FBI Installs AutoStore System for Automated Records Archiving Solution

The U.S. General Service Administration (GSA) has installed an automated records storage system from robotics technology company AutoStore in the recently completed FBI Central Records Complex in Winchester, Virginia, USA. The facility is the country’s first robot-controlled storage and retrieval system in a GSA project.

(Nedre Vats, Norway) – Certified by the National Archives and Records Administration, this secure, state-of-the-art facility, covering nearly 24,000 m², was built to consolidate and store records and datasets that were previously housed in 256 locations worldwide. After comparing several automation technologies with support from AutoStore integration partner Swisslog, the GSA and FBI selected the AutoStore solution due to its Cube Storage technology to automate the filing and retrieval process of more than 2 billion pages of official paper documents. The highly compact AutoStore system requires no aisles and utilizes all available space for document storage. Above the cube-shaped storage system, 140 radio-controlled robots quickly and reliably maneuver over a grid system above the 16 levels of container stacks to retrieve requested items from one of the 360,000 bins.FBI Can Fulfill Mission with Greater Effectiveness“It is a privilege and an honor to know that our innovative storage automation technology serves U.S. agencies,” said Karl Johan Lier, CEO of AutoStore. “With the agility, efficiency, and accuracy of AutoStore robots working in our elegantly designed high-density storage system, the FBI will be able to fulfill its mission with greater effectiveness and maintain its leadership role in critical information management.”The AutoStore solution helps optimize the process for requesting records. With the automated system, the office saves time searching for and retrieving files, allowing employees to focus on high-quality work. The software stores both record and storage location numbers, enabling the robots to operate reliably and access the correct containers without the system provider having access to the contents of the records. With darkened and climate-controlled storage in containers, the paper records are also protected from environmental influences. Furthermore, the system’s high storage density will significantly reduce the space required for housing records in the new storage facility or FBI offices, saving money on rent and freeing up valuable space for other needs. The complex, built for nearly 500 employees in Virginia, opened earlier this year and will be fully operational by 2022.

Facility Videos and More Information:

https://youtu.be/WsOFxqB3U3AAbout AutoStore Founded in 1996, AutoStore is a robotics technology company that invented and continuously develops Cube Storage Automation; the densest existing storage technology. Our focus is to combine software and hardware with human capabilities to develop the future of efficient warehouses. The company has over 500 installations in 30 countries across a variety of industries and sectors. All sales, design, and installation activities are carried out through a network of qualified integrators who are our partners. Our headquarters is in Nedre Vats, Norway, and we have offices in the USA, UK, Germany, France, and Japan.www.autostoresystem.comImage: © Swisslog Holding AG