Altura Blog

Some Unique Features of the Cube-IQ Load Planning Software (Part One)

Despite presenting a sleek, simple face to the outside world, Cube-IQ boasts a vast range of abilities under the hood. The following sections briefly describe some of the features which set Cube-IQ above and beyond similar systems. In many cases these features are not simply “better” or more effective than those of the other systems – they are singular to the Cube-IQ system and address requirements that cannot be met anywhere else.

Proprietary Loading Algorithms

Central to the system is, of course, the loading algorithm utilized by Cube-IQ. This is a proprietary algorithm developed exclusively by MagicLogic. It is the result of years of experience and intensive research in the field of Combinatorial Optimization.

Already recognized by many leading systems providers and integrators as “best of breed,” you can find our algorithms licensed and built into software provided by many tier 1 logistics service providers, as well as on the desktops and servers in some of the world’s largest operations.

Container Selection, Cartonization

It is perfectly feasible to have Cube-IQ make your container selection automatically, based on criteria of volume, weight and even shipping cost. Simply provide the system with the selection of containers from which to choose, and it will pick the most efficient combination. This is a life-saver in e-tailing for example, where high volume, highly mixed products are to be loaded – a classic cartonization scenario.

Loading Zones

In order to create safe, “do-able” loads, it is important to consider the product we are handling and the transportation medium as a combined whole. This holistic approach leads to a more natural way to work with the system, and tends to help address real-world situations rather than merely solving an abstract mathematical puzzle.

Certainly abstract solutions are not always practical in the real, gritty world. This is why Cube-IQ has numerous features to help present real, practicable, safe solutions.

In this example you can see a typical railcar. The arrows below show how Cube-IQ can be set up to load towards the central door by defining three loading zones. The load will be built so that products are placed in the order dictated by the arrows.

Loading Zones: a Rail Car modeled using three loading zones to ensure the load is built towards the central door.

Door fit is automatically taken into account, as is bracing and roof curvature.

Other benefits of our loading zone approach are significant. You can define weight limits per zone, lock certain products to specific zones, for example perishable goods to a refrigerated area, dangerous goods to safer areas of the container, or (for example) loose cartons close to the container door only.

There is no limit to the number of zones that can be assigned, including overlapping zones in order to model extremely complex and demanding scenarios.

Next time we'll take a look at how Cube-IQ handles products and SKUs - with some pretty fancy loading rules!