GREATER EFFICIENCY WITH SSI SCHAEFER

GREATER EFFICIENCY
WITH SSI SCHAEFER
Smart logistics processes based on comprehensive industry expertise, outstanding
value added and end-to-end consulting
Editorial
Spotlight on logistics
Dear readers,
Recently, somebody asked me whether I would recommend a career in intralogistics to young graduates. The
answer was a resounding yes – which is why I would like
to highlight a few aspects of this extremely innovative,
dynamic and fast-moving industry here.
Spotlight on the market
As a provider of intralogistics solutions, we enjoy deep
insight into almost all fields of business. Logistics
figures do not lie. They reveal a true picture of the current
economic climate and often have more weight than the
forecasts made by market researchers. Intralogistics
has changed considerably in recent years. Rising cost
pressure calls for ever-faster throughputs, optimised
flows of goods and lower inventories, not to mention
stable, reliable processes and zero errors. Moreover,
e-commerce is becoming more and more prevalent –
and not just in large enterprises: SMEs and start-ups
also need to tackle this challenge. And we expect to see
further far-reaching structural changes to distribution
processes in the near future.
Today, logistics has to be a core competency of almost
every manufacturer, distributor and retailer. The dramatic increase in demand for these solutions is set to
continue, which means intralogistics will remain a key
market segment going forward.
Spotlight on globalisation
Like us, many of our customers are global players. And
because we are present on international markets, we
have our finger on the pulse of developments around the
world. Navigating our way through different customs,
conventions and mentalities is part and parcel of our
day-to-day work. This includes modifying and tailoring
our solutions to meet local requirements and criteria,
for example, in terms of employee qualifications, salary expectations, and the cost of transporting goods.
SSI Schaefer develops innovative products and intralogistics systems at a range of international sites, primarily in Europe. And these solutions set new standards.
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Spotlight on technology
In the last three to four decades, our industry has
experienced a monumental shift – away from manual
warehouses towards fully-automated distribution centres. High-performance storage and picking machines,
robotic applications, and product visualisation and recognition systems now dominate intralogistics, turning
it into a high-tech sector. Many skill sets and areas of
expertise are represented in our industry, so it is an
attractive field to work in, with huge scope for development.
Our customers want the fastest ROI possible, which
means systems need to run around the clock. To
ensure maximum availability, warehouse employees
are evolving into service engineers, making this line of
work even more appealing.
Spotlight on information technology
The increasingly complex processes of a distribution
centre call for reliable process management. The in-time
availability of goods is a key success factor. But since
logistics infrastructures differ considerably from company to company, it is a myth that you can create one standard software product for everyone. The real focus is
on developing a flexible, scalable program that requires
as little modification as possible and supports new releases. This is a major challenge for any professional
provider and answering it entails great effort and skill.
SSI Schaefer
In over 75 years in the industry, we at SSI Schaefer have
always strived to tailor our products to real-world market
needs. We are a global player with subsidiaries around
the world, and we deliver almost the entire palette of
intralogistics services. But that‘s not all: we also design, develop and manufacture nearly all of our products
ourselves. And our comprehensive portfolio of solutions and services – from manual, semi- and fully-automated systems, to logistics software – means we have
a unique strategic foundation and are well equipped to
meet the challenges of tomorrow. Thanks to sustainable product development and a forward-looking corporate strategy, our customers‘ investments are secure.
In contrast to many of our competitors, we set ourselves
the clear goal of providing industry-specific solutions
for all major industries. To this end, we invest heavily in
research and development each year.
SSI Schaefer delivers customised logistics software for
every requirement – based on WAMAS and SAP EWM.
In total, we employ around 700 software specialists
across the group.
Our global service organisation plays a central role in
guaranteeing high availability. In addition, we aim to
support our customers with the implementation of our
concepts, enabling smooth and seamless transition to
the next level.
This brochure gives you a taste of the exciting and multifaceted intralogistics industry, and underlines how
SSI Schaefer’s solutions boost our customers’ efficiency.
Best regards
Rudolf Keller
CEO of SSI Schäfer Holding
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Greater efficiency
with SSI Schaefer
Efficiency gains are the basis for long-term business success.
In competitive environments, only those companies survive
that are continuously evolving and improving. To keep ahead
of the game now and in the future, organisations need to
tackle changing requirements with state-of-the-art solutions.
SSI Schaefer has an extensive track record in the field of
warehouse and logistics systems with countless successful
projects to our name. We develop innovative products,
components and solutions with one common aim: to improve
efficiency for our customers.
There are numerous ways to increase efficiency:
▶
Process acceleration
Cost savings
▶ Error reduction
▶ Conservation of resources
▶ Better utilisation of human resources
▶
At the heart of all our undertakings is an end-to-end solution,
perfectly in sync with customer requirements. Our innovative
spirit, leading-edge materials and stand-out technologies
have made us the market leader for warehouse and logistics
systems. This approach helps our customers stay ahead of
their competitors.
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Perfectly aligned interfaces
As some of our customers have discovered,
leading providers deliver outstanding individual
components. However, when these elements are
combined with those from other manufacturers,
problems with integration can arise. Even connecting the shelves to the conveying system can
prove tricky. Additional interfaces in the warehouse
include the integration of platforms, free-standing
racking systems, storage and retrieval systems
and shuttle systems, right through to control systems and IT. The result is often multiple service
contracts and a lack of visibility into who is responsible for what.
This is where SSI Schaefer is different. Our onestop approach means clearly defined roles and
overall responsibility for projects. We build complex
end-to-end logistics systems using products
manufactured in house. What’s more, our projects
are completed fast. Because if the interfaces are
right from the outset, the systems can be integrated in a way that saves space, money and –
above all – time.
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Industry overview
Retail
JYSK
TJ Morris
beeline
Walgreens
Food & Beverage
8
10
11
12
Wholesale
Ostermann
ES3
KNV Logistik
Solar
6
24
26
28
30
31
Frozen goods
15
16
18
19
E-Commerce
Schwab (myToys.de)
skatedeluxe
Creativ Company
A. Kempf
Vectura
Gerolsteiner
Pistor
Zott (Modernisation)
Frinavarra
Pacific Cold Storage
Mydibel
BakeArt
32
33
34
36
Automotive
20
22
23
Porsche Logistik
atzert:weber
Conrad Autoteile
38
40
41
Manufacturing
SMA
Bosch Rexroth
Danfoss
Leonhard Heyden
SKF (Modernisation)
Charities
42
44
45
46
47
48
50
51
Pharmaceuticals
Salus
UTi
Pharmapool
56
Pulp & Paper
Fashion
Desigual
V&D
Work in Progress
UNICEF
ICT
58
SSI Schaefer
52
54
55
Global networks
The SSI Schaefer Group
60
62
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Facts and Figures
Project objectives:
▶ Integration of the Polish warehouses, providing a centralised supply for Central and Eastern Europe
▶ Additional capacities for expansion into new markets
▶ Faster order processing and increase in throughput
▶ Future-proof due to doubling of capacity if required
▶ Intelligent, route-minimised material flow concept
Scope of delivery and service:
▶ Planning, design and implementation
▶ Racking system incl. steel construction, roof and wall
coverings
▶ 2 high-bay racking systems of 12 aisles each, double-deep
(high-bay system 1: L 160 x W 94 x H 40 m,
high-bay system 2: L 144 x W 94 x H 40 m)
▶ 24 storage and retrieval systems for storing euro pallets,
transport platforms, mesh box pallets (S, L, XL)
▶ Pallet conveyor technology, vertical transfer lifts,
film stretchers and electrical pallet conveyor
▶ Warehouse management system,
material flow controller and forklift control system
Primarily heavy and slow moving articles as well as bulky goods are placed into storage in the 24 aisles of the high-bay racking systems. Automated storage
and retrieval systems ensure energy efficient processes.
Large hub in Eastern Europe
For furniture retailer JYSK, SSI Schaefer has completed one of the largest logistics centres in Eastern Europe. An intelligent material flow concept combines
modern automation technology and manual processes.
Radomsko, Poland. At the new handling and
distribution centre which was put into operation
by the Danish furniture retailer JYSK Nordic A/S
in Radomsko, around 100 km north of Kattowitz.
Up to 900 pallets per hour can be simultaneously
processed in goods receiving and shipping. “This
turnover volume, however, is designed for medium
and long-term growth“, explains Jacek Przerwa,
System and Technical Director at the JYSK logistics centre in Radomsko. “Currently the throughput
is at 50 to 60 percent of the potential volume –
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with rapid growth rates.“ This is because the new
central warehouse is responsible for supplying
the whole of Central and Eastern Europe. It also
needs to provide a base for supplying the markets
in Russia and China.
In Spring 2008, the decision makers at the
Danish furniture retailer started planning a central
logistics centre in Poland. Objective: to merge
the Polish warehouses, increase throughput and
create capacities for expansion into new markets.
JYSK decided to modify the existing manual warehouse at the geographically convenient location of Radomsko to meet future requirements via expansion and automation. The contract for the logistics
concept and turnkey implementation of the project was awarded to
SSI Schaefer as general contractor.
With nearly 100,000 m2 of usable space, the new logistics site is one of
the largest distribution centres in Eastern Europe. The first requirement
was that the large existing building complex of nearly 41,000 m2 needed
to be integrated. Secondly, the system design, material flow and automation components needed to be designed for a capacity of up to four new
high-bay racking systems with around 350,000 pallet positions. At the
same time, the spacious corridor area of the building complex needed
to be available for largely manual picking as well as for order assembly.
The implementation was carried out in several stages. First, three existing storage and picking facilities, each around 13,000 m2, previously
used as block storage, were expanded with an additional hall and corridor building. Via the material flow concept created in a project simulation, the separation of the incoming and outgoing goods areas was
implemented by setting up 25 new goods receiving gates at the rear of
the building. In addition, two further levels were integrated into the corridor building at a height of 5 and 10 metres, respectively. This meant the
building level underneath could be used for storage, picking large and
bulky items as well as for processing incoming and outgoing goods. The
palletising of boxed goods, checking and replacing empty pallets as necessary, are also carried out on the floor level. “By setting up and
spreading out the new gates, the consistent separation of the material
flow and the system automation, we are twice as fast as before in the
handling of incoming and outdoing goods alone”, evaluates Przerwa.
Vertical transfer lifts transport the pallets onto the upper levels for
transfer to the electrical pallet conveyor.
Work on the high-bay racking systems began at the same time – initially
at two of the four warehouses. The two others have been integrated into
the system layout so that they can be erected quickly and connected
effortlessly to the system technology when required.
The two new mezzanine levels in the four corridor buildings now provide
space specifically for the installation of the distribution conveyor system
for storage and retrieval in the high-bay racking – without affecting processes on the corridor level. Following the concept of strictly separated
material flows, the first level is dedicated to supply and disposal for the
first high-bay racking system, and the second level for the second. At
the heart of the system is an electrical pallet conveyor on both upper
floors. They handle all automated internal transports as well as the
supply of the high-bay racking systems in the central JYSK warehouse.
Primarily heavy and slow moving articles as well as bulky goods are
placed into storage in the 24 aisles of the high-bay racking systems. Due
to the wide range of items with around 5,000 different products, all the
conveyor technology as well as the transfer positions and the storage
and retrieval systems in the four aisles of the second high-bay racking
system are designed for the transport of large pallets with measurements up to 1,200 x 2,400 mm. For the initial equipping of the system
alone, SSI Schaefer has supplied around 7,000 of these platforms for
storing furniture and larger packing units.
Collection, IT entry, contour and weight control and transport security
for pallets during storage.
Retail
9
High-bay racking with 11 storage and retrieval systems and 46,000 storage spaces.
Pick-by-voice order picking.
Flexible, automated logistics
solution at TJ Morris
Growth-oriented intralogistics concept with increased efficiency.
Liverpool, Great Britain. With over 200 “Home
Bargains” stores, TJ Morris Ltd is one of Great
Britain‘s leading and fastest growing food discounters under private ownership. Home Bargains
offers a wide range of high quality, ubiquitous
brands – from health and beauty to household articles, food, toys and much more – at prices that
other retailers can hardly keep pace with. Increased business means a need for increased
stock levels and rapid store replenishment.
TJ Morris needed greater warehouse capacity
and maximum picking efficiency but with low labour costs. As a general contractor, SSI Schaefer
created concepts to exceed these expectations
in the existing distribution centre in Liverpool,
Merseyside.
To meet the growing volume of products on pallets,
a high-bay racking system has been added to
the existing distribution centre. The extension
provides space for more than 42,000 pallets,
incorporates 11 pallet storage and retrieval
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machines supplying more than 1,000 floor-level
order picking positions and delivers replenishment
orders to an adjacent mini-load storage system.
The mini-load tote warehouse has been set up to
store slow-moving SKUs and offers capacity for up
to 28,000 storage totes. On the side of the miniload system are 804 pick slots. The entire system
is effectively controlled and managed by the
SSI Schaefer logistics software.
Joe Morris, Technical Manager at TJ Morris, reflects:
“Without the expertise and systems technology
provided by SSI Schaefer, our operation would
have struggled to meet the demands placed on
the business by the increased sales from a rapidly
growing store base throughout Great Britain.
Expanding our storage capability and automating
the most labour-intensive areas of our distribution
operation has enabled us to expand and futureproof our operation without the need for continual
investment in additional labour.”
Change in designs
without setup times
For fashion jewellery supplier, beeline, SSI Schaefer designed the small
quantity order picking operations to be more efficient.
Cologne, Germany. “Delivery quality, speed
and sustainability were the key reasons for the
change from the previous static warehousing
to order processing with dynamic, resourceefficient components”, says beeline Founder and
Managing Director Ulrich Beckmann. The contract for construction and intralogistics equipment
of the new distribution centre was awarded to
SSI Schaefer as general contractor.
Controlled by the powerful, modular design WAMAS
logistics software, energy-efficient conveyor technology in combination with dynamic systems ensures high throughput and rapid order processing.
The basis: a two stage, sorter-based batch picking with a pick-to-bucket system. “With this concept we are currently fulfilling 2,000 orders a day.
This corresponds to a turnover of 10 million articles a month – several times higher than previous
throughput levels”, says Beckmann. “The intelligent combination of system components gives us
a high level of flexibility and efficiency without the
interventions and setup times previously required,
especially with seasonal design changeovers.”
The logistics centre is implemented primarily on
two levels. This meant that SSI Schaefer was able
to provide a total usable area of almost 22,000 m2
for beeline. On the ground floor there is sufficient
free space for processing incoming and outgoing
goods movements, shipping preparation work and
Pick-to-bucket system: Every picking station has a
collection system with 16 funnels assigned to it.
order consolidation. In the upper storey are the repacking and picking workstations as well as a live
storage system for large volume articles.
In the automatic small parts warehouse, 4 energysaving storage and retrieval systems with up to
100 inward and outward movements per hour allow
for rapid double-deep storage. It provides around
70,000 storage locations. In the material flow concept implemented, the automatic small parts warehouse is used simply as a buffer warehouse. The
picking stations are supplied from the Schaefer
shuttle-storage. There are 21,500 storage locations for inward goods from trays. 8 lifts supply a
total of 10 shuttles that serve the storage locations in the 2-aisle shuttle-storage.
The system design of the picking workstations
incorporates a 2 x 120 m long sorting route that
runs underneath the picking shafts. This is used
to convey sorter trays in which the picked articles
are transferred from the filled funnels continuously
in line with the specifications of the WAMAS logistics software. The allocation of the funnel contents
is carried out sequentially on the selected sorter
trays.
“With the new logistics centre we are equipped for
the future both technologically and environmentally”, says Beckmann.
In the shuttle-storage, a shuttle removes up to 200 stored article cartons from storage per hour.
Retail
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Taking social responsibility –
an example to follow
Deerfield, IL, USA. Despite the fact that we live
in a progressive and enlightened society, people
with disabilities still have a hard time taking their
place in it and finding a job. Walgreens, the leading drugstore chain in the US, set a shining example here: one third of the staff in two distribution centres consists of handicapped employees.
Walgreens demonstrates what a successful integration of people with disabilities into the working
environment looks like. This has also generated
interest from the media. Just recently, CNN
covered this social and economic success story.
A significant number of disabled people are still
unemployed, although they would gladly do their
share. They still have to deal with many prejudices,
such as being less flexible or being unable to
deliver the same level of performance, etc. They
compete with other candidates who’ve had a head
start from the moment they were born. But without
a job, handicapped people don’t stand a chance to
manage their own lives and will never feel like they
are a part of society. In many cases, access to a
job is denied outright. The reason for this might
be that companies are unfamiliar with “disability”
124 Schaefer Carousel Systems (SCS) with the associated order picking workstations.
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as It pertains to the workplace and doubt the
candidates’ employability and perseverance.
When it comes to integrating people with special
needs into the workforce, the success story of
drugstore chain Walgreens is a model for others
to follow. As a market leader, Walgreens not just
sells toiletries, but also drugs, food and non-food
products and runs a photo printing service. The
company operates around 7,500 stores throughout the US and employs roughly 240,000 people, 10,000 of which work in twenty distribution
centres. With the two most recently built facilities
in Anderson (South Carolina) and Windsor (Connecticut), Walgreens dared to experiment and invented a new generation of distribution centres:
Equipped with adjustable, operator-friendly workstations, both handicapped as well a non-handicapped people can work in order picking side by
side. Walgreens’ position as a market leader enabled the company to make a real change in the
working world.
But notwithstanding the social achievement of
employing people with disabilities, Walgreens is
says Lewis. He describes the special atmosphere
inside the Anderson DC: “Upon entering the facility, you get a feeling of purpose, meaning and
mission.” Everybody is very cooperative, making
themselves useful wherever possible. To improve
the orientation of the staff, the individual workplaces are not just numbered, but also signposted with special images (e. g. strawberries).
Measures such as these cost less than 25 US
dollar per employee.
subject to economic requirements as well. As a
publicly-traded company, it needs to answer to
shareholders for its policies. This means, that the
handicapped members of the staff have to work
as hard as anybody else on the team and if necessary even have to work overtime.
It was decided at the launch of the modern
distribution centres, that one out of three
vacancies should be filled with a handicapped
person. This revolutionary idea, which came to be
known to Walgreens insiders as “the initiative”,
was developed by Randy Lewis, Senior Vice
President Supply Chain & Logistics. Since 2007,
Walgreens hired workers with mental disabilities,
deaf-mutes, people with Downs syndrome, autistic
people and employees with other handicaps to
work here. Those who start working at Walgreens
will first receive some training on how to deal
with people who are different from themselves.
For instance, employees are instructed on how
to collaborate on a task with autistic people.
Then there are other staff members who need to
be trained for their particular tasks and have to
adjust themselves to the unfamiliar environment
inside a distribution centre (DC).
Equality is at the core of Walgreens new hiring
policy. Many of the disabled employees work fulltime on the same tasks as their non-disabled coworkers and therefore also receive the same pay.
“When we started with this distribution centre,
everything was new. The building, the automation
technology, the software, and the staff as well.
Everybody had to learn, there was no difference”,
explains Lewis. Remarkable: by now, this facility
has become the most productive distribution
centre in the entire Walgreens chain.
At Walgreens, people with disabilities are no
longer invisible. They are appreciated, happy with
their jobs and work with a lot of commitment.
“But what surprised us the most was the strong
effect this had on our non-handicapped workers”,
The result of the initiative: “People with disabilities cause fewer accidents at work, less absenteeism and also less personnel turnover than nondisabled workers”, says Lewis. Walgreens’ other
distribution centres increased the share of handicapped people as well. Right now, the company
is working on plans to adjust the hiring objectives
for its stores accordingly. Other companies are
already following these visionary goals and put
similar social concepts in practice, among them
Marks & Spencer, Best Buy and Natura.
The integration of people with disabilities is
getting more important. Walgreens’ initiative in
particular drew a lot of attention from the media.
ABC News and NBC News both covered this story
in 2007, referring to the Anderson DC as an
example. Recently, in July 2011, CNN aired a news
report about successful integration at the facility
in Windsor.
Data and Figures
New generation of distribution centres:
Walgreens I (Anderson)/Walgreens II (Windsor)
Basic components of the facilities:
▶ Design of the logistics concept, simulation, visualisation and
implementation planning
▶ Steel construction with integrated order picking platforms,
shelving systemsn
▶ Logistics software
▶ High-bay racking (120 x 115 x 31 m) with 36,437 storage
positions and 11 storage and retrieval devices for pallets
▶ Miniload storage (94 x 110 x 18.5 m) with 362,816 spaces for
double deep storage and 32 Schaefer Miniload Cranes (SMC1)
▶ 124 Schaefer Carousel Systems (SCS) with a total
of 103,168 storage spaces
▶ Order picking workstations, pallet and container conveyor systems,
containers
Project objectives:
▶ Reducing warehousing and transport costs
▶ Improving the capabilities to react to seasonal peaks
▶ Increasing the accuracy of the deliveries and
centralising processes
▶ Reducing error rates and speeding up delivery
Retail
13
Automation for
edges and fittings
Data and Figures
Project objectives:
▶ Integrating the material flow processes into the existing SAP environment, without adding interfaces
▶ Connecting the storage processes of small parts,
shelving and pallet storage to SAP by wireless
data transmission
▶ Implementing SAP material flow control for the
newly-built, automated high-bay warehouse
Scope of delivery and service:
▶ SAP TRM material flow control for manual and
automated storage areas
▶ Integration and control of processes through
SAP WM/TRM
▶ 2-aisle, double-deep high-bay warehouse
(L 120 m x W 15 m x H 24 m)
▶ 2 storage and retrieval machines
▶ Pallet conveyor technology
▶ Roof and wall construction
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Steel construction, conveyor technology and SAP integration all from one source for
targeted, time and route-optimised control of the manual warehouse processes, transparent real-time inventory control and resource-efficient, faster and more accurate
order processing in a standardised SAP system environment.
Bocholt, Germany. Solutions tailored to the application, and an IT infrastructure with fewer interfaces form the basis for intelligent process control and a consistent flow of information in the
warehouse. In this context, Rudolf Ostermann
GmbH, Bocholt, supplier of a full range of joinery
and interior fittings, as well as Europe‘s leading
mail order supplier of edges and fittings, planned
a comprehensive re-structuring of its European
distribution centre. In light of the company‘s continued growth, the plan was first to optimise what
were previously manual processes with an SAP
wireless solution. A second project phase was
aimed at automating the goods flows between inward and outward goods using a comprehensive
material flow concept, setting up a new high-bay
racking system and conveyor technology, as well as
controlling the facility directly with SAP WM/TRM.
SSI Schaefer, Neunkirchen was awarded the contract for managing this project as general contractor.
Around 12,000 different edges (trims) and 15,000
other products such as furniture handles, grip strips
and recesses, wardrobe hooks, work surfaces,
sliding doors, lights and roller shutters, are ready
for dispatch in the distribution centre in Bocholt.
The trims are sold primarily by the metre. The
range is aimed mainly at carpentry shops, shopfitters and interior fitting firms, carpenters and
joiners. A key feature of Ostermann here is the
supply of small quantities and the delivery to customers within 24 hours. “Every order the company receives before 4 pm will be fulfilled the same
day”, proudly explains Johannes Deckers, Logistics
Manager at Ostermann. The material flow concept
of SSI Schaefer with wireless data transfer, process automation and control from the existing SAP
system is designed to make the distribution warehouse future-proof and competitive.
In the implementation phase, the first stage was
the conversion of the warehouse processes for
small parts, shelving and pallet storage to wireless
data transmission using online material flow control. The integration and control of the processes
from SAP WM/TRM permits online processing and
route-optimised coordination of inward storage,
order picking, replenishment and forklift guidance.
“The activation of the standard SAP TRM component enables the processing of transport orders
from SAP WM as individual tasks in the warehouse”, is how Martin Fröschl, SAP Project Manager at SSI Schaefer, explains the benefits. “With
the TRM component, its tailoring to the physical
properties of the distribution centre and the con-
Around 3,000 orders are now picked daily by
the employees in the new distribution centre
at Ostermann.
figuration of the resource control, the principles for
integrating further automatic subsystems and process control are provided directly from the existing
SAP WM”
The conveyor technology and the new high-bay
racking system were created and set up in the second project phase. Following an eight-month construction period, the new warehouse was put into
operation for the German edging specialist in May
2012. With over 10,000 additional pallet storage
locations, Ostermann has thus almost doubled its
storage capacity at the site with a total of 22,000
pallet storage spaces. The two-aisle, doubledeep high-bay racking system implemented by
SSI Schaefer in a clad rack design is controlled entirely by SAP WM/TRM. “A complete and seamless
integration into our existing SAP system – with no
intermediate components that always tend to be
susceptible to interface conflicts. I’m impressed by
the clear concept and the detailed, structured and
on-time processing of this challenging integration
project. The entire system and the system control
from SAP are running without a hitch.”, according to
Johannes Teriete, IT Manager at Ostermann. “The
SAP team from SSI Schaefer did an excellent job.”
“We have become considerably quicker, not least
in processing incoming goods, due to the automation and new IT.”, summarises Ostermann Head of
Logistics, Decker, with satisfaction. “The high level
of space utilisation and the automated processes
offered by the high-bay racking system have increased availability and ability to deliver considerably and offer a performance level that leaves us
well-equipped for further growth and the expansion
of our service levels.”
Ergonomic SAP dialogues
operated on touch panels
by SSI Schaefer make work
easier in the warehouse.
Wholesale
15
Consistently automated processes –
from goods receipt through to outgoing goods
ES3 LLC partnered with SSI Schaefer to further automate their distribution
centre in York, PA, in cooperation with C&S Wholesale grocers, the leading
grocery distributor in the USA.
3 conveyor belts feed 3 palletizing robots per SCP module, i. e. a total of
9 palletizing robots consolidate the cartons order related in the SCP system.
York, PA, USA. In recent years, the ES3 logistics
centre has grown to become one of the largest
automated food warehouses in the USA. Around
20,000 different articles – food and household
goods – are stored in the roughly 140,000 m2 large
complex. The goods are supplied by the manufacturers, picked according to store and transferred
to the transport service providers for dispatch to
the retailers.
Dennis Senovich, Managing Director of ES3, explains the greatest challenge: “The industry trend
is going in the direction of a higher number of
SKUs, but with a lower rate of turnover.” ES3 was
looking for a compact, holistic solution that in add-
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ition to automation of the warehouse processes
also facilitated the automation of order-based
case pickings and the dispatch of the shipments.
The optimum solution for the planned building expansion was offered by the innovative Schaefer
Case Picking (SCP) concept combined with the
Schaefer Tray System (STS). “The SCP is a technically advanced automation system that solves the
complex problems of order picking processes and
stable, pallet formation”, according to Senovich.
The solution from SSI Schaefer offers almost
90,000 tray storage spaces with variable height
classes in its SCP high-bay racking system. Material
flows and picking stations are located on different storey levels which facilitates a throughput of
more than 100,000 goods cartons per day. ES3
thus has one of the largest, most modern and
most efficient fully automated case pick systems
in the US. “The SCP is a system solution with a
holistic and modular design that can be expanded
as required”, explains Christoph Schenk, Project
Manager at SSI Schaefer. “This means that we
have been able to design an automation solution
for ES3 that covers the entire process from incoming goods to storage through to volume-optimised
pallet building for each store. Physically demanding warehouse work is no longer required of the
employees.”
To achieve this, SSI Schaefer has installed three
Schaefer Case Picking systems with a modular
design, the logistics software as well as an intelligent control system with the Schaefer Pack
Pattern Generator (SPPG). In combination with the
data from the logistics software, the SPPG calculates the optimum pallet layout plan for the dispatch pallets within the shortest space of time.
With this information, the logistics software then
controls the operative processes for the automated pallet building.
The success of the solution was recently confirmed by the renowned Research Strategies
Committee (RSC) of the US Council of Supply
Chain Management Professionals, Illinois. The
association of supply chain managers awarded ES3 with the “Supply Chain Innovation Award
2011” not least for the York expansion project as
the “best and most innovative logistics solution”.
At goods inward, a teach-in process for IT
master data acquisition was carried out initially.
The SCP system is designed for a throughput
of up to 74 pallets per hour with 5,350 cases.
About ES3
ES3 is an experienced team of supply chain
experts focused on innovation that will make
product move faster, more efficiently, and at
less cost than traditional supply chain models.
The ES3 network spans the entire US, and includes the world’s largest, multi-manufacturer
collaborative warehouse, which services the
Northeast with ES3’s revolutionary Consolidation and D2S programs. ES3 provides consolidated warehousing, case pick and transportation services to more than 60 consumer
packaged goods manufacturers. www.es3.com
The filled pallets are lowered onto the outgoing goods level and
processed automatically by an integrated foil stretcher.
Wholesale
17
A once-in-a-lifetime logistics project
KNV Group is building the biggest, most modern, highest-performance
media logistics centre in Europe.
Erfurt, Germany. KNV Logistik has ambitious goals for its new logistics centre in Erfurt, which will
serve both the book wholesaler Koch, Neff & Volckmar (KNV) and the publishers’ distributor Koch,
Neff & Oetinger (KNO VA). To enable the two companies to maintain and even extend their market leadership, the new distribution centre must be flexible, innovative and cost-effective; accommodate growth; and deliver outstanding service. SSI Schaefer, Graz, won the contract to plan and build
the new 315,000-square-metre facility. Hand in hand with KNV and logistics planning specialist IWL,
SSI Schaefer devoted months of intensive effort to developing a comprehensive blueprint – considering
the challenge from every angle, and planning every last detail with the greatest care.
The layout of KNV Group’s planned distribution centre in Erfurt.
And the results of their efforts: the fastest-moving
items will be stored in an automated high-bay warehouse. Other fast-moving items – which account for
more than 50 per cent of delivery volume – will be
kept in bins in the automated small parts storage
system 1. A modular shelving system on two levels
provides additional storage space for moderately
fast-moving items. The automated small parts
storage system 2 will provide storage bins, each
of which will hold small quantities of several different items. A automated storage and retrieval systems will be installed in the two automated warehouses for rapid inbound and outbound movement
of goods.
An ingenious technical solution was developed to
provide the automated small parts storage system 2 with a high-performance forward-pick area.
18
Goods required in the next few hours are brought
out of the depths of the huge automated small
parts storage system 2 and held in a connecting
loop system that either transfers the goods to a
buffer, the Schaefer Carousel System, or takes
them directly to the picking stations. In the
book trade, the amount of slow moving goods is
expanding, and this solution will introduce a consistent goods-to-picker strategy that completely
eliminates transfer times. This can deliver exceptionally high productivity.
In all, 21 kilometres of conveyors will link the various areas of the facility. Thanks to an imaginative
combination of systems, the logistics centre will
boast flexible, efficient processes and operate to a
significantly higher quality standard.
More efficient order picking
Solar Danmark A/S increases capacity and performance quality.
The item totes are retrieved in order-related sequence by the 8 SMC1 storage
and retrieval machines with a throughput of 120 totes per hour each.
Vejen, Denmark. Sensors, ventilation systems
or S7 controls for logistics systems, plumbing
supplies and electrical goods for engineering
and trades – when installations are carried out
in Northern Europe, a large number of the items
and tools required come from the Solar Danmark
A/S central warehouse. “Rising order volumes and
increasing logistics demands were straining our
storage capacities and order picking strategies
to the limit”, explains Lars Kristensen, Technical
Manager of the Logistics Systems in Vejen. Our
building extension has been in operation since the
end of June 2010. Each day, 11,000 orders are
picked and dispatched. The majority of the small
item picking is achieved using the highly ergonomic
order picking stations, which are an integral part of
the new automated system.
Around 32,000 totes are provided for small item
storage. With the compact mini-load tote storage
system, the capacity of the distribution centre has
doubled and efficiency has increased significantly.
A particular benefit is that dismantling the old
system has freed up space for a second mini-load
system of equal size to be set up later on. Eight
single-mast Schaefer Miniload Cranes each achieve
a goods handling performance of 120 totes per
hour. Their telescopic load handling devices permit
double-deep storage.
with no diversions. The result is efficient supply of
goods to the order picking stations with compact,
economic utilisation of floor space and minimal
conveyor technology.
The pick-to-tote workstations offer a throughput
that is up to 10 times higher in comparison to
conventional strategies. Using special control
devices, the system automatically checks the item
quantity and that the items are allocated to the
correct order, initiating an error correction routine
if required. “For us, it was not the high throughput
that was the key factor, but rather the reliability and
efficiency of the processes”, explains Kristensen.
“With 99.8 % error-free Solar deliveries, we are
approaching our zero-error target in order picking.”
The logistics software manages the automatic
retrieval of goods as they are required for the
orders and ensures they are fed to the order
picking stations in an optimal manner. With its
rich functionality and special processes tailored to
meet Solar’s business requirements, it covers all
modern warehousing tasks from warehouse and
stock management to goods receipt and despatch
through to order picking and material flow control.
Strategic cooperation: As an intralogistics partner,
SSI Schaefer will also be responsible for designing
and equipping new Solar facilities in the future.
The order picking stations are set up so that they
run in the same direction as the mini-load aisles,
which allows a uniform direction of material flow
Wholesale
19
The perfect interaction
to delight kids
In just 13 weeks, SSI Schaefer installed and implemented an efficient
logistics solution for myToys.de. The new system features short paths
and fast processes.
20
3-storey modular shelving system
Langenselbold, Germany. SSI Schaefer
implemented four warehouse systems for the
new logistics centre at Schwab Versand GmbH in
Langenselbold. The new system is used for the
entire handling system at myToys.de, an Otto Group
company. Only the perfect compatibility between
the four storage units makes it possible for the
customer orders, normally received online, to be
processed in precisely regulated intralogistics
processes and prepared for dispatch as quickly as
possible.
The range of goods and products at myToys.de
includes a wide range of toys, children‘s clothes
and baby products. As with the widely varying
dimensions and weights of the products, it was
important to implement very different warehouse
systems both in terms of technology and functionality with large dimensions and capacities.
The contract was awarded by the Otto Group to the
intralogistics specialists from Neunkirchen. “We
have already implemented a series of systems with
SSI Schaefer”, according to Jürgen Dietsch,
Head of Logistics at the Otto Group company
Hermes Fulfilment and Project Manager at the
Langenselbold logistics and shipping centre. “This
is how we knew that we would be able to rely on
the quality of services and the agreed schedule.”
The result is an impressive system, not least due
to its size, consisting of four units: A 3-storey,
73.1 m long, 55.4 m wide and 8.96 m high
modular shelving system, a narrow aisle pallet
high-bay racking system and a tunnel warehouse
and live storage racking. The storage units are
installed in close proximity and are interconnected
both physically and functionally.
At present, the myToys.de business which is
heavily impacted by seasonal and event-related
trade maintains stocks of over 100,000 different
articles. Extremely short paths for rapid handling
and time-effi cient processes characterise the
entire system.
“Partnering with SSI Schaefer yet again
proved to be a positive experience in
this project for Schwab mail order and
myToys.de”, reports satisfied customer
Jürgen Dietsch
E-Commerce
21
An attitude to life – a success story
Output increase by 220 % and an error quota of virtually zero.
Eschwege, Germany. Seven people, five computers, a camera, an endless number of shoes
and a good idea. As the founders of online
company skatedeluxe OHG Schimberg, Christoph
and Katrin Hartleib, together with a couple of
friends, sold skater shoes on Ebay, they had no
idea of just how quickly a lifestyle can become a
success story. The online specialist trade today,
with over 12,000 different articles from more than
250 brands, provides everything for skating and
snowboarding enthusiasts – from the right boards
to streetwear, shoes and accessories. With over
240,000 customers and almost 100 employees at
3 sites, skatedeluxe has become a market leader
in its sector in just 6 years. Demand increased
so quickly that the space available soon became
too small.
In the summer of 2010, skatedeluxe located a
suitable building in Eschwege and contracted
experienced logistics manager Jörg Kerber.
He planned the system with the aim of
guiding the young company into the future.
Sufficient capacities, fast and clear processes,
uncomplicated, error-free order picking as well as
plenty of flexibility. These were the requirements
from skatedeluxe for its logistics solution. “It was
essential that the warehouse was ready in time for
the 2010 Christmas business. We wanted to leave
the entire process to a company that knows what
it is doing and that we could rely on. We also had
a number of specific requirements that needed to
be implemented”, continued Kerber.
SSI Schaefer designed the appropriate solution
for an area of around 2,000 m2. In the process,
the entire relocation took place over a weekend,
without having to stop shipments to customers. A
2-storey modular shelving system forms the core of
the distribution centre providing space for almost
64,000 articles. 10,000 new containers, flat ones
on the upper levels and high ones on the lower
levels, as well as numerous drawer units provide
sufficient space for the goods. For skateboards
and snowboards, SSI Schaefer has created a
storage system within the modular storage system
with customised cantilever racking. A doubledeep longspan racking system connected to this
storage system with 3,500 storage positions for
cartons is also used as intermediate storage
for new deliveries that cannot be stored directly
in the modular shelving system. A pallet racking
system in the incoming goods area accepts newly
delivered packages. “And that is only the start as
the company‘s growth continues unabated. We
are already planning the next expansion project
together with SSI Schaefer”, says to Kerber.
2-storey modular shelving system for 64,000 articles.
22
Conveyors and storage lifts working in harmony.
A unique solution for Creativ Company
For the first time ever, SSI Schaefer has combined its innovative SSI Autocruiser
transport system with the LogiMat® storage lift. The solution, implemented for
Creativ Company, delivers a high degree of flexibility for warehousing and picking.
Holstebro, Denmark. Creativ Company is a large,
international supplier of arts and crafts products
and educational materials. To foster continuous
growth and pave the way for future expansion, the
organisation opted to automate its warehouse
processes with a new high-performance logistics
system.
The project goals were clearly defined from the
start: significantly increase warehouse capacity
and improve picking effi ciency. A further aim
was to reduce effort and enable future growth.
Decision makers also identified rapid return on
investment as a key requirement and were looking
for a one-stop solution partner.
At the heart of the new system are eight LogiMat
storage lifts. SSI Schaefer implemented the lifts
to save space and enable compact storage and
ergonomic goods-to-picker processes for small
parts. LogiMat requires 90 per cent less space
than conventional, static racking systems – while
providing vertical storage of 1,000 square metres
across a height of six metres.
SSI Schaefer connected its Autocruiser transport
system to the front end of the storage lifts. This
high-performance yet cost-efficient solution
bridges the gap between transportation via fork-lift
truck and conventional conveyers. It is particularly
suitable for low and medium throughputs and is
ideal for production and assembly processes with
individual loads ranging from just one gramme to
30 kilos. The 300-metre-long conveying system
features 27 SSI Autocruisers that transport between 300 and 450 units per hour.
The project was completed during Creativ
Company’s low season and included the introduction of software, platform, transaction monitoring
and the LogiMat lifts. The solution is the perfect
combination of conveying and storage lifts.
E-Commerce
23
Two-phase shipping automation doubles
throughput and capacity
SSI Schaefer has created an innovative two-phase automated shipping buffer system for
products waiting to be shipped at beverage wholesaler A. Kempf – doubling throughput
and capacity, and making it possible to load goods in line with store layout.
Two energy-efficient storage and
retrieval devices work in the aisle
between the order and tour buffers.
24
Balingen, Germany. Since 2002, beverage wholesaler A. Kempf has been a fully owned subsidiary of
supermarket operator Edeka Handelsgesellschaft
Südwest, providing services to Edeka stores in
southwest Germany.
The company operates two warehouses, one of
which is located in the German town of Balingen.
At peak times, 124,000 beverage crates, boxes
and packages – and as many as 160,000 on
particularly busy days – are shipped from the
distribution centre every 24 hours. To keep pace
with this level of turnover, A. Kempf needed to
automate its processes without disrupting ongoing
operations – so they turned to SSI Schaefer in
Giebelstadt.
“By automating processes and installing a twophase shipping concept, we were able to boost
efficiency and ensure our deliveries are always
ready on time. Plus, by creating automated
order and tour buffer storage areas, we can now
precisely time the provision of goods for shipment –
minimising standby time for trucks. In fact, turnaround has fallen from up to four hours to less
than one hour on busy days,” explains Christian
Melchior, business unit head at A. Kempf, based
in Offenburg.
The solution comprises two storage areas
and two powerful, energy-efficient storage and
retrieval systems working together in one aisle.
SSI Schaefer implemented a fully automated pallet
transfer system that enables pallet sequencing
in line with truck routes – significantly enhancing
efficiency. This meant dividing the outgoing goods
storage area in two: pallets are first brought to an
‘order buffer’, and are then transferred to a ‘tour
buffer’ before collection. The order buffer is made
up of a flow rack system divided into four sections,
each with eight channels. After picking, the pallets
are transported to one of the system’s 1,152
At two floor-level double-pallet feed-in stations, the picked
pallets are transferred to the conveyor system where the
automated two-phase process begins.
positions, spread over three levels. The tour buffer
offers a further 720 positions, equivalent to the
capacity of 16 trucks.
The picked pallets enter the conveyor system
via two feed stations at floor level, before being
transferred to the automated two-phase process
in the interim storage area. After the pallets have
passed through a wrapper, an applicator labels
them with EAN barcodes and a list of contents. A
vertical conveyor then transports the goods to the
right storage level in the order buffer.
The pallets are moved from the order buffer
to the tour buffer in preparation for shipment.
SSI Schaefer paid careful attention to the design
of the load handling devices used in the storage
and retrieval systems, in order to ensure seamless
transfer and reliable transport of the beverage
pallets in the aisle between the two buffers.
Two motorised roller tracks are equipped with
an electric pneumatic system that separates the
pallets from each other, so that each pallet can
be handled individually. Both storage and retrieval
devices can move up to two pallets at a time.
Based on this innovative system, orders can be
sequenced in line with truck delivery routes and are
rapidly transferred to the goods shipping area as
needed. On the basis of predefined requirements,
WAMAS logistics software generates the ideal
sequence for placing pallets in the tour buffer – so
goods are in the right order when unloading
the trucks at each store.
By reducing setup times, automating labelling and
pallet transfer and enabling automatic triggering
of processes in the order and tour buffers,
A. Kempf has increased throughput from 90 to
240 pallets per hour, and has almost doubled capacity in the interim storage area. And thanks to the
increased capacity offered in the new facility, the
company has plenty of room to grow.
A transfer carriage moves the pallets from
the vertical conveyor to the order buffer.
Another 720 pallet storing positions
are available in the tour buffer.
Food & Beverage
25
Made-to-measure solution
for the beverage industry
Higher throughputs for Norwegian
logistics provider Vectura –
based on smart material flows,
intelligent technology and tailormade automation combined with
high-efficiency logistics software
WAMAS®.
Gjelleråsen, Norway. SSI Schaefer has implemented one of the most state-of-the-art logistics
centres in the beverage industry for Norwegian
logistics player Vectura. The company is a member
of Arcus Group, the leading producer and supplier
of wine and liquor in Northern Europe. The entire
undertaking took four years – from planning, to
finding a suitable location, issuing a request for
bids, selecting a partner, through to completion.
But the time and effort invested certainly paid off:
the result is one of the most cutting-edge beverage
distribution centres in Europe. Some 50 per cent
of Norway’s alcohol products are handled at the
facility, which houses 8,000 items and almost
10 million bottles of wines and spirits from leading
brands. Every day, 220,000 bottles are shipped to
Scandanavia and the Baltics.
The centre combines diverse picking strategies,
a highly efficient concept for material flow and
26
sophisticated warehousing software. Together,
these components streamline operations from the
shipping of individual bottles or whole pallets to
KEG distribution. The main challenge for IT was
the clasification of beverages according to an ABC
system and the alignment of picking processes for
entire pallets, goods in boxes and single bottles.
Thanks to smart goods flows, leading automation
technologies, and WAMAS logistics software, which
is tailored to complex processes and picking strategies, a throughput of over 2,500 pallets per day is
now possible. Intelligent system configuration and
outstanding material flow design are behind this
impressive figure.
Items are stowed in a high-bay warehouse using
a mixture of single-deep and double-deep storage
and arranged according to how often they are
required. This approach boosts the efficiency of
retrieving and moving goods. There are two types
of material flows: storage of products made on
site and deliveries of items from elsewhere. In
prepartion for shipping, the picking areas receive
boxes and indiuvidual bottles from the high-bay
warehouse. These areas are sub-divided into
segments for goods in high demand (marked AA),
fast-moving items (A) and slow-moving products
(B/C). A-boxes are picked from pallets leveraging a
goods-to-picker system.
As Vectura also supplies hotels and restaurants,
deliveries of single bottles need to be made,
sometimes to remote locations. These items are
processed at a manual workstation, where they
are placed in totes designed for up to 30 bottles
and stored in an automated small parts store with
approximately 14,000 positions. B and C items
are delivered to a manual station where they are
packaged in boxes. Category-A goods are picked
from the small parts store using 85 gravity roller
tracks and transferred to shipping containers that
are then loaded onto pallets and transported by
an electrified monorail system to a consolidation
area. The monorail takes the pallets through a
stretch wrap machine before depositing them in
the shipping area. A mezzanine was installed to
support picking of B- and C-category items. Here,
the boxes are picked to mixed pallets, which are
then transported by fork-lift to a consolidation area
where they are combined with the whole pallets.
85 gravity roller tracks each
with three container positions transport items from
the small parts store. Fastmoving bottles are picked
directly from these conveyers
to shipping boxes.
“The unique combination of intelligent material
flow and highly efficient technology, as well as
reliable control systems and a customised warehouse management solution, has significantly increased our capacity, efficiency and service quality,”
remarks Lorna Stangeland,” CEO at Vectura.
Food & Beverage
27
Taking beverage logistics to a new level
Gerolsteiner’s fully automated compact warehouse is one of the most
advanced logistics solutions in the beverage industry.
28
Each of the 6 SLR equips
around 3,000 pallet positions
in its aisle.
When the Schaefer Lift&Run System stops in front of the designated
channel, the Orbiter lifts the pallet and takes it into the channel.
Gerolstein, Germany. The summer of 2006 brought
record temperatures and they, in turn, created new
challenges for drinks manufacturers. Warehouses
became bottlenecks between the production line
and the shop shelf.
To avoid negative fallout, Gerolsteiner Brunnen was
quick to launch an efficiency drive. One of its aims
was to enhance distribution logistics and improve
cost effectiveness through process automation.
The beverage player wanted to maximise capacity,
improve logistics efficiency and significantly
reduce truck turnaround times in the loading
bays. Gerolsteiner issued a detailed request for
tender, outlining its specific requirements. After
careful consideration, decision makers tasked
SSI Schaefer, Giebelstadt, with the design and
development of a turnkey system. The scope
included demolition of existing facilities, construction work and provision of new equipment.
“SSI Schaefer’s proposal featured an intelligent
solution for a fully automated compact warehouse
that offered maximum space utilisation, high
throughputs, enhanced order picking and accelerated
processing of outbound goods,” explains Ulrich
Rust, technical director at Gerolsteiner Brunnen.
Thanks to precise digital measurements and light sensors, Orbiter
delivers the pallets to the right position in the channel.
and efficient storage and material flow concepts in
the beverage industry – in two construction phases.
First, a warehouse with 9,300 pallet storage
spaces for non-returnable bottles was created next
to the bottling facility for this type of beverage.
These products account for around 20 per cent
of Gerolsteiner’s bundles. After the warehouse
went on stream in November 2011, the second
phase of the project kicked off, doubling capacity.
Since September 2012, Gerolsteiner has been the
proud owner of a new six-aisle high-bay warehouse
boasting almost 19,000 pallet positions. There is
scope to extend this figure to as many as 60,000
in future.
“The compact warehouse is only a quarter of the
size of a traditional block storage facility. This
means we have reduced space requirements by
the equivalent of three football pitches,” remarks
Rust. In a first for the company, SSI Schaefer
implemented its innovative Schaefer Lift&Run
System over three levels. Furthermore, the entire
despatch area was fitted with a platform. As a
result, office and recreational space, as well as a
handling area for the construction of display pallets
could be intelligently integrated into the plant.
Between mid-2011 and September 2012,
SSI Schaefer created one of the most advanced
Food & Beverage
29
A great leap forward
The WAMAS® logistics software ensures dynamic
handling of goods at Pistor AG. The solution represents the largest investment in logistics in the
company‘s history.
Rothenburg, Switzerland. Pistor, Switzerland‘s
leading company in the bakery/patisserie/confectionary sector, is now the only independent wholesaler in this industry. Pistor‘s customers benefit
from a comprehensive array of specialized products ranging from bakery, kitchen, café and restaurant to kiosk and store.
Due to massive growth and its desire to be the
best in every sector, Pistor was driven to its performance limits. Since the timing for a major new
step was right, Pistor decided to make the biggest
investment in its history: the construction of a new
state-of-the-art distribution centre (WUZ West) with
a sky walk that leads to the existing small case
warehouse. This project represented a quantum
leap, which required the skills of a reliable partner –
SSI Schaefer.
High-bay pallet racking
ly flexible picking system. That‘s why the high-bay
warehouse was specifically designed for pallets,
small bins as well as trays. At the same time, the
various special requirements of the products had to
be taken into consideration whereby the goods are
stored based on their sensitivity to temperature.
Pistor‘s long-term goal is to offer a full product
range. Consequently, the objectives of the new
distribution centre in Rothenburg, were to optimise
picking processes and goods supply, to reduce cycle
times and variable costs, to create ergonomic workstations and to ensure future expansion capacity.
The complete integration of the existing small
package warehouse without interrupting ongoing
operations played a significant role in this project.
The goods are picked on roller containers according to the principle “from heavy to light” in 8 welllit picking tunnels in the high-bay warehouse. Due
to exact calculations beforehand by the WAMAS
logistics software and the coordination of the route
planning for the next day, a total of 12 different
customer orders can be picked simultaneously
per picking vehicle. A peak performance of over
400 tons a day can be achieved using this picking
process.
More than 8,000 different articles are automatically stored in the high-bay warehouse according to
respective requirements and dynamically prepared
at the picking front, which represents the dynamic
centrepiece of the system. The variety and different sizes of the Pistor articles require an extreme-
The articles from the opposite small case warehouse arrive simultaneously via the sky walk at the
consolidation area. Once automatically wrapped,
they are forwarded by the conveying system
towards the shipping area.
The biggest advantage compared to the previous
situation is that WAMAS organises all the various subsystems of Pistor in the high-performance
facility from one single platform. Another major
component is the innovative safety concept featuring a safety PLC for all systems, which was used
for the very first time.
The state-of-the-art WUZ West system promotes
Pistor AG’s continuous growth, enables range expansion and provides a decisive competitive advantage. The mutual coorperation of these two
companies allows them to look to the future, and
plans for expansion are already being worked on
following the official opening.
Goods-in station
30
Modernisation project performed during
ongoing operations – with excellent results
SSI Schaefer has successfully completed the first phase of a modernisation project for dairy product
manufacturer Zott, designed to give
conveyors and control systems a
makeover.
The modernisation project included the conveying system across nine aisles of the existing
high-bay warehouse, the storage and retrieval devices, control systems and modification of
the PLC applications.
Mertingen, Germany. Since the 1950s, Zott has been
one of Germany’s leading manufacturers of yoghurts,
desserts and cheese products. For almost 25 years,
the company’s central warehouse in Mertingen was at
the heart of production supply, disposal of production
waste and distribution of dairy items. Eventually, the
time came to renew the facility’s conveying systems.
However, with some 15,000 pallets passing through
the warehouse each and every week, halting operations during construction was not an option.
For this reason, the modernisation work was carried
out in multiple bite-sized projects – during regular
operations. In the first phase, conveying systems for
the retrieval and storage of items during picking were
given a facelift, before structural work began.
The work on the picking area was performed outside
the warehouse and completed in just two weeks.
First, SSI Schaefer disconnected the control systems
and began to disassemble the legacy conveyors. Then
the mechanical components for the replacement system were installed, followed by the electrical parts.
Finally, the solution went into production and after
some fine-tuning, was up and running.
The next phase of the project involved renewal of the
conveying technology used for retrieving and storing
items in the warehouse. SSI Schaefer implemented
a conveying system spanning the nine aisles of the
existing high-bay warehouse, as well as installing
transfer points and technology for the storage and
retrieval devices. All together, the intralogistics expert
delivered nine new lift tables for storage stations,
38 chain conveyors, 19 lift roller conveyors, and five
control tables featuring Siemens touch panels.
“The modernised system is much more reliable
and error-free,” explains Stefan Pfanner, Head of
Sales Service and Logistics at Zott. “SSI Schaefer
was a committed, reliable and professional partner,
delivering the solution on time and in line with our
requirements.”
The high-bay warehouse after modernisation. The entire project was completed two weeks
ahead of schedule.
Food & Beverage
31
Each channel is 22 positions
deep, optimising truck-loading
and product-picking processes.
Combined shuttle solution for southern
Europe’s largest cold storage logistics hub
Milagro, Spain. Frigorificos de Navarra (Frinavarra)
specialises in fruit and vegetable storage, with
these product groups accounting for around
85 per cent of the company’s total inventory.
Because throughput spikes during seasonal peaks,
Frinavarra needed a reliable, flexible and dynamic
warehouse solution that could keep pace with
high volumes and efficiently support cold chain
processes – with a high degree of automation.
SSI Schaefer met all of these requirements –
supplying a fully automated channel storage
solution with space for around 22,000 pallets.
The system was installed in a cold storage facility
(-28 degrees Celsius) that is 86 metres long,
55 metres wide and approximately 15 metres high.
Each channel is 22 positions deep, optimising
product picking and truck loading processes.
On average, Frinavarra processes 45 pallets every
hour. Now, it can move as many as 75 pallets
per hour – thanks to the combination of a fully
automated shuttle solution, the Schaefer Orbiter
32
System, and the Schaefer Compact Crane storage
and retrieval device.
SSI Schaefer’s automatic conveyor system enables
incredibly rapid movement of goods along the cold
chain, taking products directly from the goods-in
area to the cold store. This maintains the efficiency
gained from the channel storage system.
SSI Schaefer’s WAMAS logistics software manages
and coordinates all processes in the new cold
store. Frinavarra’s version of WAMAS features a
specially designed function to further streamline
the provision of goods for delivery and truck loading
processes. All pallets for a single consignment
are placed in separate channels in the cold store,
at the position nearest the loading point. This
reduces the transfer time from cold store to truck
to just a few minutes.
The new warehouse has made Frinavarra’s Milagro
site the largest logistics centre for this sector in
southern Europe.
Cold store for seafood
Pacific Cold Storage establishes the largest mobile racking system in Asia.
Samut Sakhon, Thailand. In the face of increasing
worldwide demand for frozen seafood, special
measures are required on the supplier’s part to
be able to offer high quality products at all times.
For the new cold store at Pacific Cold Storage Co.
Ltd (PCS), a leading rental supply company of cold
stores in Thailand, SSI Schaefer has installed a
mobile racking system with over 14,500 pallet
storage spaces (approx. 13,000 tonnes of goods)
at storage temperatures of -25 degrees Celsius.
When the cold store operator began planning a new
central cold store warehouse in Samut Sakhon, the
following requirements were the key focus: rapid
and flexible response to a continually changing demand, logistics optimisation, improvement of internal workflows and achieving cost savings. The
company decided in favour of a modularly designed
system that is ideal for refrigerated and cold stores.
As in a previous project, SSI Schaefer and PCS
worked closely together right from the start. The aim
was to create an optimal solution where all aspects
of the building structure are taken into account.
Today, a carefully designed system optimisation
with 42 m long mobile bases with night park option
and automatic aisle lighting ensures exceptionally
efficient and safe storage operations. Incoming
and outgoing goods are entered and checked via
PDAs using wireless LAN on the mobile racking
systems. The new warehouse is 40 m wide,
138 m long and equipped with modularly designed
mobile racking systems that cover a total area of
5,520 m2 in three storage rooms.
The new concept not only doubles the storage
capacity in comparison to a static solution. The
warehouse operator is also able to differentiate
itself in a highly competitive market. Due to the
automatic aisle lighting, the night parking and the
space-saving storage, the electricity costs in the
cold store have been dramatically reduced. Thanks
to direct access to the pallet storage spaces, the
goods are easier to locate. In addition, the pallets
can be moved very quickly – around 100 items per
hour.
“The system has accelerated material flow
considerably”, says Jitchai Nimitpanya, Chairman
of PCS. “The clear organisation of the warehouse
and intake zones has greatly streamlined the order
processing and compilation. The error quota has
also dropped to virtually zero.”
The mobile racking system provides space for 14,500 pallets or for 13,000 tonnes of goods.
Frozen goods
33
34
Cold, colder, frozen
Fully automated channel storage system for frozen potato products from Mydibel.
Mouscron, Belgium. Mydibel, a family-run
business founded in 1988, supplies frozen potato
products such as wedges, French fries, flakes and
potato flour to food industry players, including
retailers and caterers, in over 75 countries. To
automate and enhance processes across the
board, decision makers opted to consolidate
warehouse capacity at a brand-new, cutting-edge
logistics centre at the company’s production
site in Mouscron. To this end, Mydibel tasked
SSI Schaefer in Giebelstadt with the design
and development of automated systems and
installation of a turnkey high-bay warehouse,
complete with conveying technology that would
dovetail seamlessly with existing production and
IT management systems.
The Belgian organisation selected an automated
channel storage system with shuttle technology.
Picking in cold stores must be completed
within 30 minutes at maximum temperatures of
-5 degrees Celsius. These regulations mean an
increasing number of manufacturers are looking to
increase warehouse efficiency – by choosing fully
automated logistics solutions.
The food manufacturer
Mydibel decided for an
automated channel storage
system design with shuttle
technology for its new deepfreeze warehouse.
After 18 months of planning and preparation,
including software customisation, Mydibel’s
systems went live in May 2012. Today, pallets
are transported across eleven levels in the five
93-metre-long aisles of the high-bay channel
warehouse. Each level has 57 channels which can
be accessed from each side by five storage and
retrieval devices. Items are stored eleven deep. In
total, the cold store has 32,000 pallet positions
for the 800-mm-wide euro pallets and 25,600 positions for the wider (1,000 mm) industrial pallets.
With the exception of the two outer channels, each
channel can be accessed from two aisles thanks
to the Schaefer Orbiter System. “This enables us
to load the channels with goods from two sides,
for example for different batches. And in line with
the first-in, first-out method, we can place items
on the shelves from one side and remove from the
other,” explains Dries Seynaeve, head of the new
logistics centre.
From goods receiving, the supplied pallets
are transferred to the conveying system.
The storage and retrieval machines place up to 52 pallets
in the channels each hour and remove up to 126.
Frozen goods
35
36
Mobile racking solution with 1,270 pallet positions.
Automated lighting control ensures overhead lights are switched on only in
the aisles being used.
Thanks to single-deep pallet storage, 100 per cent flexible access to
goods is guaranteed.
Seamless cold chain for baked goods
SSI Schaefer teamed up with its long-standing distribution partner Spima to
implement a mobile racking system for BakeArt in Cyprus. The solution for frozen
products makes excellent use of available space, delivers high throughput and
provides easy access to 100 per cent of goods.
Frenaros, Cyprus. An unbroken cold chain is of
paramount importance in the frozen goods sector
and a key competitive factor for players in this
industry. BakeArt is no exception. The company
specialises in the import and sale of high-quality baked goods, delivering frozen dough to customers across Cyprus, including bakeries, supermarkets and hotels.
BakeArt offers a comprehensive assortment of
products and handles a high number of orders
every day. As a result, optimizing warehouse capacity and ensuring efficient, error-free picking were
key to safeguarding the supply chain.
A further challenge of this undertaking was to
keep storage costs per pallet as low as possible
without compromising access to goods. For this
reason, decision makers at BakeArt opted for a
mobile racking solution from SSI Schaefer. The
system provides 1,270 pallet positions and ensures highly efficient warehouse operations. An
additional benefit is its picking feature, which enables simultaneous opening of two or more aisles
for the retrieval of goods. Moreover, automatic
lighting control ensures overhead lights are only
activated in the aisles that are in use. This signifi cantly cuts energy consumption, minimizing a key
cost driver in Cyprus.
“We are very pleased with the solution from
SSI Schaefer and Spima. The new mobile racking
system dramatically cuts space requirements –
conventional shelves would have taken up much
more room,” says Imad Nehmeh from BakeArt.
The solution not only fulfils all customer requirements but, as the first of its kind in the country,
is an excellent reference project for SSI Schaefer
and Spima.
Frozen goods
37
The Schaefer Vertical System can be used for
storage and retrieval operations simultaneously.
38
Vertical transport made easy
Flexible automation solution for the static small parts store
of “Parts Logistics Development” at Porsche Logistik GmbH.
Sachsenheim, Germany. In February 2011,
SSI Schaefer was awarded the contract by
Porsche Logistik GmbH to outfit a section of their
new central spare parts warehouse, destined to
supply parts to Porsche‘s development engineers.
In the 10,000 m2 warehouse complex for “Parts
Logistics Development”, there are 350 inward and
2,000 outward goods movements each day.
Between February and August 2011, SSI Schaefer
set up three static pallet warehouses for medium
and large parts. There is a 12-aisle, narrow-aisle
pallet store, with 5,740 pallet storage spaces as
well as a 7-aisle pallet warehouse with 1,438 additional storage locations. To store large parts
there is a single-aisle pallet warehouse with 140
pallet spaces.
The company also set up a two-storey modular
shelving system on a self-supporting platform to
store the small parts. The advantage of this configuration is that it uses the full height of the building while leaving the space underneath free for
the processing of incoming and outgoing goods.
The two platforms, measuring 2,000 m2 each,
provide close to 9,000 metres of shelf space
for storing small parts containers weighing up to
15 kg – in total there are 42,000 containers in
circulation. “The small parts warehouse needs
to deal with peak periods and allow for future in-
creases in throughput,” says Sascha Drechsler,
planner at Porsche. “This means fluctuations of at
least +/- 20 %. Two conventional lifts would have
been incapable of handling this. And three would
have made the system too big.”
During the implementation phase, the intralogistics specialists at SSI Schaefer and the planning
team at Porsche Logistik developed a new and
innovative conveyor solution. Inward and outward
processes are kept completely separate and generally follow the person-to-goods principle. Items
for the small parts warehouse are repacked into
containers and stacked on picking carts. The
Schaefer Vertical System (SVS) serves both platform levels. It can be used for inward and outward
movements simultaneously. A special feature is
that unlike basic lifts, the transport processes
are completely automated. Warehouse personnel
move the carts to a transfer station and press the
button for the desired platform level. The process
then runs automatically from that point on.
“For us, the efficiency of material flows was the
focal point. From the intelligent combination of
traditional technology and additional automation
components, a compelling system concept has
emerged”, summarises Drechsler. “A processoptimised design that we can use to develop
throughput volume and growth potential.”
Warehouse personnel move the carts to a transfer station and press the button for the desired platform level.
Automotive
39
Together, the LogiMat storage lift (3 metres x
7 metres) and a two-level locator storage
system streamline processes.
LogiMat® storage lift breathes new
life into car showrooms
Fulda, Germany. The atzert:weber group runs four
car showrooms and a maintenance workshop (Auto
Sofort Service) in the German state of Hesse. On
a site of 22,000 square metres, the Volkswagen
centre in Fulda showcases a range of vehicles from
the VW, Skoda and Audi marques. In May 2013,
atzert:weber opened a new Audi centre at the
same location.
Both businesses operate in parallel, with sales and
after-sales services for each brand kept entirely
separate. The VW centre is on the left and Audi on
the right. A brand-new semi-automated parts store
on two levels located between the facilities is at
the heart of warehouse logistics operations. This
is designed to act as a link between the body shop
and the paint centre, and the mechatronics and
services departments. Special-purpose tools required for the vehicles remain in the workshops but
have been reorganised based on the SSI Schaefer
locator approach.
Locator storage systems on both levels and a multifunctional LogiMat storage lift ensure efficient processes. The parts are stored in modular shelving,
40
cross-beam and mobile racking systems, as well
as in drawers. The LogiMat lift has 60 trays and is
directly integrated with the other systems. It fulfils
a range of functions: for example, it serves as a
link between the levels, with one service opening
at each level, and it acts as an interim storage area
for picked items before they are retrieved.
As Philipp Atzert, CEO at atzert:weber group’s VW
centre explains: “Because orders are pre-picked
and stored in the lift for our employees, we cut waiting times at the collection point. It’s really smart.”
SSI Schaefer delivered all equipment for the entire undertaking. The relocation of the warehouse
was performed in stages as defined by a dedicated strategy developed by the intralogistics
player. This meant the move could be completed in
four days and during ongoing operations. This combination of new systems reduces waiting times and
distances by over 70 per cent and saves around
50 per cent on space. The facility is currently used
for around 5,500 parts but has capacity for up to
7,000 positions.
Car parts re-organised
Made-to-measure warehouse
solution ensures rapid response
times at car parts wholesaler.
Oberhausen, Germany. The requirements to the
entire car parts wholesaler industry have changed
fundamentally over time. For example, in line with
the increased number of car manufacturers and
models, the variety of spare parts has grown
immensely.
To be able to include other product and goods
groups into the range, Conrad Autoteile GmbH
has expanded its storage capacities. Since February 2012, Conrad has been storing more than
50,000 different car spare parts in OEM quality on 2,500 m2. The rapid access to a further
500,000 article numbers is ensured through
contacts in a trade and industry network. The
workshop customer ultimately determines
when the delivery is made: all parts located in
the actual warehouse are – where required –
supplied within 90 to 120 minutes after receipt
of order via the in-house transport fleet. “It is precisely this flexibility and speed that our customers
appreciate”, according to Klaus-Werner Conrad,
Managing Director at Conrad Autoteile GmbH.
The hub of the new spare parts logistics system
is the picking and take-away warehouse. The bulk
of the spare parts are stored in a 3-storey R 3000
modular shelving system. “This system is the core
of our company. It permits the seamless material
flow for our workshop customers as well as an extremely high take-away quota for our shop customers”, according to Conrad.
In addition to the modular shelving system,
SSI Schaefer has installed pallet racking for
280 euro pallets. It is used to store batteries,
wheel rims, oil, antifreeze brake fluid, and more.
“We offer a particularly high level of availability
of the entire range of parts – and all this entirely
without automation”, continues Conrad.
Shelf containers with dividers for up to 8 compartments.
Automotive
41
Fit for the solar age
Acting as a general contractor, SSI Schaefer contributed
a balanced mixture of manually operated, semi and fully
automated storage systems.
Kassel, Germany. In mid April 2012, SMA Solar
Technology AG, world market leader in photovoltaic inverters, put its new logistics centre in
Magna Park Kassel into operation. In the roughly
47,000 m2 large hall, the company is combining
and optimising its logistics processes for supplying materials to the production area.
The SSI Schaefer Group contributed to the project
as a partner for implementing the intralogistics
equipment. “The overall concept won us over in
terms of quality, flexibility and response capability. It took just ten months from planning through
to the first partial commissioning process. To be
able to achieve this, we needed a reliable partner with the same concept of professionalism and
goal-orientation as us”, confirms Dr Armin Lohse,
Vice President of the Launch Management &
Supply Chain at SMA.
42
A business relationship based on tradition: For
around 15 years, SMA has been using container and racking technology from SSI Schaefer. A
special significance in the technology-driven supply chain at SMA is given to the 5-aisle automatic
small parts store in the service area as well as a
semi-automated storage system for mini-load containers. The latter is used for just-in-time supply of
all the production sites.
In the service area, faulty inverters returned by
customers are initially taken in and stored temporarily. The WAMAS software solution from
SSI Schaefer that is linked to SAP maps the warehouse structure including the compartment assignments. Based on this information, the system
determines the free compartments and includes
in its assessment factors such as height classes,
buffer fill levels, distribution and availabilities. The
Automatic small parts store with integrated emergency concept that permits variable distribution to the aisles.
loading units are then conveyed via the conveyor technology loop to the assigned
aisles, where they are picked up by the relevant storage and retrieval system and
placed into storage in one of the 9,940 storage spaces of the automatic small parts
store. The response is sent to SAP at the same time. The removal from storage of
faulty inverters is triggered by the production control system and sent to SAP via
the warehouse control system. Following repair, they are placed back into temporary
storage in the automatic small parts store. Replacement parts on the other hand
follow specific information such as serial numbers that are included in the orders
generated by SAP.
The five storage and retrieval systems of type SMC 2 are compact two-mast devices.
At driving speeds up to 5 m horizontally and 4 m vertically per second, around
62 inverters can be moved in and out of storage per aisle each hour.
5 automated storage and retrieval systems provide
efficient goods-in and goods-out processes.
Greater flexibility was achieved via the 3-storey, semi-automated small parts store
with a special conveyor technology solution for containers and cartons. The platform
system with integrated live storage racking is embedded into a pallet racking system
with approx. 460 storage spaces. The mini-load container system is used to fill the
route trolleys bound for the production area. The containers picked from the live
storage racking have a barcode added, are positioned manually on the ESD-proof
container conveyor technology and thus fed onto one of the eight destination tracks.
“The overall solution from SSI Schaefer met our requirements exactly for a streamlined and flexible process design”, summarises Dr Lohse.
Platform system with integrated live storage racking.
Manufacturing
43
Boosting productivity in
assembly line supply
After successful implementation of the new system, it is now possible to perform around 600 incoming
goods processes and 2,500 outgoing goods processes every day, with operations split into three shifts.
Bosch Rexroth has been operating a new interim storage area for its mobile control
units production facility in the German town of Augsfeld. The manufacturer required
greater performance and flexibility – and SSI Schaefer was able to deliver, with a
concept based on new containers that are significantly easier to use.
Hassfurt/Augsfeld, Germany. With over 37,500
employees around the globe, Bosch Rexroth is
one of the world’s leading suppliers of electric
drive and control technology. In Germany, the
company operates 17 production facilities, four
regional sales centres and eight service centres.
The complex in Hassfurt/Augsfeld, founded in
1961, includes a manufacturing and logistics site,
and part of the Mobile Applications business unit.
It was here where Bosch Rexroth decided to install
a new interim storage area for the production of
mobile control units.
The two-aisle automated small parts store provides interim storage for the production facility,
and is used to hold items such as brakes, stabilisation modules, hydraulic components and
valves. Capacity totals 10,488 positions, comprising standard containers in a range of sizes.
The new automatic small parts store replaces
an old facility where goods were stored on europallet-sized trays. The company was looking for a
new solution that would significantly reduce handling time and effort, and markedly boost flexibility.
“In SSI Schaefer, we found a partner that offered
us the perfect solution, delivering all the improvements we were looking for – and meeting our
44
requirements in terms of picking,” explains Dr Lars
Biester, head of logistics at Bosch Rexroth’s
Hassfurt/Augsfeld plant.
While work was underway on the automated small
parts store, SSI Schaefer also integrated the
warehouse management system into the central
SAP-based ERP environment. Now that the project
has been successfully completed, it is possible to
execute around 600 incoming goods processes
and 2,500 outgoing goods processes each day,
with operations split into three shifts. A picking
step takes a maximum of one minute. Plus, handling each individual container is now far easier
and more ergonomic.
Equipped with telescopic load handling devices,
the storage and retrieval units are designed to
work with double-deep storage and can support
a weight of 100 kilos. The parameters of the load
handling devices can be flexibly configured, and
they can safely move containers and trays of up
to 50 kilos. There are practically no limits to the
shape or the surface material of the articles to be
stored. On average, each storage and retrieval device transports around 320 containers every hour.
Light-controlled technologies provide heat
during the cold seasons
With the introduction of light-controlled pick techniques in order picking and assembly,
Danish company Danfoss has considerably increased process and quality assurance in
the field of high-pressure systems. A high-end solution by SSI Schaefer.
Nordborg, Denmark. Anyone running a radiator
thermostat during the cold months of the year is
using an invention made by Danish manufacturer
Danfoss. Today the company, which was founded in
1933, is one of the world’s leading manufacturers
of control technology in the heating sector and is
also a major player in the field of low-maintenance,
high-pressure pumps. When Danfoss began implementing their plans to optimise warehouse space,
the focus was on increasing process reliability as
well as improving the workplaces.
Depending on the size, between 20 and 40
high-pressure pumps are manufactured each day.
Stocks of around 400 different individual parts
are maintained at the listed company’s production
site. The assembly jobs are transferred from the
SAP system directly to the E-Pick system based on
products and orders. The system communicates
with the Warehouse Management System (WMS)
and initiates the order picking process for the required materials in the three live storage shelving
systems. Here the parts are picked, confirmed and
transferred to the assembly point according to
pick-by-light instructions and paperless.
Paperless picking with pick-by-light.
Once all the requested parts have been transferred, the system enables the assembly of the
pump ordered. The employee selects the jobs via
the display at the workstation, and the storage
locations for the parts to be assembled are illuminated in the correct sequence for picking and
assembly. Images of the assembly stages stored
in the system guide the worker through the process step-by-step. Acknowledgements of picks
and assembly stages on the light strip and on
the display touchscreen provide comprehensive
process reliability and optimal assembly results.
Using the WMS link, the stock levels on the live
storage shelving systems are also monitored continuously and the replenishment supply is triggered automatically as required.
“SSI Schaefer has developed a system here that
meets Denmark’s high legal requirements in terms
of ergonomics and work safety. With the direct linkup of our IT systems, we offer maximum process
reliability and – in terms of traceability – consistent
transparency for seamless documentation”, summarises Sven Wohland, Change Agent at Danfoss.
Light-controlled assembly system guides the employee through the process step-by-step.
Manufacturing
45
All fast-moving items are stored on shelves in around 1,800 positions, individually packaged and grouped by product line.
Items are prepared for dispatch at the packing stations.
Around 150 – 400 orders are processed each day.
Enhancing transparency with WAMAS® GO!
At bag manufacturer Leonhard Heyden, the WAMAS GO! logistics software, together
with a made-to-measure storage facility, ensures transparent processes and end-to-end
monitoring across the entire supply chain.
Hachenburg, Germany. Successful international
briefcase and handbag manufacturer Leonhard
Heyden operates ten stores across Europe and
sells its products through countless retailers worldwide. The mid-sized player releases four collections
on the market every year. All items must be ready
for delivery at short notice, in line with orders from
outlets and customers – labelled, modified as required, and packaged. Seasonal peaks in demand
and rapid changeover from one collection to the
next are the norm.
When Leonhard Heyden decided to consolidate
three existing sites at a single, central 3,000square-metre warehouse in the German town of
Hachenburg, they had a number of goals in mind.
They needed to ensure they had sufficient products
on hand to meet demand, while enhancing routes,
minimising incorrect orders and ensuring seamless
processes and traceability. Moreover, they wanted
the possibility to access the warehouse systems
from company headquarters, in order to remotely
monitor and control processes. To meet these
complex requirements, Leonhard Heyden decided
to implement SSI Schaefer’s WAMAS GO! logistics
software.
The system is based entirely on the successful WAMAS logistics software. WAMAS manages
complex processes in all manner of warehouses,
from manual to fully automated, and WAMAS GO!
is tailored specifically to the needs of mid-sized
companies. This made it ideal for Leonhard
Heyden, which has a mid-range turnover and manual warehouse system. The new software manages,
plans and monitors all flows of goods, information
and resources – and supports all logistics processes from goods receipt and picking through to
packaging, shipment and tracking.
46
After scanning the barcode on the delivery note, the
hand-held terminal immediately displays the item to
be picked and the corresponding storage position.
The IT system is combined with a manual storage
facility from SSI Schaefer, tailored precisely to
Leonhard Heyden’s requirements. A modular shelving solution with around 1,800 positions holds
all fast-moving items, packaged individually and
grouped by product range. End-of-line items are
stored in the rear of the warehouse using the
‘chaotic’ storage principle. In the outgoing goods
area, SSI Schaefer installed eight height-adjustable, ergonomic packing stations. Two are reserved
for packing products for shipping to stores, two are
used for returns management, and at the remaining four, employees modify the high-end leather
bags before they are dispatched.
When new supplies arrive, they are stored in boxes
on pallets in two halls. In one hall they are stored
several rows deep, organised by product line
(slow-moving items); in the other, they are kept on
mixed pallets for direct access (fast-moving and
regular items). WAMAS GO! supports end-to-end
management of all products, directly on the pallets.
“Now that all processes are managed by
WAMAS GO!, we have achieved time savings of
around 30 per cent. In addition, the system ensures full visibility into inventory and end-to-end
traceability. Plus, we have seen a significant reduction in the error rate,” reports Christian Usinger,
head of logistics at Leonhard Heyden.
During assembly, the storage and retrieval machines have been equipped with especially designed
new load handling devices which have a tray gripper together with pushing and pulling chain.
New from old!
Thanks to the comprehensive modernisation of hardware and control, the automatic
small parts store from SKF is now once again using the latest technology available.
Berlin, Germany. SKF Lubrication Systems Germany AG is part of the SKF Lubrication Business
Unit, the world’s leading provider of central lubrication technology. At the Berlin site, different materials, screws, nuts, pumps, and shafts for central
lubrication systems are stored according to the
FIFO principle. A four-aisle automatic small parts
store provides approx. 30,000 storage spaces.
“After more than 15 years, the warehouse management system software, the automation, and the
system components, including the material flow
control, needed to be replaced”, reflect SKF Project Managers Walter Althoff and Thomas Lehnigk.
Accordingly, SKF coordinated the project in two
phases. In the first project phase, the SSI Schaefer
logistics software was introduced and connected
to the material management system from SAP. As
a modular system design, it permits the exact customisation of the logistics software to the conditions at SKF. The automatic small parts store was
modernised in the second project phase.
marily made up of custom designs. Everything was
replaced, with the exception of the mast and the
header and ground beam of the storage and retrieval systems. Starting with the motors, running
wheels, sliding lines and gear units, to the load
handling device through to the rails. Now, the storage and retrieval systems are also equipped with
an energy recovery system. As part of the storage
and retrieval systems, SSI Schaefer has replaced
the outdated on-board S5 controls with stationary
S7 controls. The container and tray conveyor technology was also replaced.
The modernisation project at SKF was completed
in July 2012. “For us, increasing the throughput
speed was only one objective”, the SKF Project
Manager continues. “We were aiming for a modern IT and communication solution and wanted to
significantly reduce wear as well as maintenance
and repair costs for hardware. Thanks to an energy
recovery system, the energy consumption is also
reduced. Our expectations were all met in terms of
the project objectives.”
Due to the maximum height restriction set by the
building, the previous equipment installed was pri-
Manufacturing
47
Source: Desigual
Efficiency gains for unconventional fashion house
Award-winning logistics solution from SSI Schaefer
enables worldwide access to a range of Desigual
collections – anytime and anywhere.
Gavá, Spain. Headquartered in Barcelona and
founded in 1984, Desigual sells 10 million items
of clothing in 5,000 stores around the globe
each year. From Barcelona to New York, Tokyo to
Singapore, the label offers a world of surprises for
lovers of creative, unconventional fashion, unveiling
over 1,000 new designs each season.
SSI Schaefer implemented a highly efficient picking
solution for Desigual at a space-limited site. The
result is an award-winning material flow concept
that ensures fashion items in every size and colour
are readily available in stores around the world. The
seamlessly integrated logistics solution comprises
picking and conveying systems plus a small parts
store, and is proving a great success.
Fashion labels release at least two collections
every year. With companies jostling for attention
on the high street, garments need to be designed
and finished months in advance. Large numbers
of products are sent to distribution centres
straight from production. To ensure cost-effective
processing and timely delivery to stores, Desigual
must begin picking orders as soon as the first
items arrive in the warehouse. What’s more, stores
are constantly sending orders to replace the goods
that have already been sold. These orders are
usually relatively small but require fast, efficient
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processing. The SSI Schaefer solution is designed
to combine two elements: order picking for new
collections and stock replenishment.
The intralogistics provider developed an innovative
picking method tailored to the needs of the fashion
industry – and highly scalable to cater to Desigual’s
rapid growth. The system stands out from other
solutions because it features automated sorter
endpoints and a split-tray sorter. The endpoints are
designed as chutes and located directly beneath
the sorter. Using logistics software WAMAS, boxes
are efficiently transported into position right below
the chutes in the order they will later be emptied.
This approach enables Desigual to process 4,000
orders at 54 physical endpoints.
In November 2011, the third and final changes
were made to the facility. Today, Desigual enjoys
greater warehouse capacity and has 100,000
storage positions. Furthermore, it has increased
picking efficiency for over 22 million items each
year in the folded goods and accessories
segments. The central warehouse now has a
capacity of around 2.7 million storage units and
all material flows are perfectly in sync. As a result,
the small facility delivers big benefits – in terms
of efficiency, quality and throughput.
Automated provision of containers below the chute
Sorter dropping goods into the chute
Picking
Split-tray sorters
Triple-deep storage of boxes and trays
Fashion
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V&D deploys manual conveyors for short
distances and fully-automatic conveyors for
longer stretches that span multiple levels
and areas within the warehouse.
Strategic restructure
SSI Schaefer has implemented an automated distribution centre for V&D.
The retailer now has an efficient system for hanging and folded clothing
and enjoys a higher degree of automation than ever before.
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Nieuwegein, Netherlands. Founded in 1887,
Vroom and Dreesmann (V&D) is one of the largest
retailers in the Netherlands. Its assortment ranges
from clothing, shoes, stationery, food, household
and kitchen appliances, to furniture, garden and
camping equipment, books and CDs. To drive its
expansion strategy, the company has developed
a strategic restructuring program. Part of this
includes the introduction of e-commerce as a new
distribution channel. To this end, V&D needed to
consolidate activities at multiple logistics centres
in Nieuwegein.
per hour and optimises container capacity.
SSI Schaefer also installed an automated small
parts store with live storage racks.
The overall aim is to fully integrate B2C business.
By 2020, the company’s warehouse will process
some 46 million items, with a 70:30 division of
hanging vs. folded goods. To help meet these
targets, SSI Schaefer delivered the ideal solution:
a warehouse system that is 70 per cent automated.
V&D was particularly taken with the development
of a sorter station for folded goods. The picking
station boasts throughput of up to 1,400 items
In addition, a 15,000-metre-long overhead conveyor was integrated based on a modular conveyor solution. This includes both manual and automated technology and features a universal ladder
conveyor deployed as a high-speed sorter. Head of
Logistics at V&D, Netherlands, Theo Heemskerk
remarks: “Our new system is significantly more
efficient and reliable and it also helps us deliver
better customer service.”
A storage and retrieval device from the
SSI Schaefer Miniload Crane (SMC) series moves
along five aisles positioning and removing items.
The SMC achieves up to 180 ‘double-cycle’ unload
and pickup processes per hour and is combined
with a pick-to-tote workstation. A pick-by-light
system enables pickers to move around freely and
ensures a high level of accuracy.
Throughput almost
doubled
SSI Schaefer has installed stateof-the-art warehouse technology at
the logistics centre of street fashion
brand Work in Progress (WIP).
Smart picking processes and innovative conveyors help the company
handle seasonal spikes in demand
and ensure even workloads across
machines and employees.
Weil am Rhein, Germany. WIP’s fashion brand
carhartt is a firm favourite on the skateboard and
BMX scene. Founded in 1993, the company soon
outgrew its original warehouse. Every year, up to
three million items of clothing are dispatched from
Germany to 2,000 retailers in Europe, Australia
and New Zealand.
In the semi-automated picking area, pickers move along the four aisles with
transport trolleys.
Since the existing site could no longer meet WIP’s
requirements, the fashion label decided to build
a new logistics complex on a 18,000-squaremetre site. Once construction work was complete,
SSI Schaefer began installing warehouse and conveying systems. The project scope included steel
structures, conveyors, box erectors, labelling
machines, integration of automated storage and
retrieval devices, control systems based on computer-assisted visualisation, and SSI Schaefer’s
logistics software.
At the heart of the distribution centre is an eightaisle, automated small parts store. This provides
space for 12,500 boxes of up to 30 kilos in weight
and has 42,000 container positions. In an adjacent hall with an area of 2,500 square metres,
SSI Schaefer created four picking stations
The small parts store boasts almost 42,000 container positions.
The new design has enabled WIP to almost
double its throughput to over 1400 order lines
per hour. Moreover, the system can be scaled to
meet the challenges of the future. Now, orders
can be packed in advance and retrieved as and
when they are required, significantly increasing
flexibility.
The dedicated workstations support simultaneous order picking.
Fashion
51
State-of-the-art solution for
pharmaceuticals wholesaler
Guided by integrated pick-by-light
systems, employees pick the
required items and load them
directly into shipping trays.
52
SSI Schaefer has created one of the most sophisticated distribution centres in
central Europe, in the Slovenian capital Ljubljana. The facility, implemented for
pharmaceuticals wholesaler Salus, follows a holistic approach, linking diverse
storage and picking areas.
Ljubljana, Slovenia. To cater to a wide range of
items and types of order, warehouses must offer
exceptional flexibility and support an intelligent
combination of picking methods. With this in
mind, SSI Schaefer has implemented one of
Central Europe’s most advanced distribution
centres for Salus – the Slovenian market’s leading
wholesaler for pharmaceutical and medical products. “Our existing facility was reaching the limits
of its capacity,” explains Andrej Hočevar, project
manager at Salus. “What’s more, its location
was not ideal for transport links. So we opted to
build a completely new centre. We now enjoy more
space and greater efficiency – thanks to the latest
equipment and leading-edge process design. All
this adds up to better service for our customers.”
SSI Schaefer in Giebelstadt was contracted to
develop an intralogistics solution tailored to Salus’
precise needs. The result is a facility that meets
the highly specific requirements of the pharmaceuticals market – and is a lighthouse project in
this industry.
Around 13,000 items from eight groups and
11 item types are handled at the new distribution centre in Ljubljana. The average inventory
is approximately six million items. The site comprises 30 storage areas with four different temperature zones. From here, Salus delivers a range
of products to pharmacies, hospitals and other
healthcare players, picking and preparing orders
based on an efficient, end-to-end design that was
planned and implemented by SSI Schaefer. This
supports order-based, multi-level picking and a
range of picking methods – in some cases, covering three floors.
SSI Schaefer implemented a six-aisle, fully
automated high-bay warehouse with two aislechanging storage and retrieval systems. There are
over 5,100 pallet positions for the single-deep
storage of pallets weighing 1,000 kg each. For
cross-docking of entire pallets, a separate handling
area was developed. An automatic small parts
storage system and a Schaefer Carousel System
ensure efficient storage and picking. In addition,
the distribution centre has two manually operated
storage areas: a dedicated zone for temperaturecontrolled goods and designated areas for picking
large quantities. SSI Schaefer’s logistics software
WAMAS manages all storage and picking areas
plus the corresponding handling processes.
“Thanks to tight integration and comprehensive
IT, we have managed to unite diverse systems
and processing strategies. This is one of the most
ambitious projects in recent years – both in terms
of the machines and technology deployed and
the IT solutions used to control them,” remarks
Peter Diener, project manager at SSI Schaefer.
“These new-look processes have greatly improved
lead times, significantly increased throughput and
enhanced process reliability – despite the huge
variety of items the customer handles.”
Schaefer’s Carousel
System enables
dynamic picking with
up to 1,000 picks per
employee per hour.
“The unique combination of technologies, largescale automation and high-performance systems
enables us to pick and dispatch up to 300 orders
a day comprising a total of 10,000 to 12,000
individual items,” explains Hočevar. To achieve
outcomes like this, you need intelligent flows of
goods. SSI Schaefer put these workflows through
their paces in extensive simulations during the
design and planning phase.
Pharmaceuticals
53
State-of-the-art warehouse for major
African pharmaceuticals distributor
SSI Schaefer has created an automated warehouse for UTi that significantly
boosts efficiency and picking speed.
The containers are emptied at the tilting station.
Johannesburg, South Africa. UTi Pharma + Healthcare is Africa’s leading distributor of medicinal
and healthcare products, and a member of global
supply chain management group UTi Worldwide.
In 2011, UTi Pharma decided to build a new distribution centre to replace three existing facilities
and significantly expand capacity – leveraging
state-of the-art technology to meet increasingly
complex industry requirements. SSI Schaefer was
tasked with the project. The intralogistics specialists began by opening a new subsidiary in Bryanston, Johannesburg, to ensure they could effectively meet the customer’s needs at local level.
The goals were clearly defined from the outset.
UTi Pharma needed a solution that would not only
keep pace with rising volumes while improving
productivity and the use of space, but would also
accommodate a step-by-step increase in distribution capacity. The new system supports picking of
full pallets, containers and individual items, and
can process around 30,000 order lines every day.
SSI Schaefer implemented a 10-aisle pallet
racking system with approximately 38,400 positions. Leading-edge storage and retrieval devices support pallet handling and storage, together with picking of full pallets and boxes outside of the aisles. The system is designed as a
modular solution that can keep pace with growth
at the company.
What’s more, the project included integration
of a high-performance picking system with 22
Schaefer Carousel units for the storage and retrieval of 23,040 containers. Picking of products
takes place at the seven pick-to-tote workstations.
The design of each station is fully ergonomic, in
line with UTi Pharma’s requirements, and enables
up to 1,000 picks per hour.
“The new facility allows UTi, Africa’s leading distributor of healthcare products, to align its infrastructure to the dynamics of the marketplace - and
to offer an enhanced service to existing and prospective customers,” explains Keith Pienaar, Vice
President of UTi Pharma.
Pick-to-tote workstations in the area where deliveries are prepared.
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Deliveries within one day
For the new logistics centre at Pharmapool AG, SSI Schaefer has implemented
a semi-automated material flow concept integrating a tote conveyor system and
a paperless order picking strategy.
Widnau, Switzerland. Pharmapool, a wholesaler
founded in 1996 offers its customers in
Switzerland a wide range of medications, incl.
generic medicines, consumables, doctor‘s practice
and lab equipment, as well as items on the Drugs
and Medical Equipment List. In the process,
Pharmapool supplies doctors, chemists and
consumers reliably within 24 hours with boxes of
medicines carefully packed by hand.
All work in the warehouse was previously carried
out manually using picking lists. This takes time
and costs money. “This is why we have decided
to construct a new hall with the latest warehouse
technology as well as a new order picking strategy”,
explains Jörg Binkert, Managing Director of
Pharmapool AG. The key objectives for Pharmapool
are to optimise and increase performance and
quality in the order picking process. The idea was
to base the solution on a carefully orchestrated,
custom combination of modular systems.
Since the end of 2011, a harmonious overall
concept has been delivering efficient processes
and is based on a semi-automatic system which
includes conveyor technology and paperless
person-to-goods order picking (RF picking) in
combination with ergonomic picking stations and
suitable warehouse technology. The 1,300 m2 of
space in the new logistics centre are equipped
with R 3000 shelves, providing 12,000 storage
locations. A more than 80 m long conveyor
system with 8 picking zones was installed in the
middle of the modular shelving system. Here, the
conveyor technology ensures rapid transport of
the order containers between the picking stations
and the dispatch area. Within these zones,
SSI Schaefer‘s WAMAS software guarantees fast
and transparent picking processes. The conveyor
technology provides the foundation for an increase
in turnover in the new distribution centre. In Widnau
there are now around 10,000 different SKUs ready
for use in 200,000 packages. They are stored in
9,000 EUROFIX containers.
The new system has achieved an increase in
picking efficiency of around 30 %. “After the initial
start-up phase and the training of the staff, the
new facility also significantly sped up the material
flow. The organisation of the picking zones and
new picking strategies has streamlined order
processing and compilation. The error rate has
also dropped to virtually zero”, according to
Binkert.
Eight picking zones are connected to the 80 m long conveyor line.
Pharmaceuticals
55
The 8-aisles high-bay warehouse with different temperature zones provides around
36.000 double-deep storage positions for pallets.
Efficient hub for worldwide relief operations
Fully automated material flows for United Nations Children‘s Fund new global distribution
centre make for high availability and efficiency: exactly what the organisation needs to
get help to crisis areas fast.
Copenhagen, Denmark. Right next to the harbour
gate is the new global warehouse of the United
Nations Children‘s Fund, UNICEF. SSI Schaefer
was commissioned to design and build this key
hub for supplying relief operations throughout the
world. On a site in the Free Port of Copenhagen
larger than three football pitches, the solutions
provider created a fully automated logistics centre. The facility boasts multiple picking zones and
offers more than 9,000 square metres of storage space. It features a silo design in which the
vertical supports of the rack units also bear the
roof and the side walls. It is an eight-aisle high-bay
warehouse with different temperature zones and
about 36,000 pallet positions for double-deep
storage. Linked to this facility are a two-aisle automated small parts store with 3,000 tray positions,
56
an enclosed, chilled storage area for manual
picking of pharmaceutical products, a store for
oversized goods and supply storage for packaging
materials. In all, 1,200 tons of steel and 15 kilometres of cables were used to build the warehouse complex. The specialists also installed a
circular, 450-metre long floor-mounted electrified
conveyor to transport the in-house pallets. With
its 44 trucks, the conveyor provides rapid pallet
transport throughout the complex. The processes
are controlled by SSI Schaefer‘s logistics software
WAMAS.
The organisation‘s ability to respond quickly,
dispatching relief supplies within 48 hours, is, to
a large extent, due to its logistics facility in Copenhagen. Two feed stations where the floor-mounted
conveyor trucks are loaded play a key role at
the start of the process. After being inspected,
the incoming palletised goods are registered in
the IT system, and the pallets are labelled with
a barcode generated by WAMAS before being
entered into the automated flow of goods. One of
the feed stations is equipped with an automatic
stretch-wrapper which receives pallets needing to
be protected with plastic film prior to transportation and storage. The electrified conveyor links the
goods-in area with the high-bay warehouse. At the
latter‘s transfer stations, the pallets are unloaded
and placed on racks by the pallet storage and retrieval systems. The high-bay warehouse houses
many kinds of relief supplies, so it needs to be
divided into multiple temperature zones, and the
whole facility is insulated from the low-bay zone
with its air-conditioned workstations.
However, because the fl oor-mounted conveyor
moves the pallets between different climate
zones, it was not possible to install rapid-action
doors or similar devices. Instead, a special air curtain prevents air flow between chilled zones and
the air-conditioned workstations. For this purpose,
the high-bay warehouse has a special air circulation unit. This blows warm air below the warehouse ceiling into the aisles between the racks
which is forced towards the floor. Operation of the
pallet storage and retrieval systems causes the
warm air in the aisles to move and spread around.
As a result, various temperature zones between
With their new distribution center, the aid organisation is able to
deliver relief supplies within 48 hours.
5 and a maximum of 25 degrees Celsius can
be maintained in the high-bay warehouse, while
the floor remains frost-free, even in the coldest
winters. Moreover, the fans incorporated into the
facility‘s façade allow the warehouse to be cooled
down in hot weather. The smoke outlets in the roof
draw the warm air from the aisles. To make the
best use of these climatic conditions, relief goods
are placed in different zones of the high-bay warehouse according to their temperature sensitivity.
Facts and Figures
Project objectives:
▶ Consistently automated material flows
▶ High availability
▶ Efficiency in supplying vital goods to crisis areas
▶ Multiple climate-controlled zones
▶ Innovative fire protection strategy
Scope of delivery and service:
▶ Simulation and visualisation
▶ 8-aisle high-bay warehouse with various temperature zones,
36,000 pallet positions, silo design
▶ 8 pallet storage and retrieval systems
▶ Pallet conveyor system
▶ 2-aisle, automated small parts storage system with
3,000 tray positions
▶ Trays LTB
▶ 2 tray storage and retrieval systems
▶ Conveyors for containers, boxes, used cardboard
▶ WAMAS logistics software
▶ 2 pre-picking stations, 2 repacking stations
▶ Floor-mounted electric conveyor
▶ 2 fully automated robot palletisers
At the transfer stations, the two storage and retrieval systems type
SMC take over the trays and distribute them to the storage locations
according to the parameters given by the WAMAS logistics software.
Charities
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Over 60,000 pallet positions in a 36-metre-high, nine-aisle high-bay warehouse.
Speedy solution for paper towels
SSI Schaefer has installed a high-bay warehouse, innovative pallet conveying
technology and a reliable logistics software for hygiene tissue manufacturer
Cartarie Tronchetti S.p.A (ICT), significantly improving efficiency and transparency.
Kostrzyn, Poland. ICT is one of Europe’s leading
manufacturers of paper handkerchiefs, household
and toilet tissue, paper towels and other hygiene
and cosmetics products made from pulp. Seven
plants across the continent are responsible for
producing and processing these goods, including
a factory in Kostrzyn. The warehouse here was
operated manually and, as such, was not able
to meet all requirements. This meant additional
external storage facilities were needed. After
careful consideration, the company decided to
58
consolidate activities at a single warehouse. As
ICT logistics head Dariusz Drzazga explains,
“The new warehouse will help us deliver goods
to customers faster, more flexibly and more
efficiently.”
SSI Schaefer Giebelstadt was tasked with planning and developing a turnkey warehouse solution
on a site of around 16,000 square metres. The
intralogistics expert was responsible for the endto-end execution of the project. Implementation
phases included a steel construction for a silodesign, automated high-bay warehouse, almost
two kilometres of pallet conveyers, storage and
retrieval devices and corresponding control systems. SSI Schaefer also delivered logistics software, which provides a solid IT basis.
The automated, 36-metre high-bay warehouse is
already up and running. In addition, the outdoor
storage areas have been closed and all inventory
integrated into the new system. The software
controls and monitors all outgoing and incoming
goods, the dispatch area picking processes and
disposal of production.
There are two feed-in positions for pallets which
are transported via conveyers to the high-bay
warehouse. Pallets that do not meet norm specifications are automatically identified via a dedicated detection system and assigned a new system pallet. The checked pallets are then transferred on two redundant tracks via a conveyer
bridge to the high-bay warehouse – at a height of
around 5.5 metres.
The silo-design high-bay warehouse is the beating
heart of the new system. Around 60,000 pallet
positions are used to store approximately 500
different items. Moreover, it features single-deep
and double-deep storage. New storage and retrieval
devices travel across the shelves at speeds of up
to 230 metres per minute. That means as many as
225 pallets can be moved into position every hour.
Items are retrieved on the bottom level. The software triggers assembly of the orders and the
storage and retrieval system begins picking the
pallets, achieving a throughput of around 600
pallets per hour. Finally, the goods are transferred
to a 2,450-square-metre dispatch area via a pallet
conveyer system.
Before the final step, the pallets are transferred
to three shuttle vehicles and distributed to 40
feeding tracks. A total of 460 pallets can be loaded onto the ramps in the dispatch area every hour,
enabling the simultaneous loading of 15 trucks.
Thanks to the new solution, employees now have
complete visibility into all items, which means
maximum inventory control. The results speak for
themselves: lower transport and warehouse costs,
time savings in order processing, increased quality, and efficient, flexible, end-to-end processes.
Nine storage and retrieval devices, each with two telescopic forks, move along the aisles at
speeds of 230 metres per minute and with a lifting speed of 70 metres per minute.
Pulp & Paper
59
Global networks
Proximity to our customers is a top priority. Our worldwide network of subsidiaries, sales representatives, partners, and production facilities means we are
never far away – responding quickly and delivering efficient, tailored services.
North-America
USA*
Canada
Africa
Egypt
South Africa
Central/South America
Argentina
Brazil
Chile
Colombia
Mexico
Peru
60
Europe
Germany*
Belgium
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Great Britain
Iceland
Italy
Croatia
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Russia*
The Netherlands
Norway
Austria*
Poland
Romania
Sweden
Switzerland
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Czech Republic*
Turkey
Ukraine
Hungary
Cyprus
Asia
Singapore
Malaysia*
China*
Brunei
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia
Philippines
South Korea
Thailand
Taiwan
Vietnam
Middle East
United Arab Emirates
Bahrain
Jordan
Kuwait
Lebanon
Oman
Saudi Arabia
Australia
Australia
* Production sites
61
The SSI Schaefer Group
Products, components and solutions
for greater efficiency in intralogistics.
Plastic Containers
Packaging Solutions
Steel Containers
Modular Shelving
Mezzanines
Live Storage Systems
Automated Small Parts
Storage Racking
Silos
Pallet Racking
Schäfer Orbiter® System
Mobile Shelving Systems
Mobile Racking Systems
LogiMat®
Office Equipment
Waste Management
Technology
62
Pallet Conveyor
Container/Carton
Conveyor
Hanging Garments
SSI Autocruiser
Pallet Storage and
Retrieval Systems
Automated Small Parts
Storage and Retrieval
Systems
Schaefer Tray System
3D-MATRIX Solution®
Schaefer Case Picking
Shuttles
Picking Systems
Automated Order Picking
Systems
Schaefer Carousel System
Sorter Systems
Workstation Systems
Modernisation
CSS – Customer
Service & Support
Vision Systems
Warehouse Process
Optimisation
WAMAS® Logistics Software
SAP Logistics Software
63
SSI SCHÄFER
FRITZ SCHÄFER GMBH
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Phone +49 2735 70 - 1
[email protected]
SSI SCHÄFER NOELL GMBH
i_Park Klingholz 18 – 19
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SSI SCHÄFER AG
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Phone +41 52 6873232
[email protected]
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[email protected]
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Fischeraustraße 27
8051 Graz/Austria
Phone +43 316 6096 - 0
[email protected]
www.ssi-schaefer.com
0347-052014-w 5/052014 Printed in Germany by DS Duisburg • © SSI SCHÄFER • Products featured in the articles may be subject to changes and technical modifications. Errors and omissions excepted.