosure. The construction team shall fully communicate with designers to clarify details of various drawings such as the automated warehouse layout and column assembly drawings, and fully understand key and difficult installation points. Technical disclosure shall be conducted for construction personnel to clarify job responsibilities and operating specifications.Second, preparation of tools and materials. Prepare construction tools such as electric hammers, electric wrenches, theodolites, levels and steel tape measures. Inspect the quality of core equipment including rack components, stacker cranes and conveyors, as well as auxiliary materials such as bolts and embedded parts, to ensure compliance with relevant standards and prevent unqualified materials from entering the site.Third, site inspection. Conduct a comprehensive inspection of the foundation condition and embedded part positions of the construction site, confirm that foundation bearing capacity and flatness meet installation requirements, and make timely adjustments if deviations exist, so as to avoid affecting subsequent construction quality.

II. Site Layout Setting Out and Foundation Calibration

This phase is essential to guarantee installation accuracy.Taking the warehouse center point as the reference, construction personnel use theodolites, levels and other tools to determine the X-axis and Y-axis reference lines and check verticality. The track center line and column base center line are then defined according to the reference lines to ensure dimensional accuracy.Meanwhile, comprehensively measure ground flatness, record the elevation of rack feet and ground tracks, analyze ground height differences, and perform leveling treatment when necessary. This ensures the ground flatness meets installation standards and provides a level foundation for subsequent rack and track installation.

III. Core Equipment Installation

The installation proceeds step by step in the sequence of rack installation — track installation — automated equipment installation, with all operations implemented in accordance with installation specifications.Before rack installation, inspect every component and correct any deformation in a timely manner. Assemble column sheets on a dedicated assembly platform to avoid scratching the plastic-sprayed surface of components. Select a suitable hoisting method according to site conditions, erect column sheets in sequence, and install beams, back ties and horizontal tie rods. Adjust verticality and horizontality in real time during installation, fix the base feet and fasten connecting bolts once standards are met.For track installation, calibrate the overhead rails and ground rails first. Perform welding and grinding after confirming no deviation, ensuring track parallelism and flatness.Automated equipment installation covers stacker cranes, AGV/AMR robots, conveyors and other facilities. Operations must strictly follow official installation manuals to ensure firm installation and precise positioning. Complete equipment wiring and fixing to prevent loosening during later operation.

IV. Electrical and System Deployment

After the completion of equipment installation, proceed with electrical wiring layout and intelligent system deployment.Electrical wiring shall be laid in a standardized and orderly manner with proper insulation treatment. Install electrical components such as power distribution cabinets and sensors to ensure firm circuit connection without potential electric leakage risks, complying with the requirements of GB 5226.1-2019 Mechanical electrical safety — Electrical equipment of machines — Part 1: General technical conditions.Intelligent system deployment mainly covers the installation and commissioning of the WMS Warehouse Management System and WCS Equipment Control System. Complete parameter configuration and database initialization, realize linkage and docking between the system and automated equipment, and ensure the system can normally schedule and control equipment operation.

V. Full-Process Commissioning and Inspection

Commissioning is divided into three stages: standalone commissioning, joint system commissioning and pressure testing.Standalone commissioning runs each piece of equipment independently to inspect rack load-bearing capacity, stacking crane operation accuracy, conveyor transportation stability, and eliminate abnormal equipment operation.Joint system commissioning tests the collaborative operation capability between equipment and intelligent systems. It simulates the whole process of goods inbound, storage and outbound, optimizes equipment scheduling algorithms, and ensures smooth connection of all operation links.Pressure testing simulates peak operation scenarios of enterprises to verify the continuous operation capacity of equipment, detect and resolve hidden operational risks in a timely manner, and ensure the equipment adapts to daily and peak operational demands.

VI. Completion Acceptance and Project Delivery

After qualified commissioning, the project enters the completion acceptance stage.The constructor and the enterprise jointly conduct a comprehensive inspection, focusing on indicators such as installation accuracy, equipment operational stability, electrical safety and system functions, and carry out item-by-item acceptance in accordance with construction standards. Meanwhile, repair and repaint damaged areas on the rack electrostatic spraying layer and clean up the construction site.Upon acceptance approval, both parties sign the acceptance report. The constructor provides technical documents including equipment installation manuals and operation & maintenance manuals, and delivers full-process professional training for the enterprise’s operators and maintenance personnel. This enables the enterprise to independently complete equipment operation and daily maintenance, realizing formal project delivery.In addition to standardized procedures, the construction and installation of automated AS/RS in Suzhou must abide by core specifications to guarantee project quality and operational safety. The core standards are as follows:

1. Installation Accuracy Standards

The vertical deviation of racks shall be controlled within a reasonable range. The vertical deviation of each rack frame along the aisle length and width direction shall not exceed 10 mm.The height deviation of beams on the same floor shall not exceed 5 mm; the side close to the stacker crane shall not be lower than the other side, with a height difference no more than 4 mm.In the aisle width direction, the dimensional deviation of rack frames is ±2 mm, and the cumulative error within 100 meters shall not exceed ±20 mm.Track installation deviations shall meet specified requirements: the allowable vertical and horizontal bending deviation of ground rails is ±2.5 mm, and that of overhead rails is ±3 mm.According to site length and width, the allowable ground flatness deviation is ±10 mm, ±15 mm and ±20 mm respectively. The settlement deformation of the rack foundation floor under maximum load shall be less than 1/1000.

2. Quality and Safety Standards

Core components shall adopt standard-compliant materials. Rack steel can adopt high-strength Q460 grade material, processed through pickling, phosphating and electrostatic spraying to deliver anti-corrosion and wear-resistant performance.All bolts and joint surfaces shall be derusted. The installation of chemical anchor bolts must strictly follow standard steps including drilling, hole cleaning, medicinal tube implantation and bolt screwing, so as to ensure firm fixation. Different types of bolts shall meet corresponding pull-out force and shear force requirements.Equipment shall be equipped with complete safety protection devices featuring anti-collision, overload protection and emergency stop functions. The electrical system shall be properly grounded and insulated to eliminate potential safety hazards.

3. Industry Compliance Standards

In view of differentiated industrial demands in Suzhou, relevant compliance requirements shall be followed.For the pharmaceutical industry, automated AS/RS shall comply with GMP certification standards, be equipped with multi-temperature zone storage facilities, and realize full-life-cycle traceability of goods.For the food industry, moisture-proof and anti-corrosion designs shall be adopted to meet food storage hygiene standards.For e-commerce and manufacturing industries, the system shall adapt to high-frequency operation demands and ensure equipment efficiency and stability. All construction links shall comply with national and industrial regulations to achieve compliant project implementation.At present, the construction of automated AS/RS in Suzhou has formed a mature standardized system. Relying on the technical advantages of local construction teams, it can accurately adapt to the warehouse site conditions and industrial demands of local enterprises. Strictly following construction procedures and standards ensures reliable project quality.With the continuous improvement of industrial standards, the implementation of specifications such as GB/T 43658-2024 General technical conditions for automated stereoscopic warehouses will further promote the standardized and refined development of automated AS/RS construction and installation in Suzhou.For enterprises in Suzhou, selecting construction services that follow standardized procedures and specifications can not only ensure the stable operation of automated stereoscopic warehouses, but also improve warehousing efficiency, providing strong support for enterprise intelligent upgrading.