Blast From the Past: Flashback to Our 2007 Feature in FF Journal

April 20, 2026/ Atlas Technologies

It is time for a look back at a milestone in our 60-year history of pressroom innovation. We are revisiting a summer 2007 feature from FF Journal that highlighted how our automation solutions transformed operations for Wolf Appliance Co.

The Challenge: High Stakes, High Precision

Back in 2007, Wolf Appliance—along with its sister company, Sub-Zero Freezer Co.—was facing a unique challenge in the premium designer kitchen market. Their "carriage-trade" customers demanded perfect workmanship, which required hand-feeding presses and 100-percent part inspection. To maintain this level of quality while meeting growing demand, Wolf needed a way to accelerate die changes without sacrificing the safety of their operators or their massive, 40,000-lb. dies.

The Solution: Integrated ASRS

We designed and engineered a fully integrated Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS) tailored specifically for Wolf's heavy-duty requirements.

High Capacity: The system was built to handle 50,000-lb. dies on 60-in.-by-144-in. plates.
Total Integration: Unlike systems that relied on forklift trucks or cranes for the final stages, our design provided controlled handling throughout the entire process.
Phased Growth: The project was implemented in phases, ultimately expanding to a 108-die capacity with two automated die pickers and four pass-through stations.

The Impact: Efficiency and Safety

The results were a "game-changer" for the Wolf production line. By merging automation with their existing manual operations, the impact was immediate:

Die Change Time: Prior to the ASRS installation, manual changeover times were estimated to be 90min (after wiping down dies and clearing scrap). After Install this time was reduced to 35 minutes
Safety: "Automation equals safety, compared to overhead cranes or forklift trucks," noted Wolf’s manufacturing engineering manager at the time. "It's safer for both the operators and the dies, and all but eliminates handling damage."

Looking Forward

While the technology has advanced significantly since 2007, the core principles of that project—safety, quality, and optimized capacity—remain at the heart of what we do today. Whether it's our latest AGV cart capabilities or a custom ASRS, we continue to help our partners grow into their increased capacity.

"Wolf merges automation with manual operation," FF Journal, July/August 2007 issue. Current industry news and archives (2012–present) can be found at FFjournal.net

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