SSI Schaefer & Noatum Logistics: Success of the Largest Mobile Racking System Installation for Cold Rooms in the UAE

• Partnership has leveraged SSI Schaefer’s mobile pallet  racks to increase storage capacity by 90%, and expanded on earlier collaboration to provide critical vaccine infrastructure during the Covid-19 pandemic

SSI Schaefer, a global leader in warehouse automation and cold-chain storage solutions, is announcing the results of its partnership with Noatum Logistics Middle East, an integrated regional end-to-end logistics services arm of Noatum, an AD Ports Group company which leads the Group’s Logistics Cluster.

By leveraging SSI Schaefer’s mobile pallet racking system that increases storage capacity by over 90%, the partnership created the largest mobile racking system installation for deep-freeze cold rooms in the UAE, which is part of AD Ports Group’s KLP21 warehousing hub, located at Khalifa Economic Zone Abu Dhabi (KEZAD). In addition to boosting cooling efficiency and storage density, the system also succeeded in enhancing warehouse safety through its multiple failsafe mechanisms and cutting-edge programmable logic controller (PLC) to enable customised and automated control. With the increasing demand for pre-built, state-of-the-art cold room storage facilities in KEZAD, the partnership fulfills a key need for new clients, while accelerating business growth in the region and beyond.

Cosmin Sebastian Ilie, Head of Business Unit Product & Equipment APAC MEA, SSI Schaefer, said: "We are honored to have partnered with AD Ports Group and subsequently with Noatum Logistics Middle East on these transformative projects. Demonstrating our core values of being Customer Committed and Long-Term Oriented, this collaboration is driving innovation and excellence in the logistics industry, enabling our partner to provide state-of-the-art storage solutions that cater to the evolving needs of its customers. We look forward to continuing our journey of success to grow and thrive in the region together."

Daniel Berasategui, Managing Director, Noatum Logistics Middle East & CEO of Noatum Project Cargo, Logistics Cluster, AD Ports Group, said: "Our partnership with SSI Schaefer has been important in helping develop our capabilities as a regional logistics hub serving a multitude of industry sectors ranging from healthcare to FMCG. As we combine the strength of AD Ports Group’s capabilities with Noatum’s highly integrated logistics services and global networks, we will continue working with partners like SSI Schaefer to provide us with market-leading capabilities that earn our customers’ trust to handle their entire value chain - from manufacture to end user.”

An initial collaboration to deliver crucial pandemic-era vaccine logistics infrastructure
The fruitful partnership between AD Ports Group and SSI Schaefer dates back several years. AD Ports Group initially partnered with SSI Schaefer to advance its progress toward becoming the largest cold-chain storage distribution centre for health and medical supply chains. SSI Schaefer designed and installed a VNA (Very Narrow Aisle Pallet Racking) storage solution to optimise the Group’s state-of-the-art deep-freeze storage capacity that played a crucial role in storing and distributing over 260 million vaccine doses to over 65 countries worldwide as part of the HOPE Consortium - an Abu Dhabi-led public-private partnership designed to combat the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Turning to SSI Schaefer to optimise its cold-chain warehousing space and capacity for pharmaceutical distribution, AD Ports Group’s Logistics Cluster opted for Interlock 600 VNA wire-guided pallet racking for dry, deep-freeze warehouses, covering a vast +8,000 square meters and providing 14,000 pallet positions. Equipped with deep-freeze solutions and advanced digital dashboards for precise environmental control, the solution enabled storing vaccines and pharmaceuticals within a set temperature range, even as low as -25° C.

Space-Saving Small Parts warehouse with SSI LOGIMAT® Storage Lifts and Smart Robotics Solution, SSI Piece Picking, Awarded

• The SSI SCHAEFER reference project WFL Millturn Technologies, utilizing the efficient SSI LOGIMAT storage lifts, achieves 2^nd place in the materialfluss Product of the Year Award in the "Storage Technology" category.

• SSI SCHAEFER secures 3^rd place with the SSI Piece Picking solution in the Industrial Production Product of the Year Award in the "Robotics" category.

Giebelstadt / Neunkirchen, March 14, 2024 – Over a period of three months, readers of the magazines materialfluss and Industrial Production had the opportunity to vote for the Products of the Year of the respective magazines. A total of 31 applicants competed in five categories for the Industrial Production Award and 24 applicants in four categories for the materialfluss Product of the Year Award.

The products that made it to the top three positions in the categories of the respective awards were honored on March 13, 2024, at a joint award ceremony in Munich. Michael Wegner, Head of Sales Central Europe in the Business Unit Products & Equipment at SSI SCHAEFER, expressed his delight at the success: "We are very proud to be honored with two awards. The 2^nd place in the materialfluss Award in the "Storage Technology" category for the reference project WFL Millturn emphasizes how the clever integration of SSI LOGIMAT can significantly increase picking performance. Similarly, the 3^rd place in the "Robotics" category at the Industrial Production Award for the SSI Piece Picking solution highlights the importance of robotics solutions in times of skilled labor shortages, zero-error tolerance, and continuous flow of goods."

WFL Millturn Technologies, the world's only manufacturer of multifunctional turning-boring-milling centers, has opted for the implementation of six SSI LOGIMAT storage lifts with direct SAP integration to improve picking performance and create additional space in the warehouse. By switching to an automated small parts warehouse, ergonomics were improved, 110 m² of storage space was saved, and picking performance was increased by up to 50%. The solution from SSI SCHAEFER meets WFL's requirements for efficient and SAP-integrated warehouse management.

The highly innovative, fully automated robotics application SSI Piece Picking, is used in single-piece picking. This versatile system solution, including intelligent software, impresses with features such as Pick & Place, object recognition through Artificial Intelligence (AI), patented grip point determination, and extremely gentle product handling. Thanks to its versatility, the smart solution is suitable for various types of goods and can be used across industries.

SSI SCHAEFER has been awarded the materialfluss Product of the Year Award 2024 in the "Storage Technology" category for the reference project WFL Millturn Technologies and the integrated SSI LOGIMAT storage lifts. Representatives from SSI SCHAEFER and WFL Millturn Technologies during the acceptance of the award and certificate.
Individuals from left to right:
Alexander Hofmann, Head of Logistics Operations WFL Millturn Technologies
Franz Reichhart, CPO, Head of Purchasing/Materials Management, Vice President WFL Millturn Technologies
Michael Wegner, Head of Sales, Central Europe Products & Equipment SSI SCHAEFER
Alfred Spicker, Head of Dynamic Systems Business Unit Products & Equipment SSI SCHAEFER
© SSI SCHAEFER

The SSI Piece Picking solution receives recognition at the Industrial Production Product of the Year Award 2024 in the "Robotics" category. Markus Jammernegg, Head of Modules at SSI SCHAEFER, and Claus Middelhoff, Management at Ro-ber, accept the certificate and prize.
© SSI SCHAEFER

Representatives from SSI SCHAEFER and WFL Millturn Technologies are delighted about the materialfluss and Industrial Production Product of the Year 2024 awards.
Individuals from left to right:
Alexander Hofmann, Head of Logistics Operations WFL Millturn Technologies
Franz Reichhart, CPO, Head of Purchasing/Materials Management, Vice President WFL Millturn Technologies
Claus Middelhoff, Management Ro-ber
Michael Wegner, Head of Sales, Central Europe Products & Equipment SSI SCHAEFER
Alfred Spicker, Head of Dynamic Systems Business Unit Products & Equipment SSI SCHAEFER
Markus Jammernegg, Head of Modules SSI SCHAEFER
©SSI SCHAEFER

The WAMAS warehouse management system from the intralogistics specialist SSI SCHAEFER will be used to efficiently manage V-Markt's wide range of products in the future. The new WMS solution not only meets current requirements, but also represents a forward-looking investment. The order was placed at the end of 2023, with a planned project start in March 2024 and a planned project acceptance in the first quarter of 2025.

Georg Jos. Kaes GmbH is a 6th generation family-run retail company that has played an important role in the southern German retail landscape for over 159 years. With the brands V-Markt, V-Baumarkt, Christl's Modemarkt, C&C and 1865 Outdoor Equipment, the company is represented at almost 60 locations and is regarded as the last medium-sized trading company from the region.

Georg Jos. Kaes GmbH has decided to implement the WAMAS Warehouse Management System (WMS), including the required IT hardware from SSI SCHAEFER, in order to efficiently manage the diversity of its product ranges, from frozen, dairy and fresh products to shoes and textiles to DIY and garden center products. SSI SCHAEFER acts as a reliable partner for the introduction and ongoing operation of the new system in the central warehouse and supports the approximately 200 logistics employees in ensuring the smooth flow of the diverse orders on a permanent basis.

WAMAS meets all requirements for adaptable warehouse management software, suitable for both manual and automated warehouse locations, without requiring additional programming. A flexible and agile approach has been defined to allow the business to scale. This flexibility is crucial to enable sustainable growth for the customer - both in terms of employees, locations and functional scope.

Following the initial contact between Georg Jos. Kaes GmbH and SSI SCHAEFER at LogiMAT, an international trade fair for intralogistics solutions and process management in Germany, in 2023, it quickly became clear that discussions would intensify. A comprehensive offer was developed that covered all necessary aspects and satisfied the customer in every respect. This included the analysis and planning phase, the implementation of the WAMAS WMS software, the adaptation and conversion to the new system and the delivery of the server components. The WAMAS WMS software and the IT components supplied will be fully supported and updated by the SSI SCHAEFER Customer Service Team.

© Hermann Rupp

The warehouse management software WAMAS from SSI SCHAEFER will be responsible for managing the wide range of products of the retail company V-Markt in the future.

SSI SCHAEFER is presenting new software especially for stand-alone operation of the SSI LOGIMAT Vertical Lift Module. LOGIONE is a simple and intuitive storage location and article management system. The self-explanatory user interfaces support the operators and eliminate the need for time-consuming training. LOGIONE is now available for users to download free of charge from the intralogistics expert's website.

Digital warehouse management brings great benefits in terms of transparency and access times. But what if the Vertical Lift Module is not connected to a higher-level ERP system? Especially customers who do not have and do not need complex warehouse management benefit from very simple and fast storage and picking processes with LOGIONE. This makes the software a powerful solution.

The SSI LOGIMAT Vertical Lift Module has been a proven solution from SSI SCHAEFER for the storage and picking of small parts for many years. In addition to extensive basic functionalities, it offers a wide range of additional options and customization options to adapt it to special tasks, users or conditions. With LOGIONE, an option has now been added that has been tailored to the special requirements of a stand-alone solution.

All the basic functions of the Vertical Lift Module are supported by LOGIONE. This includes a simple search as well as fast storage and picking processes. The management of articles and storage locations is simplified by a visualization of the corresponding storage compartments. Important functions such as user management and the transaction log ensure transparency and help to optimize processes. The optional additional components for increasing ergonomics and efficiency - LOGIPOINTER, LOGITILT and LOGIWORK - are supported, as is the use of barcode scanners.

LOGIONE is an innovative solution and the first step towards digital transformation in the warehouse. Designed as a simple and clear system, it is easy to download and can be installed independently without additional hardware. Thanks to user-friendly dialogs and an intuitive interface, it is easy to learn to use - no extensive training is required.

The software supports the latest generation of Vertical Lift Module (SSI LOGIMAT type SLL) with a maximum of two access openings. Furthermore, the standardized LOGIDRIVER PLC interface must be installed and at least one 12" display must be available.

The SSI LOGIMAT is scalable and can be adapted to changing requirements. The Vertical Lift Module can be connected to a higher-level ERP system or even controlled directly from SAP - provided the corresponding software is available. It is also possible to integrate additional Vertical Lift Modules and manage them via the WAMAS Lift & Store intralogistics software.

With LOGIONE, SSI SCHAEFER has created a powerful and user-friendly software solution that enables entry into digital warehousing.

LOGIONE impresses with its modern and intuitive interface and user-friendly dialogs.

Specially designed for stand-alone operation of the SSI LOGIMAT Vertical Lift Module, LOGIONE offers easy-to-use storage location and item management.

• Total Group revenues slightly above previous year at EUR 1.87 billion

• Largest business unit, Logistics Solutions, with significant year-on-year revenue growth and improved order intake

• Challenging macroeconomic environment had a negative impact on the Group's incoming orders, which were down 4.9% on the previous year at around EUR 1.65 billion

• Catch-up effects on revenues and total operating performance in the second half of 2023

• Numerous awards for products and automation solutions underline the Group's innovative strength

Neunkirchen/Siegerland (Germany), March 1, 2024 – The SSI SCHAEFER Group, a German family-owned company established more than 85 years ago and a leading international solution provider for all segments of the intralogistics industry, reported an increase in revenues to EUR 1.87 billion (+3.2%) for the financial year 2023, according to preliminary figures. The Group benefited from major project acceptances in the Logistics Solutions and Customer Services business units, which offset the decline in Products & Equipment revenue.

After a subdued first half, the catch-up effects in the fourth quarter of 2023 were particularly noticeable in the largest business unit, Logistics Solutions, although Group order intake remained below the previous year's level at around EUR 1.65 billion or 4.9%. The main reasons for the gloomy investment climate were the difficult macroeconomic conditions caused by political conflicts and the economic weakness in Europe. On the cost side, the extensive measures taken during the year to improve profitability had a positive impact. On the basis of the preliminary annual financial statements, SSI SCHAEFER was able to achieve a significantly improved annual result at Group level compared to the previous year as well as an almost balanced result before taxes.

Peter Edelmann, CEO of the SSI SCHAEFER Group: “The continuing difficult market conditions and the gloomy investment environment pose major challenges for the entire intralogistics industry. Nevertheless, the SSI SCHAEFER Group was able to win significant orders in the financial year 2023, which gives us an optimistic start into 2024. We will continue to work hard with the entire team to set the organizational and strategic course for profitable growth. The key to our success is quality and customer focus – and we are paying special attention to these areas.”

Transformation process is moving forward: focus on innovation and sustainability

A key focus continues to be the strengthening of the SSI SCHAEFER Group's innovation capability with the aim of playing a key role in shaping the digital and sustainable transformation of the industry and expanding its position as a technology leader in intralogistics. The full acquisition of DS Automotion, a leading provider of mobile robotics, which became effective in the first quarter of 2023, was an important milestone on this path. Moreover, the SSI SCHAEFER Group received numerous awards for its intralogistics solutions last year, most recently the prestigious Best of Industry Award in the “Conveyor Technology” category.

In addition, SSI SCHAEFER continued to consistently implement its sustainability strategy in 2023 and documented its responsibility to the environment and society in its second sustainability report. Key actions included the adoption of the Group's climate strategy, which aims to reduce the Group's own carbon footprint and make a social contribution to achieving global climate targets and the United Nations' sustainability goals.

Further Information:

• An expandable system that can supply 250 stores a day and support the increase in the number of e-commerce orders

• Pick by Light picking stations for efficient order processing and precise warehouse management

• Optimized processes using ergonomic work stations and connected conveying systems

In 1972, Rossmann made history with the first drugstore in Germany. Today, Dirk Rossmann AG operates all over Europe, enjoying a large presence in Hungary, with over 250 stores. Not only is it represented by its stores, but also by being a successful e-commerce brand. Thanks to their vast array of products and fast delivery, Rossmann has already been honored with the “Superbrand Award” several times. The company continues to grow rapidly and in order to cope with increasing demand and ensure the satisfaction of all customers in the future, the logistics must grow with them.

To rise to this challenge, Rossmann has chosen a partner who places just as much importance on customer proximity as the drugstore giant itself. Due to the priority it places on providing a local presence all over the world, SSI SCHAEFER is in easy reach, through its Hungarian subsidiary. SSI SCHAEFER also already knows Rossmann inside-out, thanks to a previous collaboration with Rossmann in Poland. However, every location has its own unique requirements, to which SSI SCHAEFER, as an expert in the Healthcare and Cosmetics sector, caters personally and individually.

To manage the enormous quantity of SKUs and to be able to service both the stores and e-commerce, a 27,000m² semi-automated warehouse is being built in Üllő, Hungary. The core elements of efficient Pick by Light picking, ergonomic work stations and comprehensive conveying systems connect all sections from goods-in to goods-out. “The new omnichannel warehouse optimizes our processes and enables even higher throughputs, especially at peak times. This way, we can supply 250 stores a day, and efficiently process the increasing amount of e-commerce orders. What is of particular importance to us? If required, the solution can be further automated and flexibly adapted to future requirements”, says Csaba Szuchy, Director of Operations Logistics at Rossmann Hungary.

The go-live for the entire project is planned for the beginning of 2026. Additionally, the way has already been paved for future growth: The new logistics solution offers a full range of options for expansion.

© Rossmann Magyarország Kft.

SSI SCHAEFER implements a scalable omnichannel solution for Rossmann in Üllő, Hungary. With the new warehouse, Rossmann can supply 250 stores a day, and efficiently process the increasing amount of e-commerce orders. The go-live for the entire project is planned for the beginning of 2026.

• Mauro Lunardelli takes over from Notker Steigerwald

Mauro Lunardelli has been appointed as the new Head of SSI SCHAEFER Group's Business Unit Logistics Solutions. The highly experienced manager with Swiss and Italian citizenship has been with the company for 24 years and most recently served as Managing Director of SSI SCHAEFER Switzerland since 2019. Mauro Lunardelli has in-depth knowledge of the intralogistics industry and enjoys a high professional reputation within and outside the SSI SCHAEFER Group. He started his career at Stöcklin Logistik AG and subsequently held various positions in well-known intralogistics companies. In 1999, he joined SSI SCHAEFER, where he built up the steelwork and automation activities in Switzerland. His other positions at the company included Head of Logistics Solutions at the former HUB Southwest Europe, a position he held for five years.

Mauro Lunardelli succeeds Notker Steigerwald, who has decided to leave the company for personal reasons. The handover of responsibility will take place today after coordination has already been completed.

Peter Edelmann, CEO of the SSI SCHAEFER Group, on the appointment of Mauro Lunardelli: «We are particularly pleased that we have found an internal succession solution for the management of the largest business unit of the SSI SCHAEFER Group. Given his many years of experience in our industry and his personality, Mauro Lunardelli enjoys my full confidence. Together with the team of the business unit, he will continue to successfully develop the business activities in the interests of our customers all over the world and lead the business sustainably into the future. At the same time, we would like to thank Notker Steigerwald for his achievements and wish him all the best for his professional and private future.»

(f.l.t.r.) CEO Peter Edelmann with Mauro Lunardelli, the new Head of SSI SCHAEFER Group's Business Unit Logistics Solutions, and Notker Steigerwald, who has decided to leave the company for personal reasons.

• Robot-based system SSI Piece Picking

• Flexible Intralogistics for small and medium-sized companies

• Modular and scalable software WAMAS and SAP

• Daily live expert talks at the SSI SCHAEFER booth

How can warehouses and material flows be optimized to work more efficiently? What role do new technologies play? And how can the systems used be flexibly adapted to changing requirements? SSI SCHAEFER will provide answers to these questions with its trade fair appearance at LogiMAT 2024 in Stuttgart (March 19 - 21, 2024). Under the motto «Shaping the Future of Intralogistics», SSI SCHAEFER will present itself as a partner for future-proof intralogistics for both small companies and large corporations.

Peter Edelmann, CEO of the SSI SCHAEFER Group, comments: «Automation and digitalization are changing the structures of intralogistics for industry and trade. With the SSI SCHAEFER Group's very broad product and service portfolio, we have the expertise and innovative strength within the company to develop individual logistics strategies in partnership with our customers and implement them with flexible and sustainable systems. In addition, our customers benefit from our standardized WAMAS software and the strong brands DS AUTOMOTION, RO-BER and SWAN, which fit well with other future technologies.»

SSI Piece Picking is an innovative robotic solution for single piece picking. The system automates and accelerates the repetitive process of manual picking and can be used across all industries for different product ranges. The AI-supported object recognition, in combination with the patented gripping point determination, enables the safe and fast seizing of goods. This is achieved by using compact suction cups instead of finger-shaped grippers on the gantry robot. Premiere: the established SSI Piece Picking System will be shown for the first time as a live exhibit at the trade fair stand of the company subsidiary RO-BER at LogiMAT.

Intralogistics for SMEs is another focus of the SSI SCHAEFER stand. With a scalable investment, processes can be automated step by step, spaces can be condensed, and ergonomic workflows can be integrated. The building blocks of these solutions include automated guided vehicles, autonomous mobile robots, mobile racking, channel storage solutions with the SSI ORBITER®, scalable software and the SSI LOGIMAT® vertical lift module, which visitors can test live at the stand.

Efficient intralogistics systems are inextricably linked to state-of-the-art software. SSI SCHAEFER will be presenting two strong software brands at its stand: WAMAS and SAP. SSI SCHAEFER's WAMAS software is designed as a modular system. WAMAS WMS (Warehouse Management Software) is the brain of the warehouse and provides management, control and optimization. WAMAS modules range from robotics applications and overhead conveyor technology to vertical lift modules and enable performance potential to be fully exploited. At the SSI SCHAEFER booth, visitors can experience the perfect interaction of hardware and software in an augmented reality app.

The SAP logistics solutions from SSI SCHAEFER are also modular and scalable - presented at the SSI SCHAEFER and SWAN stands. Whether small warehouse or large logistics center, new construction or existing facility, the subsidiary SWAN implements the individual solution for its customers - modular, flexible and performance-oriented, and with little configuration effort.

SSI SCHAEFER's wide range of services is completed by the Customer Service & Support portfolio for maximum availability of all systems. Experts will be available at the trade fair stand to provide advice on everything from augmented support to preventive maintenance.

In 2024, SSI SCHAEFER will also be holding daily expert talks on intralogistics trends, live at its stand. Trade journalist Anja Seemann will moderate the discussions with customers, representatives from science and SSI SCHAEFER experts.

SSI SCHAEFER at LogiMAT 2024 in Hall 1, Stand D21.
Please also visit other members of the SSI SCHAEFER Group who are exhibiting at the fair:
DS AUTOMOTION in Hall 6, Stand D05
RO-BER in Hall 5, Stand A61
SWAN in Hall 8, Stand F52

• Get your ticket for LogiMAT here.

SSI Piece Picking is an innovative robotic solution for single piece picking.

Visitors can test the SSI LOGIMAT® vertical lift module live at the SSI SCHAEFER stand.

SSI SCHAEFER will be presenting two strong software brands at its stand: WAMAS and SAP.

As average global temperatures rise and the demand for cold-chain storage grows worldwide, SSI Schaefer, a global leader in intralogistics and automated warehouses, is sharing best practices and key considerations on how logistics and operations managers can optimize efficiency and cost-effectiveness of cold storage warehouses.

Cold storage warehouse managers — particularly in the food and beverage industries, but also pharmaceutical distribution — are facing the need to efficiently and effectively store, pick, retrieve, pack, and ship perishable and sensitive goods, which require special handling, monitoring, and carefully tuned environmental conditions. Yet they face additional challenges — the cold-chain storage market is expanding, with some reports projecting a CAGR of 9% from 2023 to 2028, meaning that warehouse managers must balance surging demand for cold-stored goods with the increasing need to reduce energy costs and carbon emissions. 

“What we are seeing for refrigerated supply chains is this pinch — a need to do ever more with ever less,” notes Carsten Spiegelberg, Managing Director - Middle East & Africa, SSI Schaefer. “To meet the growing complexities of the industry, it’s not enough to find a quick fix. Companies need material flow experts with industry know-how to consider all angles of a facility and seamlessly blend cold-chain logistics solutions with individual processes.”

Cold chain storage solutions

Careful planning is always the first step in optimizing temperature-controlled infrastructure. To increase efficiency and cost-effectiveness of cold storage warehouses, there are several factors to consider from the beginning.

Optimizing air circulation and product storage density

Since different products and comestibles require different storage temperatures, cold storage warehouse temperatures can range from -34°C to 0°C, with some even reaching 21°C. However, there is often a trade-off between storage density and air flow. Selecting the right storage system that enhances the cooled air circulation while increasing the storage density in the given facility footprint is critical in the planning phase.

Semi-automated solutions for cold storage space optimization

Ideal for deep-freeze facilities for bulk storage in the manufacturing sector and delivering maximum space utilization, channel storage setups with semi-automated drive-in racking systems are an accessible step towards automation, offering high throughput, enhanced safety, and reduced time for workers in refrigerated facilities. Capable of following either the Last in-First Out (LIFO) or the First in-Last Out (FIFO) principle, these systems use channel vehicles like SSI Orbiter® and a corresponding docking station to store and retrieve pallets.

Compared to a static, manual pallet rack system, a mobile racking storage system is an effective way to boost storage capacity in a given space — by up to 85%, while maintaining full selectivity typically required in distribution centers. This system involves racks that move along floor rails via electric motors to create an aisle only where needed, and it offers smart lighting that only activates in occupied aisles for reducing energy consumption, as well as a night parking option that optimizes rack spacing for maximal cold air circulation.

Future-ready automation systems for a seamless, cost-optimized cold chain

Due to the need for cold goods to maintain strict timetables and a closed cold chain, storage systems must handle incoming goods efficiently and cope with expected and unexpected upticks in demand. The best way to systematically manage the complexities of cold-chain material flows is with a fully automated storage system that seamlessly interconnects components, such as:

Pallets:

• Automated storage & retrieval systems (ASRSs): The SSI Exyz is an automated high-density storage system with extremely high space utilization, particularly in high-bay warehouses, and it saves 25% of energy compared to conventional machines while functioning across different temperatures.

• Shuttle solutions: As a future-proof, fully automated channel storage option, the SSI Lift & Run Shuttle System (SLR) provides simultaneous access to multiple racks for top-tier performance and high storage density.

Other storage types:

• Shuttle solutions for layer trays: For high-volume picking of goods such as comestibles for shop deliveries, tray shuttles and conveying systems enable fully automated robotic picking or support efficient semi-automatic goods-to-person picking. 

• Storage solutions for container, bin and carton loads: For loads of varying dimensions, scalable solutions using SSI Miniload, Flexi Shuttle or Cuby maximize storage density while accommodating specific load and performance requirements to support automatic or semi-automatic case and piece picking.

Platforms for central control of refrigerated facilities

Although there are various warehouse automation technologies that track material flows, issues such as coordinating multiple systems often arise and there is a clear need for centralized monitoring and control—particularly with the complexities of refrigerated facilities. To tie all aspects of a cold storage warehouse together, end-to-end software such as WAMAS® or SAP EWM (Extended Warehouse Management) offer clear visualizations and comprehensive tools to manage processes, resources, and stock levels.

• SSI SCHAEFER is honored as a finalist in the "Conveyor Technology" category with the Boohoo Sheffield reference project and the SSI Carrier pouch sorter integrated into it

Giebelstadt, December 11, 2023 – From the 160 applications received for the Best of Industry Award 2023, 72 innovations and projects were nominated as finalists in the online vote. During the voting phase, which lasted several months, around 20,000 readers of the trade media MM MaschinenMarkt, PROCESS, LABORPRAXIS and DeviceMed voted for their favorites from the 24 different categories.

The innovations and projects that made it to the top three places in each category were honored at a major awards ceremony in Würzburg, Germany, on December 7, 2023. The first place winners received an award and the second and third place winners were honored as finalists with a certificate. "We are proud that our Boohoo Sheffield reference project is one of the best in the "Conveyor Technology" category and has been honored as a finalist," says Peter Lambrecht, Global Head of Sales Logistics Solutions at SSI SCHAEFER. "The exciting project shows how the logistics center was retrofitted with state-of-the-art automation for incoming goods, order processing and shipping parallel to ongoing operations."

The overall solution at online fashion retailer Boohoo includes more than 550,000 bin locations in the SSI Cuby shuttle warehouse. The dynamic buffer in the SSI Carrier pouch sorter stores up to 150,000 returns and fast-moving items, for a planned throughput of 40,000 items per hour. In this highly dynamic material flow, the WAMAS logistics software ensures efficient processes and the 24/7 SSI Resident Maintenance^® service package guarantees maximum system availability.

According to the jury, anyone who makes it into the TOP 3 in the respective category and thus receives the prestigious industry award has successfully proven that they are among the best of the best. "The award confirms us as an intralogistics specialist and spurs us on to continue offering our customers innovative products and solutions in the future," summarizes Peter Lambrecht.

SSI SCHAEFER was honored as a finalist in the "Conveyor Technology" category of the Best of Industry Award 2023 for the Boohoo Sheffield reference project and the integrated pouch sorter SSI Carrier. Peter Lambrecht, Global Head of Sales Logistics Solutions at SSI SCHAEFER, receives the award certificate.

SSI SCHAEFER now supplies spare parts even faster – all from a single source

With a state-of-the-art warehouse in Hranice, Czech Republic, SSI SCHAEFER has reached a major milestone in its spare parts service. Christian Puntigam, Head of Parts Service Line, and Radek Němec, Team Leader for Spare Part Management, Hranice, followed the project from the initial idea all the way to implementation. In this interview, they describe how they achieved a whole new level of efficiency by optimizing the existing warehouse – and why, despite great success, their work is still far from done.

What’s the purpose of the new warehouse in Hranice?

Christian Puntigam: The warehouse in Hranice stocks spare parts for the entire SSI SCHAEFER product portfolio; from there, they ship to customers all over the world. At present, it handles just under 7,000 different items, from the smallest gaskets to entire assembly groups, with an inventory valued at several million euros.

Radek Němec: This warehouse not only stores spare parts for products from the factory in Hranice but also from other SSI SCHAEFER production sites. That means a very large percentage of our spare parts portfolio is now available in one central location.

Why did you opt for a central warehouse?

Christian Puntigam: So we can offer our customers even better delivery performance and make our internal processes even more efficient. By bundling inventory, we can significantly reduce the amount of time between receipt of an order and delivery to our customers. With its proximity to the factory, established processes, and good strategic location, the Hranice site was the best choice for our competence center.

How did you update the existing warehouse in Hranice for its new use?

Radek Němec: The first step was converting hall 12, which had been used for temporary storage up till that point. We doubled the capacity of the pallet rack warehouse and integrated three SSI LOGIMAT^® vertical lift modules into the new layout, along with a crane for handling heavy packages. In the second step, we then relocated all the products from the warehouse in Giebelstadt, Germany, to Hranice.

Christian Puntigam: We completed the entire conversion project in just a few months without interrupting operations. That would never have been possible without the amazing support of our service and factory teams – everyone gave it their all.

What’s the procedure for ordering spare parts from the new warehouse?

Radek Němec: Our customers can select the spare parts they need easily in the SSI SCHAEFER Web Shop. The order is processed in Hranice and ships either right from the warehouse or, for items that are rarely ordered, through external partners.

Christian Puntigam: That way, customers get spare parts service all from a single source. We also handle customs, transport, shipping, etc.

The warehouse has been in operation since the end of 2022 – are you already seeing the early signs of success?

Radek Němec: Absolutely! We used to be able to process about 2,800 orders a year, but this year, we’re expecting up to 5,500 orders and around 5,000 items a month. So we’ve basically doubled our output, increasing the value of the Hranice site enormously.

Christian Puntigam: Of course, the biggest benefit is to our customers. Revamping the processes has made ordering spare parts even faster and easier. 

Is the project now complete? Or do you have more plans for the future?

Christian Puntigam: We’re very satisfied with the performance of the warehouse in Hranice, but we want to keep improving nonetheless. Besides transferring a relevant portfolio of spare parts from Graz in Austria, which is scheduled for 2024, we’re already working on optimizing the material flow even further. We’re performing a detailed analysis to identify what paths we can shorten within order picking and what processes we need to speed up in order to make our operations sustainable, customer-oriented, and more efficient. That’s our goal.

SSI LOGIMAT – Store Small Parts, Keep Track of Everything, and Save Space

SSI SCHAEFER’s SSI LOGIMAT vertical lift module can be likened to an oversized drawer cabinet with two rows of trays. Between the two rows, a lift system pulls the individual trays out and moves them to the operator opening, where operators can safely pick goods.

Thanks to an intelligent user interface, controlling the lift rack is simple and intuitive. The SSI LOGIMAT vertical lift module offers some helpful enhancements that make picking significantly easier. For example, LOGIPOINTER can indicate the correct position with a laser pointer. By the way: Each tray can be individually loaded with bins or cartons–or used without any kind of partitioning.

SSI LOGIMAT vertical lift modules are used in many industries for storage and retrieval of various kinds of goods:

• eCommerce

• Healthcare & cosmetics

• Retail & wholesale

• Industry

• Automotive

Modular vertical lift systems have many different applications:

• Small parts storage

• Item management

• Buffer storage for production

• Order preparation

• Storage and picking of service parts and spare parts

• Storage of unfinished/semi-finished products

Christian Puntigam, Head of Parts Service Line at SSI SCHAEFER: “We’re performing a detailed analysis to identify what paths we can shorten, what processes we can speed up, and how we can increase overall efficiency even further.”
 

Radek Němec, Team Leader for Spare Part Management, Hranice, at SSI SCHAEFER: “We used to be able to process about 2,800 orders a year, but this year, we’re expecting up to 5,500 orders and around 5,000 items a month. So we’ve basically doubled our output, increasing the value of the Hranice site enormously.”

In an effort to expand its logistics capacity and deploy efficient logistics management and technological innovations throughout the company, Desigual, an international fashion company based in Barcelona, has once again trusted SSI SCHAEFER.

To centralize operations at its distribution center in Viladecans, Spain, Desigual is replacing a traditional pallet rack for overstock with a new area equipped with 24 RackBots from SSI SCHAEFER’s range of SSI Mobile Robots. In the first phase, the initial orders (push) are prepared there; these supply the company’s branch stores with the collections for the next season. The goal is to pick 30,000 units per day in two shifts in this new area.

When orders are assembled, a key requirement of this project is to organize them by collection and include all the sizes of a model combined together in the end. SSI SCHAEFER proposed a solution that could meet this sequencing requirement and ensure consistent store-ready order preparation – a key element in Desigual’s plan to improve the shopping experience. The solution SSI SCHAEFER proposed is also flexible enough to pick other types of orders, such as repeat orders of the same items (in-season re-orders) in department stores or Desigual branch stores, as well as picking online orders.

Jorge Soriano, Logistics & Distribution Manager at Desigual, explains: «Comparing RackBots to other types of solutions, they are obviously a flexible solution that is easy to scale, and they allow us to both expand storage capacity with new racks and increase dynamic capacity by purchasing new RackBots. In Desigual we are committed to efficient logistics management and technological innovation to improve product availability at its points of sale and through all our distribution channels.»

An extension of the conveyor belts connects the new area where the RackBots work to the existing SSI SCHAEFER system. This conveying system transports the cartons to the new area directly from the incoming goods area or the existing high-bay warehouse, which SSI SCHAEFER designed for Desigual in previous projects and which is made up of 10 SSI Miniloads and 200,000 storage locations for cartons. The customer order cartons that are prepared in the new RackBot area are either delivered to customers via shipping lanes or temporarily stored in the high-bay rack for later shipping.

Centralizing operations at the Viladecans distribution center is part of the company’s «Open Desigual» philosophy, based on the principle of cross-collaboration. Collaboration with the best partners in each area of the business allows the company to be ever closer to consumers and offer them the best experience in physical stores and digital retailing. For this project, Desigual teamed up with SSI SCHAEFER, a partner specializing in optimization of logistics processes. Commissioning of the new area is scheduled for November 2023.

Project details:

• Number of RackBots: 24

• Number of storage locations: 7,980 storage locations for 600×400×400 mm cartons

• Rack height: 5.3 meters (last carton level at 4.9 meters)

• 4 picking stations equipped with Put to Light racks with 16 positions per workstation

• Incoming via RackBot Port

Performance:

• 486 cartons/hour for the picking stations with 300 incoming cartons/hour at the same time  

• 648 cartons/hour for the picking stations (without simultaneous incoming cartons)

Desigual relies on SSI Mobile Robots at Viladecans distribution center.

In the future, 24 RackBots will be used to pick 30,000 units per day in two-shift operation.

The Lesage Prestige family business, specializing in exceptional meats and delicatessen products, entrusts SSI SCHAEFER, a leading provider of modular warehousing and logistics solutions, with the reorganization and optimization of its order preparation. Their current facility in Chemy, France, enables them to deliver meat parcels within 24 to 48 hours. Following strong business growth Lesage chose SSI SCHAEFER to rethink their order picking activity by integrating a fleet of RackBot from the spectrum of SSI Mobile Robots in combination with PR 600 racking systems.

For over 70 years, Lesage has specialized in the import and distribution of luxury meats and gourmet products. Their catalog includes a wide range to supply France's finest tables.

François Lesage, General Manager (Purchasing and Production) at Lesage Prestige, explains: “To match the strong growth of our business, we’re currently facing some challenges. We need to save space, but we also have to improve ergonomics and increase our productivity. Thanks to the preliminary analysis, SSI SCHAEFER offered us a solution that fits best to our needs.”

Together they designed a new automated storage and picking area. This involved analyzing the entire organization to reduce manual and less efficient picking in favor of an agile, ergonomic and innovative automated solution. This new cold chain facility, directly connected to production via a conveyor system, will be equipped with SSI Mobile Robot technology and will increase productivity in an environment between 0°C and 2°C.

Before the RackBot AMRs are installed, the current storage area will be dismantled and replaced by PR 600 racking systems from SSI SCHAEFER. The new storage area will comprise five aisles of racking almost five meters high. It will enable Lesage Prestige's products to be stored more densely and reduce the energy consumption associated with the area's refrigeration.

The integrated RackBots will eliminate the distances covered each day by operators in order picking and improve goods flow performance. Once installed, they will pick the bins from one of the 3,600 locations provided and deliver them directly to the Pick by Light order picking stations. With five RackBots in operation during peak periods, the solution will be able to achieve a performance of 340 bins delivered and stored per hour. To absorb supplier delivery peaks in the morning, a RackBot Port buffer system will be installed. This latest-generation buffer storage system can deliver or re-inject up to eight bins simultaneously.

The new solution will be integrated into Lesage’s IT Structure and be connected to the existing ERP system. The team from SSI SCHAEFER will supervise the whole process. This interface will enable fleet management, inventory management, batch numbers, traceability and real-time flow visualization.

With a lead time of less than 12 months, the realization of this holistic robotized solution is scheduled for the first quarter of 2024.

• SSI Schaefer partnered with DKSH Thailand to modernize its Medical Device Distribution Center (MDDC) in Rama III, Bangkok, Thailand. 

• DKSH achieves a remarkable average throughput rate of 300 pieces per hour, a more than 13% improvement from previous operations.

In a pioneering alliance between healthcare and logistics technology, DKSH Thailand has partnered SSI Schaefer, a global leader in innovative distribution center solutions, to modernize its Medical Device Distribution Center (MDDC) situated in Rama III, Bangkok, Thailand. DKSH, a renowned player in the medical device industry, has strategically undertaken this initiative in response to the continually evolving landscape of the healthcare sector.

The medical device industry presents unique challenges, primarily characterized by products of high value, temperature sensitivity, and delicate packaging. These products are subject to stringent regulations governing serial and batch numbers, as well as expiration dates. In this context, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Thailand imposes rigorous requirements on all medical device distributors, mandating strict adherence to Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards. The central focus within this regulatory framework is the imperative of traceability, demanding meticulous monitoring of each Stock Keeping Unit (SKU). This meticulous oversight ensures the swift identification of compromised or expired products at every critical juncture within the Distribution Center (DC).

In response to these challenges, SSI SCHAEFER introduced a comprehensive yet pocket-sized solution using it’s pioneered vertical lift module system – SSI LOGIMAT®. Combined with a putwall system, the total solution is nested within a compact 70m² footprint. The logistics operation from storage, picking, and packing for delivery are systematically implemented alongside an intelligent software that offers real-time visibility.

Achieving Inventory Visibility and Effective Handling with Technology

The cornerstone of the solution is the SSI LOGIMAT® Vertical Lift Module (VLM), standing at a height of 10 meters. The solution boasts an astonishing storage capacity for over 3,000 SKUs within its compact 30m² footprint. Operating on the efficient goods-to-person principle, this dynamic racking system optimizes storage and retrieval processes, achieving a remarkable average throughput rate of 300 pieces per hour, a more than 13% improvement from previous operations.

The deployment of a strategically positioned putwall system streamlines the order fulfillment process, minimizing travel distances between inventory storage and packing locations. Each put location within the putwall system represents an individual customer's order, with light indicators guiding pickers and ensuring accurate order consolidation.

Intelligent software that offers real-time visibility

Managing complex SKUs is streamlined with the SPS EasyConnect, an intuitive and user-friendly application that seamlessly integrates with existing systems, enabling real-time data synchronization. This intelligent software is S/4 HANA ready, adaptable to future automation needs, and can interface with additional systems as required.

Mr. Poonperm Jarupongsa, Director, Distribution Center Operations, Healthcare, DKSH (Thailand) Limited, commented, "The comprehensive solutions from SSI SCHAEFER significantly improved our operating performance. With the SSI LOGIMAT® and SPS EasyConnect, we are able to stay agile and competitive while improving our customer satisfaction."

The partnership between SSI SCHAEFER and DKSH Thailand underscores the transformative impact of technology on the healthcare industry, enhancing efficiency, accuracy, and ultimately, the delivery of critical healthcare solutions to patients and providers.

Click here to learn more about the case study.

• Groundbreaking partnership delivers an outstanding high-bay indoor racking system that is entirely self-supported, optimizing both space utilization and stability for seismic zones
   

SSI SCHAEFER a global leader in intralogistics and automated warehouses, today announced its partnership with the Taiwan-based logistics property developer Ally Logistic Property (ALP) to deliver the core infrastructure at the heart of ALP's upcoming OMEGA 1 Bukit Raja — a smart warehouse with automation built in, featuring a high quality self-supported high-bay indoor racking system.

Located in Selangor, Malaysia, OMEGA 1 Bukit Raja is poised to become ALP’s largest automated warehouse in Southeast Asia. It encompasses a vast area of 1.8 million square feet and is valued at US$180 million (RM844 million), representing a significant stride forward. Additionally, the company is set to invest US$1 billion (RM4.68 billion) into Malaysia for the development of cutting-edge smart warehousing solutions, further propelling the nation's logistics industry to new heights.

One of the key advantages of OMEGA is the smart logistics infrastructure the facility provides — including SSI SCHAEFER’s cutting-edge rack solutions — effectively eliminating the need for clients to make their own substantial capital expenditures on automation. This strategic approach empowers clients to harness the benefits of advanced automation in a more cost-effective way.

“We are honored and thrilled that ALP has entrusted us to play a leading role in such a key facility,” remarked Mr. Chan Foong Chow — Director of Sales, Integrator Business Solutions SSI SCHAEFER. “Through delivering the core infrastructure at the heart of this project, SSI SCHAEFER is demonstrating how we work conscientiously with customers to advance their business objectives with tailored, exceptional solutions.”

Supply chains are increasingly shifting away from China and towards many Southeast Asian countries, as research by the consulting firm McKinsey & Company has found. With supply chain operations changing and expanding, companies in the region above all need smart, scalable storage facilities that not only enable flexible growth but also actively foster it. OMEGA fills this gap with the immense storage capacity of SSI SCHAEFER’s high-density racking systems, flexibility in pay-as-you-use rental plans, and the latest in digital and future-ready automation solutions.

A unique achievement in intralogistics

A leader in racking technologies and systems, SSI SCHAEFER designed, manufactured, and installed the core smart warehouse and steelworks infrastructure of the facility, customizing its racking solutions to seamlessly integrate with the space and connected systems. With more than 100,000 pallet locations spread across 38 aisles, SSI SCHAEFER's advanced design accommodates 8 double-deep aisles and 30 single-deep aisles, maximizing space efficiency while maintaining pallet diversity over an approximate area of 693,000 cubic meters.

The huge building with the self-supporting structure of the high-bay racking, constructed with over 4,700 tons of steel, represents an outstanding achievement for the intralogistics industry: a 40-meter tall indoor high-bay warehouse unsupported by building columns. Besides greater space utilization, this design provides a high degree of stability — SSI SCHAEFER’s engineering team have a proven track record when it comes to customizing racking solutions that can withstand global and local collapse mechanisms from the heavy mass of the stored pallets as well as dynamic horizontal forces from the SRM and extreme earthquake events. Ensuring safety throughout the lifespan of the racking systems is a top priority in SSI SCHAEFER’s design philosophy. This commitment guarantees the customers’ racking solutions comply with earthquake standards across Southeast and East Asia.

OMEGA: A state-of-the-art smart warehouse to elevate Southeast Asia’s logistics ecosystem

OMEGA, a smart warehouse with automation built-in, features a large-scale, integrated Automated Storage and Retrieval System (AS/RS), allowing multiple supply chains to co-exist and benefit from digital networks and automation.

“We are confident that OMEGA 1 Bukit Raja represents a groundbreaking leap forward in Malaysia’s logistics industry. With SSI SCHAEFER’s exceptional expertise in this field and region, we have the utmost assurance that the development of our indoor rack structures is in good hands,” stated Keren Liu, Managing Director of ALP Malaysia.

“Since the project’s inception, the SSI SCHAEFER team has consistently demonstrated their commitment to comprehending our requirements and proactively providing recommendations, ensuring smooth project execution. Such dedication is what we value most in our strategic partners,” Liu emphasized.

The facility is scheduled to be completed in Q3 2024 and aims to boost fulfillment capabilities of Malaysia’s logistics and warehousing industry, particularly among multinational brand owners and retailers seeking a regional distribution center for sustainable business growth.

For more information about OMEGA, please visit: https://www.alp.com.tw/en/omega

The renowned Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics has successfully validated the SSI SCHAEFER software WAMAS WMS (Warehouse Management System). With the help of the vendor-independent »Logistics IT Online Selection«, Fraunhofer IML supports companies in selecting the most suitable WMS and provider. With the validation signet, the quality of SSI SCHAEFER software solutions is now confirmed once again.

The platform warehouse-logistics.com operated by Fraunhofer IML has been one of the best-known portals for warehouse management systems for more than 20 years. The functional comparison of logistics IT systems, free market studies and the full range of consulting services in the field of logistics IT, make warehouse-logistics.com a holistic information platform that brings together providers and interested parties.

For the validation of warehouse management systems, the experts of »Warehouse Logistics« checked more than 3,000 requirement criteria. The renewed inclusion of SSI SCHAEFER Software into the circle of validated software solutions underlines that it is rightly an established and approved WMS solution in the market. WAMAS WMS provides the basis to design logistics processes efficiently, to optimize them and to digitally transform business models and processes.

Gerald Siegl, Product Manager Product Line Software at SSI SCHAEFER, puts it in a nutshell: »This recognized validation seal underlines the high functionality and reliability of our WAMAS WMS software. We are very pleased to receive this award!« The spectrum of the WAMAS software portfolio ranges from Warehouse Management System and Material Flow System to component software such as WAMAS Robotics and WAMAS Lift & Store. Furthermore, it includes WAMAS Control Center for monitoring and optimizing of material flows and WAMAS Maintenance Center for predictive maintenance.

Based on the results of more than 120 validated warehouse management systems, the »Team Warehouse Logistics« of Fraunhofer IML has compiled the »WMS Market Report Compact«. As a long-term study, it offers a transparent overview of market-determining factors, developments and research trends in the field of warehouse management systems.

Click here for free download after registration: https://www.warehouse-logistics.com/152/3/publications-(incl-wms-market-report).html

• Peter Edelmann takes over from Steffen Bersch as CEO of SSI SCHAEFER

• Olaf Hedden takes over from Bruno Krauss as CFO

Neunkirchen, Germany, October 13, 2023 – Effective October 15, 2023, Peter Edelmann has been appointed as the new CEO of leading intralogistics company SSI SCHAEFER. In this role, Peter Edelmann takes over from Steffen Bersch, who has led the company for the past three and a half years.

Peter Edelmann has many years of management experience, including over twenty years with the Voith Group, most recently as a member of the Group's Management Board. Furthermore, Peter Edelmann has managed the companies Kaefer Isoliertechnik in Bremen and B&C Industrieholding in Vienna as CEO. In addition, he holds various supervisory and advisory board mandates.

As a further member of the two-member Group Executive Board, Olaf Hedden has been appointed CFO. He will also take over on October 15, 2023, succeeding Bruno Krauss.

Olaf Hedden has many years of management experience. He began his career at Metallgesellschaft and later worked for several years at Rheinmetall, his most recent role was as CFO of Rheinmetall Automotive AG. In addition, he is also familiar with medium-sized structures through his work as a Spokesman of the Executive Board of Läpple AG.

Dr. Kay Mayland, Chairman of the Advisory Board of the SSI SCHAEFER Group, comments: "The Advisory Board and shareholders of SSI SCHAEFER Group are convinced that in Peter Edelmann and Olaf Hedden, they have found a very experienced team for the overall management of the SSI SCHAEFER Group. With their many years of expertise with industrial companies of different sizes and sectors, they will give the company new impetus. At the same time, we would like to thank Steffen Bersch and Bruno Krauss for the work they have done and wish them all the best for the future, both professionally and privately."

Effective October 15, 2023, Peter Edelmann has been appointed as the new CEO and Olaf Hedden as CFO of the leading intralogistics company SSI SCHAEFER. (from left to right)

SSI SCHAEFER is excited to announce its participation in the highly anticipated LogiMAT | Intelligent Warehouse 2023, the second edition of this annual gathering. The event is scheduled to take place from October 25 to 27, 2023, at the IMPACT Exhibition and Convention Center in Bangkok. SSI SCHAEFER will showcase its commitment to innovation with an expansive 90 m² booth, setting itself apart with a central focus on the theme, "Build Your Dream Warehouse with Us”.

As a testament to its comprehensive capabilities, SSI SCHAEFER is set to enhance the LogiMAT | Intelligent Warehouse experience through an innovative Augmented Reality (AR) visualization tool. This tool is designed to offer visitors a virtual exploration through select intralogistics solutions, offering a visual representation of automation systems that are not only primed for the present but also geared for future scalability.

Focusing on semi and fully-automated warehouse technologies strategically designed to enhance the speed, precision, and efficiency of warehouse operations, attendees will also acquire valuable insights into the transformative possibilities of their business prospects.

Simplifying Automation for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

At booth G-09, located between Hall 5 and 6, SSI SCHAEFER will showcase how small and medium-sized companies can partially automate processes using a simple "plug & play" approach – resulting in accelerated storage, transport and picking processes, better space utilization, and improved ergonomic workflows.

Building blocks of these semi-automated solutions include automated guided vehicles, mobile racking systems, and channel storage applications utilizing the SSI LOGIMAT® Vertical Lift Module. “The honor was given to us to be part of the inaugural LogiMAT | Intelligent Warehouse in 2022, and we are glad to return this year with a new and exciting focus which is to empower our visitors to begin their warehouse automation journey to fulfill their business goals," remarked Sarawut Laoprasert, Country Manager of SSI SCHAEFER Thailand.

Seminars and In-Depth Discussions on the Adoption of Technologies in Warehousing Automation Infrastructure

At the Blue Forum, Sarawut will present the topic, 'A Symphony of Precision: Unveiling the Single-Piece Picking Maestro, Delivering Maximum Performance, Second by Second.'

The three-day event will also feature seminars and discussions led by logistics automation experts from SSI SCHAEFER. Happening at booth G-09, these sessions have been meticulously tailored to address a wide range of specific concerns that are vital for achieving excellence in material handling within the modern warehouse environment. Registration is now open!

Mark your calendars for the highly anticipated second edition of LogiMAT | Intelligent Warehouse 2023, taking place from October 25 to 27, 2023. Reserve a consultation with our warehouse experts today.

Event Highlights of LogiMAT | Intelligent Warehouse 2022

Crowd of visitors engaging with the offerings of products and services

Engagement amongst Khun Sarawut Laoprasert, Country Manager of SSI SCHAEFER Thailand, Khun Passakorn Chairat, Deputy Director General of the Department of Industrial Promotion & Khun Phusit Sasitaranondha, Managing Director of Koelnmesse Thailand

At this year's "materialfluss Product of the Year" awards ceremony, SSI SCHAEFER received two awards. The SSI Flat Pack Picking solution won the 1st place in the category ‘Storage Technology, Containers and Boxes’. With this automated system solution, pallets of bulky and heavy items can be efficiently assembled. In addition, the software solution for robot-assisted pallet picking achieved 2nd place in the ‘Logistics Software’ category by the readers of the trade magazine. The winners were announced at the awards ceremony on May 2, 2023 at Weka Business Medien in Haar, Germany.

Readers were able to vote for the "materialfluss products of the year 2023" in five categories from a total of 39 products. According to WEKA Business Medien Verlag, a total of more than 4,362 votes were cast by 1,873 participants. The winners were announced at the awards ceremony on May 2 at Weka Business Medien in Haar. The prizes were accepted in the ‘Storage Technology, Containers and Boxes’ category by Elmar Stöve, Managing Director, RO-BER, and in the ‘Logistics Software’ category by Thomas Elstner, Product Manager WAMAS Robotics, SSI SCHAEFER.

SSI Flat Pack Picking: 1st Place in the ‘Storage Technology, Containers and Boxes’ Category

With SSI Flat Pack Picking, a currently unique, automated and turnkey system solution for the efficient pallet assembly of bulky items, SSI SCHAEFER supports furniture retailers in e-commerce as well as in store delivery. In addition, the concept can also be transferred to other industries that work with large and heavy goods. The picking module with smart gantry robots enables efficient handling of a broad spectrum of products, relieves employees of less ergonomic tasks and ensures a constant flow of goods. SSI SCHAEFER supplies the customized system solution SSI Flat Pack Picking completely from one source. Both gantry robots and grippers were developed and integrated by RO-BER, a company within the SSI SCHAEFER Group.

"The award as "materialfluss product of the year 2023" underlines the innovative character of the SSI Flat Pack Picking solution," Elmar Stöve, Managing Director at RO-BER, summarizes. "The award encourages us to be in tune with the times and to invest in the right technologies that meet high interest and corresponding demand. We would like to thank the readers for the votes and materialfluss for the award."

WAMAS Case Picking: 2nd Place in the ‘Logistics Software’ Category

With the case picking system and the intelligent software module WAMAS Case Picking from SSI SCHAEFER, retailers and wholesalers are able to improve delivery efficiency despite increasing market demands. It enables the fully automated compilation of a product range for store-specific delivery. The software solution from the WAMAS portfolio developed by SSI SCHAEFER is tailor-made for the store-specific compilation of the pallet, which significantly reduces the picking and sorting effort in the store. In addition, the optimal volume utilization or the stability optimization for transport, leads to significant cost reductions in the entire process chain. Reference projects worldwide prove the efficiency, modularity and scalability in practice.

"We are very pleased about this award for WAMAS Case Picking by the readership of the trade magazine materialfluss. It makes us proud that they appreciate the unique solution and place their trust in us," emphasizes Thomas Elstner, Product Manager WAMAS Robotics at SSI SCHAEFER, and thanks everyone who participated in the voting.

• Unified sustainability management and strategic environmental, health and safety (EHS) management rolled out for the globally operating Group

• Carbon footprint calculated that covers the 18 largest entities of the SSI SCHAEFER Group (Scope 1 & 2 and partly Scope 3)

• Climate strategy with reduction goals developed

Neunkirchen/Siegerland, Germany, September 25, 2023 - SSI SCHAEFER Group, a leading global solution provider for all areas of intralogistics, today published its second sustainability report. The report documents the company's progress in 2022 towards a more sustainable future. Activities focused on implementing measures that were defined in the sustainability strategy developed back in 2021. The sustainability strategy takes equal account of ecological, social and economic aspects.

Despite major challenges such as the effects of the Ukraine war, the SSI SCHAEFER Group was able to achieve important sustainability goals last year. In addition to the development of a group-wide strategy for sustainability management, a strategic environmental, health and safety management (EHS) was introduced, among other things. Furthermore, the calculation of the carbon footprint for the 18 largest entities of the SSI SCHAEFER Group was carried out for Scopes 1, 2 and partly 3. Based on this analysis, a climate strategy with measurable reduction goals for the coming years was derived.

“In 2022, we continued to focus on how we, as a globally active company, can make a positive contribution in terms of sustainability,” says Steffen Bersch, CEO of the SSI SCHAEFER Group. “The second sustainability report underlines our ongoing commitment to a more sustainable future. It is another milestone in our efforts to live up to our responsibility towards the environment and society - and we are proud to have made such progress despite the challenges of the past year.” In 2023, the company plans to continue its efforts and take further innovative measures to achieve its sustainability goals along the entire value chain.

A-Frame – Fully Automated Accelerated Error-Free Picking for Fast-Moving Pharmaceuticals

Supply quality and first-class on-site services are crucial if retail pharmacies are to survive in the face of online competition. Therefore, the role of pharmaceutical wholesalers is also significant – they need to ensure not only high product availability, but also the fastest possible delivery. The company in this example has tailored its fulfillment concept precisely to these demands and implemented it with state-of-the-art technology from its long-term intralogistics partner SSI SCHAEFER. The latest highlight is the installed A-Frame with integrated product verification. This highly efficient, fully automated picking system provides up to 40,000 drug packages per hour during peak times on an order-by-order basis while meeting the pharmaceutical industry’s high standards.

In the course of a collaboration dating back over 20 years, this full-service pharmaceutical supplier has equipped all its distribution warehouses with high-performance technology from SSI SCHAEFER. This was implemented, in part, through retrofit, conversion, and expansion projects without impacting ongoing operations. The spectrum of installations ranges from manual to fully automated warehouse and picking solutions, including tailored logistics software from the WAMAS portfolio. SSI SCHAEFER’s Customer Service & Support includes on-site technical support as needed, alongside training and remote support.

Directly integrated, suitable for varying packaging

Through the implementation of the A-Frame, the partners have once again strengthened their shared commitment in the automation sector. The picking system was integrated directly into the existing structures and has proven to be ideal for picking small, fast-moving packing units since it was commissioned in the second half of 2022. Example contents include headache pills, nasal sprays, and adhesive bandages. A key feature of the A-Frame is the product channels, which allow flexible configuration and are the conduit for software-controlled, error-free output of various packaging sizes, whether cylindrical or rectangular, in just seconds. The items are ejected from the A-Frame onto the conveyor belt, where special sections are each assigned to one order, and then move directly through the filling point into the order bins. The entire process takes just 60 seconds.

High-performance automatic picking system for order fulfillment

The technical performance that can be achieved – up to 40,000 products per hour – is also based on the solution approach of decoupling the picking and refilling processes. Employees refill the A-Frames during lower-load periods. The system then performs fully automated picking, accelerating processing and accommodating the zero-defect strategy. This reduces the staff’s workload so they can be assigned other productive work in the distribution center, optimizing resource utilization. Thus the A-Frame ensures fast processing – even for complex jobs and during load peaks. If sustained growth continues, the system’s modular design will allow optional expansion and adaptation to specific new requirements.

Safety, speed, and efficiency as success factors

In addition, the A-Frame boasts a compact design that saves space, achieving especially high storage density on a small amount of floor space. The A-Frame can accommodate the majority of a product assortment, comprising well over 120,000 pharmaceutical products. Automation also makes an important contribution to meeting the drug safety requirements associated with zero-defect tolerance and full traceability. But speed is also crucial. Pharmacies often lack sufficient storage space to stock a complete assortment of products, so they rely on on-time delivery of the quantity of drugs ordered. The pharmaceutical wholesaler’s service closes this gap, enables a successful customer experience in the local environment, and strengthens the pharmacies’ competitive position, while permanently reducing its own process costs.

The A-Frame from SSI SCHAEFER is a compact picking system that can also be integrated into existing systems and achieves optimal space utilization through its high product density.

The A-Frame performs fully automatic picking for up to 40,000 products per hour and ejects them onto a collecting belt within seconds on an order-by-order basis.

Employees refill the A-Frame during lower-load periods to keep it stocked for high throughput demands at peak times.

After being ejected onto the collecting belt on an order-by-order basis, the packing units are automatically transferred through a filling point directly to the corresponding order bins.

• SSI SCHAEFER agrees cooperation with Singapore Polytechnic

• Collaborate to promote Advanced Manufacturing Learning Journey (AMLJ)

SSI SCHAEFER, a global intralogistics leader and member of Smart i4.0 Transformation Alliance (SiTA), is excited to announce a strategic collaboration with Singapore Polytechnic (SP), the country's first-ever polytechnic. This partnership aims to establish an innovative co-location program dedicated to promoting the Advanced Manufacturing Learning Journey (AMLJ), which SP and TÜV SÜD jointly developed.

Aligned with the Smart Industry Readiness Index (SIRI) developed by Economic Development Board (EDB) Singapore, SSI SCHAEFER and SP are set to revolutionize advanced manufacturing education. The Advanced Manufacturing Centre (AMC), located within SP's esteemed Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering (MAE) Facilities, will serve as a dynamic hub to showcase the latest Industry 4.0 (i4.0) manufacturing technologies.

The AMLJ program aims to support local Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) on their digital transformation journey by showcasing practical and scalable solutions leveraging i4.0 technologies. The AMC features three distinct zones catering to different levels of digitalization:

• Digitalization Zone: Designed for SMEs seeking to digitize manual processes and extract valuable information through machinery connectivity.

• Integrated Zone: Dedicated to SMEs that have adopted a basic level of digitalization and aim to integrate their digital systems into a unified manufacturing process.

• Smart Zone: Specifically tailored for SMEs seeking advanced data-driven manufacturing involving a unified data source, flexible and predictive manufacturing systems, optimized real-time processes, and enhanced cybersecurity measures to improve productivity, adaptability, efficiency, and security.

"We are thrilled to partner with Singapore Polytechnic to launch this co-location program," stated Belinda Yeo, Head of Vertical Lift Module & Self-Driving Technology APAC & MEA at SSI SCHAEFER Singapore. "We are fully committed to supporting SMEs in Singapore's industrial evolution, aligning towards a common goal. Through this collaboration, we are pleased to contribute to the digital transformation journey of SMEs, leveraging the core elements of Industry 4.0 — Technology, Process, and Organization - the three fundamental pillars set by SIRI according to EDB."

The program aims to introduce industry professionals, students, and potential customers to a remarkable array of modern solutions. SSI SCHAEFER's innovative Vertical Lift Module (VLM), SSI LOGIMAT®, will take center stage, demonstrating its unparalleled reliability, efficiency, and significant contributions to streamline storage and material handling processes on the manufacturing and production floor.

“We believe this collaboration is highly beneficial to both parties as we develop our capabilities in advanced manufacturing. AMC's close alignment with industry practices also affirms our commitment to providing students with practical and industry-relevant education. We are confident that this partnership will attract a new generation of technical students to SP, knowing they will be sufficiently equipped for future careers in advanced manufacturing," added Steven Tan, Senior Specialist at SP's Advanced Manufacturing Centre.

This transformative partnership between SSI SCHAEFER and SP signifies a significant milestone in bridging the gap between academia and the intralogistics industry, equipping students with the necessary skills and knowledge to thrive in the evolving field of advanced manufacturing. The collaboration between SSI SCHAEFER and SP commenced three years ago and will continue for another two years.

Swedish Agro Machinery AB, distributor and importer of farming machinery has decided to centralize its spare parts storage system and equip the new warehouse of 3,700 square meters with SSI SCHAEFER’s logistics solutions. Pallet and cantilever racks, shelves and SSI LOGIMAT® Vertical Lift Modules are parts of the solution. The result: a compact warehouse with up to 23,000 different parts and an overnight delivery.

In 2016, Swedish Agro Machinery took over the import of Claas products, a manufacturer of agricultural machinery, to Sweden and Norway. The new updated organizational structure needed a new facility to store spare parts efficiently. They chose to put it in Skåne Skurup, in the middle of one of Sweden's most fertile agricultural areas, also near Denmark and the center of the European continent. The challenge was, that they need to store parts in very different ways due to the various dimensions in the new warehouse. Swedish Agro already had realized some projects with SSI SCHAEFER in the past, so that is why they have been involved as a partner in the project since the very beginning.

“We were looking for one supplier for the overall system. We wanted to partner with the manufacturer to ensure the best quality of the equipment and total control over its production. That is why SSI SCHAEFER was selected as a general contractor for the project.”

Martin Gerdtsson

Spare Parts Manager at Swedish Agro Machinery in Skurup

Martin Gerdtsson

Profession here

Local presence is crucial for Swedish Agro. When an agricultural machine is on service, there should be no disruption, especially during the high season. That is why the company holds 25 workshops in the network with the extra focus on agricultural areas in Skåne, Västra Götaland, Östergötland and Uppland. Swedish Agro's commitment is to deliver the ordered spare parts for the next day if they are not in place locally.

Material flow supported by the new solution

The goods are delivered by trucks, unpacked at the work stations manually, sorted according to type and size and brought to different storage systems. Spare parts for agricultural machinery vary greatly in size, share and weight. It's everything from single bolts to input screws in the ten-meter class.

In fact, Swedish Agro needed ten different ways of storing. This includes long-span and cantilever racks for lying goods and compartments for storing standing moldings. This is very effective as some of the spare parts can be quite large. To utilize also the vertical space optimally, a narrow aisle has been set up with shelves. Smaller spare parts are stored in two SSI LOGIMAT Vertical Lift Modules, which accommodate around 16,000 items.

When goods are needed for an order, they are picked by a forklift or manually by an employee to be packed at the workstations for shipping. All orders received before 3.30 pm are delivered to the service workshops the following morning. This is possible thanks to dense logistics arrangements with overnight deliveries.

“Swedish Agro is loyal to its customers in maintaining quality and promised delivery terms. Our installation has been able to grow and develop with new opportunities, in line with the spare part's expansion. We are very happy to lead this project and support Swedish Agro with a system to perfect their material flow,” concludes Anders Jonasson, Sales Manager at SSI SCHAEFER.

With the new warehouse, Swedish Agro has strengthened their position by securing spare parts availability in the region and optimizing their capacities. Martin Gerdtsson summarizes: “The main reasons why we chose SSI SCHAEFER were that we really felt from the beginning that they already knew our needs through past cooperation and, of course, they had a solution for storing spare parts with a wide range of dimensions.”

Swedish Agro Machinery AB's new central warehouse in Skåne Skurup ensures overnight delivery capability.

The two SSI LOGIMAT® Vertical Lift Modules ensures the ergonomic storage and picking of around 16,000 mostly smaller items.

The narrow-aisle, which is set up with shelves, utilizes the vertical space optimally.

Cantilever racks provide space for storing long and bulky goods.

In the Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Warehouse Management Systems (WMS)

Neunkirchen (Germany) / Friesach (Austria) – 11^th July 2023. For the third consecutive year, analysts at Gartner have positioned SSI SCHAEFER as a Challenger in the 2023 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Warehouse Management Systems^[1] (May 2023).

"We are very pleased to be included again in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for WMS. The reliable and standardized WAMAS WMS forms the backbone of our digitization strategy and plays a central role within our intelligent software portfolio," said Florian Schneebauer, Global Head of Product Line Software at SSI SCHAEFER. "By using smart optimization algorithms, WAMAS WMS controls the complex processes of the wide variety of warehouses of our customers, in an optimal and transparent way. The software seamlessly integrates into the companies' process and system infrastructure and, with the increasing automation of business and logistics processes, connects upstream and downstream systems into an overall system."

Gartner delivers actionable insights, guidance, and tools that enable faster, smarter decisions and stronger performance on an organization's mission critical capabilities. The Gartner Magic Quadrant for Warehouse Management Systems serves as a source of information for supply chain managers on the current state of development of the WMS market and the various vendors and software products.  

More than 1,100 employees are engaged in the Software Solutions division of the SSI SCHAEFER Group.  Their work on software solutions that interact with the hardware, and enhance connectivity to the extended IT landscape, delivers both ecologically and economically sustainable advantages. Florian Schneebauer comments: "Our ambition is to further develop cognitive approaches and advance innovative, digital products and solutions that can be successfully integrated into our portfolio and established on the market."

SSI SCHAEFER is again listed as a Challenger in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Warehouse Management Systems.

¹ Gartner, Magic Quadrant for Warehouse Management Systems, Simon Tunstall, Dwight Klappich, Rishabh Narang, Federica Stufano, 8 May 2023.

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GARTNER and MAGIC QUADRANT are registered trademarks of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and is used herein with permission. All rights reserved. Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner’s research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

SSI SCHAEFER is launching a fully automated piece picking system with numerous innovative features – the SSI Piece Picking application. This versatile solution, which includes a dedicated smart software, boasts advanced functions such as pick-and-place, object recognition using artificial intelligence (AI), a patented gripping point determination, and extremely gentle product handling. The intelligent robotic cell, which can combine with other SSI SCHAEFER components, was debuted in Stuttgart from April 25 to 27 at LogiMAT, Europe’s leading material handling trade show.

Smart picking robots are becoming a permanent fixture in intralogistics. In addition to performance issues, other key reasons include rising labor costs, as well as a shortage of skilled workers. Furthermore, companies want to improve working conditions and reduce employees’ workload. This approach has humans and machines work side by side with robots handling more and more of the repetitive, monotonous tasks. This achieves significantly greater picking performance alongside maximum picking accuracy and availability. “In these scenarios, it is our job to take advantage of our bundled know-how for continuous further optimization of our automation solutions according to market demand,” says Peter Lambrecht, SVP Global Head of Sales, BU Logistics Solutions at SSI SCHAEFER. “From our customers’ point of view, simple processes and ergonomics are crucial, while wanting to increase efficiency at the same time.”

Tailored Piece by Piece to the Next Process Steps

SSI SCHAEFER already offers a fully automated, robotics-supported solution for single-piece picking that has been proven in practice and also meets requirements for zero-defect tolerance and end-to-end traceability of goods. But after a further development process, the SSI Piece Picking cell now does much more. SSI Piece Picking started through a collaboration with RO-BER, an SSI SCHAEFER Group company, and draws on bundled know-how from numerous customer projects. In addition to pick-and-drop, pick-and-place will also be implemented. This function guarantees gentle handling since each item is placed as close as possible to the bottom of the bin or carton. This feature prevents product damage, while precise placement allows optimal utilization of the filling level. A connection to an overhead conveying system is also in the works for the near future. The plug-and-play solution, which takes the form of a pre-assembled unit, can combine with manual workstations. In addition, the robot cell is ideal for use in connection with the SSI SCHAEFER energy-efficient conveying systems and flexible shuttle technology.   

Use Across Industries

AI-based object detection plus state-of-the-art gripper technology ensure that goods are gripped securely and placed gently in target bins or cartons. Instead of finger-shaped grippers, SSI Piece Picking uses smaller, compact suction cups that can reach every corner of a bin/carton, securely gripping even the smallest parts quickly. This function speeds up the overall picking process, and the speed can adapt to the specific product at the same time. Machine learning methods also enable the robots to gain experience with each pick and learn from it, creating a knowledge database available to all other robots. Thus, SSI Piece Picking is suitable for a wide-range of goods in manufacturing, e-commerce, retail and within the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries, as well as for third-party logistics providers (3PL). 100% product verification is achieved through integrated scanning and weighing functions. During the picking process, the integrated AI is already able to detect, on the basis of single weighing, whether the correct items and requested quantity are picked. If unexpected events occur, such as a barcode that cannot be scanned, an automatic error correction resolves the issue without human intervention.

Highest Quality Standards Through Patented Technology

In addition, the read rate optimization implemented within the SSI Piece Picking solution via barcode detection increases process reliability. The patent-pending pick point optimization automatically shifts the gripping point and makes sure that barcodes are not obscured during picking, so they are scanned immediately. Thus, analogous to the GS1 specifications for code placement, the system is able to read at least 99.5% of the products directly on the first attempt. This increases pick rates while also following the read rate guidelines of the highly regulated pharmaceutical sector. Beyond advanced functions such as pick-and-place and pick point optimization, SSI Piece Picking boasts additional features. In the pharmaceutical sector, the system solution can handle 80% of the product spectrum, including goods in cubic, cylindrical, tubular and blister packaging, and the product range is constantly expanding to include additional formats.

AI Robotics as a Driver of the Digital Transformation

“Depending on the size, weight and storage method, we can pick up to 1,200 individual pieces per hour with our solution,” says Peter Lambrecht. “SSI Piece Picking combines state-of-the-art robotics technology with clever machine learning in an intelligent overall system tailored not only to today’s challenges, but to tomorrow’s as well. This makes the highly innovative robotic cell one of the most powerful and versatile applications for automated single-piece picking.” WAMAS Piece Picking from the WAMAS portfolio provides optimized control for material flows, as well as vision integration, and is responsible for the strong performance. No teach-in process is required, since only the typical host master data is accessed. In addition, the application can also connect to existing WMS systems.

SSI SCHAEFER is launching a fully automated piece picking system with numerous innovative features – the SSI Piece Picking application.

SSI SCHAEFER, a global intralogistics leader and member of Smart i4.0 Transformation Alliance (SiTA), is excited to announce a strategic collaboration with Singapore Polytechnic (SP), the country's first-ever polytechnic. This partnership aims to establish an innovative co-location program dedicated to promoting the Advanced Manufacturing Learning Journey (AMLJ), which SP and TUV SUD jointly developed.

Aligned with the Smart Industry Readiness Index (SIRI) developed by Economic Development Board (EDB) Singapore, SSI SCHAEFER and SP are set to revolutionize advanced manufacturing education. The Advanced Manufacturing Centre (AMC), located within SP's esteemed Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering (MAE) Facilities, will serve as a dynamic hub to showcase the latest Industry 4.0 (i4.0) manufacturing technologies.

The AMLJ program aims to support local Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) on their digital transformation journey by showcasing practical and scalable solutions leveraging i4.0 technologies. The AMC features three distinct zones catering to different levels of digitalization:

Digitalization Zone: Designed for SMEs seeking to digitize manual processes and extract valuable information through machinery connectivity.

Integrated Zone: Dedicated to SMEs that have adopted a basic level of digitalization and aim to integrate their digital systems into a unified manufacturing process.

Smart Zone: Specifically tailored for SMEs seeking advanced data-driven manufacturing involving a unified data source, flexible and predictive manufacturing systems, optimized real-time processes, and enhanced cybersecurity measures to improve productivity, adaptability, efficiency, and security.

"We are thrilled to partner with Singapore Polytechnic to launch this co-location program," stated Belinda Yeo, Head of Vertical Lift Module & Self-Driving Technology APAC & MEA at SSI SCHAEFER Singapore. "We are fully committed to supporting SMEs in Singapore's industrial evolution, aligning towards a common goal. Through this collaboration, we are pleased to contribute to the digital transformation journey of SMEs, leveraging the core elements of Industry 4.0 — Technology, Process, and Organization - the three fundamental pillars set by SIRI according to EDB."

The program aims to introduce industry professionals, students, and potential customers to a remarkable array of modern solutions. SSI SCHAEFER's innovative Vertical Lift Module (VLM), SSI LOGIMAT®, will take center stage, demonstrating its unparalleled reliability, efficiency, and significant contributions to streamline storage and material handling processes on the manufacturing and production floor.

Steven Tan, Senior Specialist at SP's Advanced Manufacturing Center, said, “We believe this collaboration is highly beneficial to both parties as we develop our capabilities in advanced manufacturing. AMC's close alignment with industry practices also affirms our commitment to providing students with practical and industry-relevant education. We are confident that this partnership will attract a new generation of technical students to SP, knowing they will be sufficiently equipped for future careers in advanced manufacturing.”

This transformative partnership between SSI SCHAEFER and SP signifies a significant milestone in bridging the gap between academia and the intralogistics industry, equipping students with the necessary skills and knowledge to thrive in the evolving field of advanced manufacturing. The collaboration between SSI SCHAEFER and SP commenced three years ago and will continue for another two years, with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) scheduled for June 2023.

SSI SCHAEFER and Brands for Less Launch State-of-the-Art Automated Roaming Shuttle in Dubai 

SSI SCHAEFER, the global leader of modular warehousing and logistics solutions, and Brands for Less announced the successful implementation of the first automated Roaming Shuttle in their distribution center facility in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The groundbreaking solution comprises a VNA selective storage system for 4,350 pallets and an automated bin storage system with 123,000 totes and it is set to revolutionize the retail logistics landscape, offering significant improvements in efficiency, storage optimization, and cost reduction for businesses in the industry.

Brands for Less, a renowned off-price fashion and homeware retailer, has served the Middle East and Europe for over 20 years through its 85+ stores, offering over 3,000 designer brands. In response to the growing need for streamlined logistics processes and reduced operational costs, Brands for Less turned to SSI Schaefer to develop a cutting-edge system tailored to the unique needs of retail businesses.

The 6,000 sqm facility now features a state-of-the-art VNA selective storage system for bulk storage and an automated bin storage system for small and medium-sized goods. Most goods are received in bins and cartons from a central Brands for Less import facility and are automatically stored in the bin storage system. Conveyors and vertical lifters deliver bins to pick-up points, where 32 roaming shuttles pick up the bins and store them in assigned locations.

"We are extremely pleased with the results of our collaboration with SSI Schaefer, as this automated storage solution has significantly enhanced our warehouse efficiency, allowing us to serve our customers better and meet their increasing demands. The system's flexibility will support our expansion across the UAE and beyond, as well as our growing e-commerce business," said Ayman Beydoun, Deputy CEO and Group COO of Brands for Less.

Carsten Spiegelberg, Managing Director of SSI Schaefer MEA, added, "We are excited to be part of Brands for Less' amazing growth story in the Region by providing them with their first automated fit-out in their central warehouse facility in Dubai. This fully automated storage facility will provide Brands for Less a sound and flexible basis to support the growth expected in processing the supply of goods to their continuously expanding network of branches and increasing e-commerce business across the GCC and beyond."

For businesses seeking to optimize their logistics operations, the Brands for Less and SSI Schaefer collaboration serves as a prime example of how innovative technology can drive growth, improve efficiency, and reduce costs. The cutting-edge solution by SSI Schaefer has enabled Brands for Less to strengthen its market position and cater to customers' specific and increased demands effectively. As automation will improve warehouse and logistics efficiency, SSI Schaefer's solutions are poised to become a game-changer for various industry, offering a scalable, customizable solution for businesses of all sizes.

Increasing Efficiency & Saving Space in the Warehouse

Space restrictions often limit the potential scope of warehouse modernization projects – an especially common challenge for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). SSI SCHAEFER solved this problem for WFL Millturn Technologies by installing SSI LOGIMAT® vertical lift modules. Expanding the small parts storage capacity vertically freed up an impressive 110 m² of floor space in the existing hall. The devices are controlled directly from SAP, eliminating the need for subsystems and interfaces. That allowed this successful machine manufacturing company to increase its small parts picking performance by up to 50%.

• Learn all details

Expertise shared on-site paves the way to optimize warehouses for growth

SSI Schaefer, a leading provider of turnkey solutions for intralogistics, is offering exclusive, complementary one-on-one sessions with its experts at Seamless Middle East 2023, aimed at helping retailers and distributors navigate the rapidly evolving e-commerce landscape in the region and beyond. Sessions will offer tailored, individualized insights to optimize intralogistics for e-commerce and to explore the path to warehouse automation.

To pre-book a dedicated, complementary session, please visit here

The Middle East has witnessed a significant surge in e-commerce in recent years, particularly in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. This upward trajectory is projected to continue, growing by $20 billion in value from 2022 to 2026, and expansion is largely driven by increasing internet and mobile phone usage, the need for convenience, and innovation in the tech sector. Booming sales also come with challenges for e-commerce fulfillment, and online and omni-channel retailers and their suppliers have had to quickly scale up fulfillment capabilities. To help these companies adapt to burgeoning e-commerce customer demand, SSI Schaefer is demonstrating the key role intralogistics and warehouse automation can play.

Optimizing warehouses to harness the digital economy

Whether online or offline retailers, session participants can look forward to learning from SSI Schaefer’s e-commerce experts about how they can adjust current warehouse infrastructure to the growing volume of e-commerce orders and deliver efficient, fast, flexible, and error-free fulfillment. SSI Schaefer is also sharing practical insights and strategies for taking the first steps toward automation with existing warehouse automation solutions; handling operations in volatile, highly competitive markets; and creating scalable processes and flexible systems that can be upgraded and expanded as needed.

• Key takeaways participants can expect from these sessions include:

• Ensuring 100% delivery capability during peak periods, such as "White Friday" or “Cyber Days"

• Implementing zero-error picking and cost-optimized logistics operations

• Achieving short cycle times and high transparency in material flow

• Solutions for handling heterogeneous product assortments

• Efficient handling of smaller delivered quantities, single-item orders, and prioritized premium orders

• Reducing and better managing returns processing

• Understanding the impact of government regulations, such as weight restrictions for order picking, on business operations

• Leveraging ergonomic factors to create an attractive work environment and address skilled worker shortages

For more information and to register for a session, please visit here

• Macroeconomic developments have a noticeable impact on the intralogistics industry and the Group’s business performance

• Order intake 12.2% below prior year at approx. EUR 1.74 billion

• Sales revenues at EUR 1.81 billion (-5.1%)

• Major projects in largest business unit, Logistics Solutions, postponed until 2023/24

• Total output and revenues in all other business units above previous year

• Research partnerships and recent acquisition of DS Automotion strengthen the Group’s innovative power

Neunkirchen/Siegerland (Germany), February 27, 2023 – The SSI SCHAEFER Group, a German family-owned company established more than 85 years ago and a leading international solution provider for all segments of the intralogistics industry, reported an order intake of EUR 1.74 billion (-12.2%) for the fiscal year 2022, according to preliminary figures. The decline is mainly due to the fact that major projects in the Group’s largest business unit, Logistics Solutions, were postponed to 2023 and 2024, as several customers recorded low order intake due to the economic impact of the war in Ukraine and increased material prices.

Sales revenues dropped by 5.1% to EUR 1.81 billion, partly due to delayed project acceptance caused by materials shortages. All other business units – Products & Equipment, Customer Services, Waste & Packaging – reported higher revenues than in the previous year.

Creation of an Innovation Eco-System and Progress in Expanding the Technology Leadership

A key focus in the fiscal year 2022 was placed on strengthening the SSI SCHAEFER Group’s innovation capability. The aim was to play a leading role in shaping the digital and sustainable transformation in order to achieve the goal of technology leadership in the intralogistics sector, as set out in the Group’s strategy. To this end, the Group is building an innovation eco-system of cooperations with research partners such as Fraunhofer IML and various universities as well as with enterprises and start-ups as development partners. The employees play a key role in shaping the future of the SSI SCHAEFER Group by promoting a culture of innovation and stronger networking within the Group. In this context, the new international and interdisciplinary Data Science Team is an important element, which aims to bundle the Group-wide expertise in artificial intelligence and machine learning. 

An important milestone in the expansion of technology leadership is the recently signed agreement for the complete acquisition of DS Automotion GmbH by the SSI SCHAEFER Group. The full acquisition of DS Automotion, a leading provider of mobile robotics (AGV – Automated Guided Vehicles and AMR – Autonomous Mobile Robots), will take effect on March 1, 2023. It will strengthen the competitiveness and innovative power of the SSI SCHAEFER Group in robotics and automation, two segments that are pointing the way forward for the intralogistics industry. 

In October 2020, Coop, one of the leading food retailers in Sweden, and SSI SCHAEFER, the world’s leading provider of modular warehousing and logistics solutions, announced the starting point of their long-term collaboration. Once again SSI SCHAEFER met up with Mats Tornard, Project Manager of Strategic Supply Chain at Coop, to discuss and sum up the current success of the ongoing Automated Logistics Centre project. At the end of 2021, the two companies shared information about the smooth collaboration, shared values in terms of quality and sustainability and the status of the solution installation which by that time had just started. It is time for an update with the latest results achieved so far.

Despite all the challenges and alterations, 2022 has been an eventful year for one of the largest automation projects in Europe. The global crisis, supply chain difficulties and lack of steel failed to hold back Coop’s solution realization. All major activities follow the schedule with no disruption or delays. “We have had a very positive experience with all our partners so far. Despite the challenging year 2022, both the building by the third party and the solution by SSI SCHAEFER are getting ready according to the realization plan,” shares Mats Tornard.

Constant Change is the New Stability

The past few years have been tricky in terms of planning for the future as behavioral habits shifted significantly. During the project realization Coop updated input data, analyzed it and concluded that the handover date volumes will reach 2027’s planned volumes. This means both the industry’s and the company’s growth have been outplaying the boldest expectations. While volume increase is undoubtedly great news, it comes with the consequences of solution revising and design changes.

During the solution’s realization stage we reviewed the data and found out that to handle the increased volumes in the future Coop will need more focus on palletizing and depalletizing. We are happy with the solution by SSI SCHAEFER as it allows extension at any point even in the middle of construction. In the dynamic world of today this is exactly what we need,

Mats Tornard

Project Manager of Strategic Supply Chain at Coop

Mats Tornard

Profession here

What has Been Done so far: Installation of the System

Sustainability and ergonomic work environments are at the forefront of the two companies' shared values. These were the core points for Coop at the solution design stage: to reach high efficiency without compromising on the important aspects.

Goods will arrive by railroad straight to the warehouse to minimize CO₂ footprint and maintain an eco-friendly approach. The goods receiving zone is equipped with the conveying system for pallets, which has already been completed and is now on a test run. High-Bay warehouses in both, chilled and ambient zones have been assembled and launched together with the pallet cranes that serve for storage and retrieval of goods for buffering.

When the items are needed for restocking the main storage area, they arrive at the depalletizing station. Depalletizing, as well as mixed palletizing stations, are in progress due to additional solution extension during realization, i.e. more robots. When the goods are split into individual cases, they are transported by a bin conveyor to a storage area. SSI SCHAEFER has just completed one of two parts of the bin conveying system.

The 3D-MATRIX Solution® by SSI SCHAEFER is intended to serve as a buffer for cases. The storage locations are operated by SSI Flexi shuttles, which are responsible for storage, loading and retrieval. The buffer storage has also been extended and is currently a work in progress. The one part that is fully completed here is the installation of the lifts. After the cases are needed for the order, the SSI Flexi shuttles will transport them to the palletizing station where robotized equipment will take care of putting the orders together for shipping.

Assembled pallets are delivered to the buffer storage and are consolidated by the final customer or route. One of the shipping buffers is at the final stage and is ready to be launched, the rest of them are in progress.

The Large Automation Project is Hard to Miss

2022 is a significant year for Coop and its partners. Coop was awarded the shared first place of the Logistics Establishment of the Year 2022! Coop's new goods terminal in Kjula, Eskilstuna impressed the jury with its major investment in train-bound grocery logistics and that the terminal will be highly automated. Coop's new warehouse is equipped with SSI SCHAEFER’s automated solutions and helps the retailer reach 95% of all the picking processes completed with automation. The main focus for the new internal logistics design was ergonomic working environment and sustainability. Coop, SSI SCHAEFER and other partners involved in the project visited the award ceremony to receive diplomas and flowers.

"All the nominees presented fantastic projects. We were very happy to be among great and fair competition and were honored to receive the award," said Mats Tornard immediately after the award ceremony.

The project was also noticed for Coop’s sustainable initiatives towards both, day-to-day work and the new warehouse. To add up to CO₂ footprint minimization, Coop will also have solar cells on the roof. The panels are estimated to produce approximately one third of the energy that the plant will need annually. Taking into account these and other company’s green activities, the jury made a decision in favor of Coop. Coop was named Sweden's most sustainable brand in Europe's largest brand survey on sustainability - “Sustainable Brand Index 2021”. Coop received a sustainability certificate for the new site with the silver level. This means that the new warehouse was recognized for its eco-friendly building construction and also healthy and ergonomic work environment for the employees.

Coop and SSI SCHAEFER are Creating More Jobs

Everyday thousands of packages are handled, formed and sent to the end customer. Such an impressive building with a fully automated solution needs qualified people to monitor and control. To ensure the optimum operation of the system, SSI SCHAEFER is looking for new members for their team who are interested in career development and learning about automation and robotics. “Almost two years in the process, we are happy to share that the new logistics center is looking for employees and is ready to train and grow new specialists in the profession of the future. In total, we are looking for 79 technicians and professionals to support smooth and non-stop operations,” shares Mats Tornard.

SSI SCHAEFER and Coop are in need of qualified employees and there is a huge competition to get them. Instead of compromising on quality, it was decided that it is time to be a part of the changing environment. That is why the companies initiated and joined the educational program together with Yrkeshögskolan SKY, one of the largest providers of Advanced Vocational Educations in Sweden. To teach, mentor and form a set of new specialists.

One of the biggest advantages of the educational program is that all the teachers have field experience. They work within the industry on the daily basis and are able to share the most recent news, trends and techniques with the students. With the necessary drive, ambition and success during the learning process, it is possible to land employment opportunities even before graduation.

The graduates can work as Automation Technicians in both Inventory Management and installation and service industrial robots, PLC Technicians, Robotics engineers, and Maintenance technicians.

The information contained in the text is as of the end of November 2022. In the meantime, a lot has happened with the project and there will be another update on progress soon.

The plastic electroplating specialist C+C Krug GmbH took the path to semi-automation of logistics processes together with SSI SCHAEFER. Three SSI LOGIMAT^® Vertical Lift Modules, two automated guided vehicles, type WEASEL^® and a short bin conveying system ensure efficient processes between warehouse and production. The warehouse equipment has been designed for expansion.

When C+C Krug contacted SSI SCHAEFER, the new warehouse was under construction. For this reason, it was high time to plan the storage equipment for the new warehouse. The medium-sized company C+C Krug GmbH headquartered in Ottendorf-Okrilla, Saxony, Germany, was founded in 1991 and specializes in plastic electroplating. Sophisticated coating systems are realized from parts construction to sample processing to serial production. C+C Krug produces coating systems for automobile interior and exterior in high gloss as well as customized in matt tones.

Due to a positive sales development, the production volume of C+C Krug considerably increased in the past year. The number of projects rose and therefore stock also increased because more raw materials had to be available. The existing warehouse could no longer accommodate the necessary stock. Along with the new building, warehousing was also intended to change in order to minimize searching and picking times. The existing warehousing system caused long searching times and sometimes even affected the production times. The construction of the new building had several objectives. Gaining more space for raw material, finding suitable, modern warehouse equipment for the large number of items and making processes in warehouse and production more efficient – ideally using semi-automation. These were the requirements that C+C Krug communicated to SSI SCHAEFER using the contact form on the website. “The fast response time of SSI SCHAEFER was unique,” says Christian Krause, Head of Logistics at C+C Krug GmbH. “Only one or two days after my inquiry, I got a call from the responsible sales representative and a week later we scheduled an on-site visit.”

Shortly afterwards, the companies were in the projecting phase. For this purpose, the SSI SCHAEFER experts first gained an overview of the number of items and the dimensions of the components, and so determined the overall volume. Among the components on stock at C+C Krug are accent moldings, outer moldings and other design elements to be applied on the inside or outside of cars. Some of the components are bulk goods of approx. 1,000 to 2,000 parts per small load carrier). Furthermore, the entire processes were monitored and analyzed. Based on time studies, intralogistics emerged as the medium for process optimization. If the raw material did not arrive at the production work station in time, idle times occurred. SSI SCHAEFER presented the customer three different logistics concepts, based on a manual, semi-automated or automated solution. C+C Krug opted for a solution consisting of three SSI LOGIMAT storage lifts, a bin and carton conveying system, two automated guided vehicles (AGV) type WEASEL and two transfer locations. The warehouse concept has been designed for expansion to be carried out over various construction stages.

The three SSI LOGIMAT Vertical Lift Modules (VLM) are located at the face side of the approx. 620 m² hall and ensure efficient, reliable processes – there is also enough room for nine to ten further small parts lifts that will follow. Modernization in stages is important for C+C Klug. “We want to keep the investment for each expansion stage manageable and learn how to handle modern systems so that we can plan further steps according to requirements,” explains Mr. Krause. Opting for the LOGIMAT storage lift, C+C Krug receives a combined warehousing and picking solution. The storage tower resembles an oversized drawer cabinet with two rows of trays – one in the front and one in the rear row. Picking is done according to the goods-to-person principle. Between the two rows is a lift, which pulls out the individual trays and moves them to the respective position of the opening. What makes the tray system particularly interesting is the optimum use of the hall height:

There is only little room left between storage lift and ceiling. The machine height is customizable, so LOGIMAT fits perfectly in the hall in Ottendorf-Okrilla which is 8 m high. The machines are each equipped with 39 trays sized 3,625 mm x 815 mm. “Furthermore, the tray lift scores with its compact design and condensed storage on smallest footprint,” says Rico Bär, SSI SCHAEFER sales representative. “This reduces the walking distances for the employees considerably.” The C+C Krug product range includes about 200 items; the number is constantly growing. About 50% of these items can be accommodated in the storage lifts. The next expansion stage will cover storage of the remaining items.

As an additional option for the small parts lift, C+C Krug chose a locking mechanism of the retrieval opening to protect the goods against dust and soiling, and additional illumination of shaft and control cabinet. Furthermore, the option LOGIBAR offers a confirmation light barrier under the operator opening. This function serves to acknowledge the picking order/tray change directly under the access opening in the lift system. This leads to an increased picking speed and less walking times. The software solution WAMAS^® LOGIMAT oversees the item management for the three storage lifts. The option WAMAS LOGIMAT Orderhandling connects them flexibly to the superordinate customer ERP system. The advantage is that stock and orders are automatically synchronized in ERP and WAMAS LOGIMAT. For employees, it means paperless working and no more manual booking. Additionally, it is easy to form dynamic picking areas. “It was relatively easy to group components according to colors, customers and form areas using the WAMAS LOGIMAT software,” states Mr. Krause. “Forming areas facilitates achieving a higher picking performance.” Depending on work load, one, two or three employees can pick in parallel at the tray lifts.

The WEASEL as AGVs connect the storage and the production area barrier-free and safe for persons. The use of surfaces and space remains flexible. The ERP system sends orders to the VLM. WAMAS LOGIMAT compiles the corresponding items for picking according to the FIFO principle. A warehouse operator takes the carton or container off the supplied tray and places it onto the conveying section at the long side of the hall. The first meters of the conveying system have been designed as inclined conveyor followed by a driven conveying system. At the end of the section is the automatic transfer conveyor for the AGVs. The transfer conveyor can accommodate and buffer a variety of bins to distribute them in a dynamic process among the available vehicles. For this purpose, the WEASEL goes under the transfer conveyor to catch the transport unit.

The WEASEL is the perfect solution for transporting containers and cartons weighing up to 35 kg. The AGVs navigate along a visual driving track. The WEASEL can achieve a speed of up to 1 meter per second. The fleet controller or manager handles the control and optimization of all transport orders. “Our AGVs can be flexibly adapted to changed market conditions,” explains Thomas Lamprecht, SSI SCHAEFER project manager. “For instance, the number of vehicles can be increased according to performance requirements.”

If production planning requires a component series, the production employee requests a WEASEL by pushing a button. The WEASEL takes the small load carrier from the transfer conveyor and transports it to the manual transfer location in production. There, an employee collects the bin or carton and takes it to the corresponding work station. In production planning, the components are put on product carriers for coating.

Thanks to the new, semi-automated solution, which was accepted in September 2019, C+C Krug achieved considerable time savings in the provision of components. “We could increase the availability speed by 90%, while picking times were reduced by 50%,” resumes Mr. Krause. “In total, we look back at great cooperation with SSI SCHAEFER, communication went extremely well in this cooperation. We plan the next expansion for the near future.

Apotea, Sweden’s first full-scale online pharmacy, commissioned SSI SCHAEFER to expand the existing warehouse solution to cover the increased demand. The company is well known for adopting the innovations presented on the market. In recent years, Apotea has built an environmentally friendly logistics center and installed an automated system from SSI SCHAEFER to keep up with rapid growth. With the new warehouse solution, the fast-growing online pharmacy will be able to ship around 700,000 packages a month.

The online pharmacist was awarded as Sweden’s most favorite online store and is highly valued by customers for fast deliveries, fair prices, and a great customer experience. To ensure the same customer experience in the future, Apotea continues to work together with SSI SCHAEFER to develop and optimize their supply chain.

In 2019, SSI SCHAEFER already developed and implemented an automatic picking solution with an A-Frame for Apotea. It enables rapid processing of complex orders, even under peak loads. Due to the fact, that refilling, and picking are separate processes, the A-Frame is refilled in low-load times and then perform the picking fully automatically at peak times. This means optimum personnel utilization in the warehouse, low error rates, and a significantly enhanced performance. The system was fully installed in fall 2019 but due to Apotea’s rapid growth it is time for an expansion of the system to almost double the performance.

“We´re very satisfied with the existing A-Frame and the way it efficiently has expanded our capacity”, says Pär Svärdson, CEO at Apotea. “That's why we continue to implement a new automated solution together with SSI SCHAEFER and I am really looking forward to seeing our new, even faster A-Frame in action.”

The existing A-Frame system at Apotea can store up to 1,500 products and provides a picking capacity of up to 1,400 orders per hour. This will soon be supported by another A-Frame, which will process 1,000 more orders per hour. The system will be up and running during 2021.

Apotea, Sweden’s first full-scale online pharmacy, commissioned SSI SCHAEFER to expand the existing warehouse solution to cover the increased demand.

Acquisition of Shares Successfully Completed

• Shares in DS AUTOMOTION fully acquired by SSI SCHAEFER following approval by the Federal Competition Authority in Austria

Neunkirchen, Germany / Linz, Austria March 2, 2023 – At the end of January 2023, it was announced that the SSI SCHAEFER Group, a leading international provider of modular warehousing and logistics solutions employing approximately 10,000 people, and DS AUTOMOTION GmbH, a leading provider of mobile robotics (AGV - Automated Guided Vehicles and AMR - Autonomous Mobile Robots) headquartered in Linz, signed an agreement under which SSI SCHAEFER will acquire all shares in DS AUTOMOTION GmbH. The acquisition of the remaining shares was successfully completed and came into effect yesterday, March 1, 2023, following completion of the review by the Austrian Federal Competition Authority.

SSI SCHAEFER is thus expanding the minority interest it has held in DS AUTOMOTION since 2018 to reflect the growing importance of autonomous and mobile robotics and the AGV business in intralogistics. The management team, led by Managing Directors Manfred Hummenberger and Wolfgang Hillinger, will remain. DS AUTOMOTION will continue to operate independently with its well-established brand.

“The partnership with DS AUTOMOTION is an important milestone in the expansion of the technology leadership of the SSI SCHAEFER Group, and strengthens our competitiveness and innovation power in robotics and automation, which are leading the future for intralogistics,” says Steffen Bersch, CEO of the SSI SCHAEFER Group. “We are pleased to announce that the full share acquisition became effective yesterday, March 1, 2023.”

Previous News:

• Optimized solutions for robot-based single piece picking

• "Plug & Play" system combinations for partial automation

• Software as the key to data utilization, transparency and connectivity

• Live expert panel discussions on the pulse of intralogistics, daily at the trade show booth

Particularly in dynamic times characterized by crises, logistics steps up to deliver strategic competitive advantage. As one of the market leaders, SSI SCHAEFER'S trade fair presence at LogiMAT 2023 in Stuttgart, Germany, shows how its customers are well positioned for the future with comprehensive systems and solutions. Steffen Bersch, CEO of the SSI SCHAEFER Group, explains the requirements: "We see a high need for investment in automation and efficiency-increasing technologies. With our know-how and wide range of innovative products, software and services, we present ourselves as a partner to jointly realize the customer-specific resilient logistics structure consisting of flexible, scalable and sustainable systems."

The cornerstones of future-proof intralogistics are the comprehensive portfolio of customized software, the connectivity of the systems and the innovative technologies within the SSI SCHAEFER Group. This also includes companies such as robotics specialist RO-BER, SAP specialist SWAN and robotics and AGV expert DS Automotion, which will become a full member of the SSI SCHAEFER Group on March 1, 2023.

For fully automated single piece picking, SSI SCHAEFER will present its advanced piece picking application at the booth in Hall 1. The highlights of the system, in addition to the patented gripping point calculation, are additional functions such as Pick & Place, AI-supported object recognition, and 100% product verification, which is important for the pharmaceutical industry, among others. Additional highly automated intralogistics solutions will be presented at consulting islands, including complex robotics applications with central shuttle and overhead conveyor technology for efficient omnichannel logistics.

Of particular interest to SMEs are "plug & play" system combinations for partial automation. Processes can be accelerated, spaces condensed, and ergonomic workflows integrated in a simple way and economically. The building blocks of these solutions, some of which will be demonstrated at the booth, include automated guided vehicles, autonomous mobile robots, mobile racking, channel storage solutions with the SSI ORBITER® and the SSI LOGIMAT® vertical lift module.

SSI SCHAEFER'S own WAMAS logistics software will be brought to life digitally at the trade fair with all its products and modules. Via an augmented reality tool, booth visitors can explore a virtual warehouse and understand the interaction of the WAMAS modules with the equipment and systems. SSI SCHAEFER'S SAP solutions will be presented at the booth by SWAN, also a member of the SSI SCHAEFER Group. Intelligent applications being developed in the areas of predictive maintenance, digital twin and cyber security services, point the way to the intralogistics future.

The topics of the planned expert panel discussions, in which customers, science representatives and SSI SCHAEFER experts will participate, will show the pulse of intralogistics. They take place live daily at the trade show booth.

SSI SCHAEFER at LogiMAT 2023 in Hall 1, Booth D21.

Please also visit other members of the SSI SCHAEFER Group who are exhibiting at the fair:

• DS Automotion in Hall 6, Booth D05

• RO-BER in Hall 5, Booth F17

• SWAN in Hall 8, Booth D47

• Shares in DS AUTOMOTION to be fully acquired by SSI SCHAEFER

• Long-standing AGV/AMR partnership to be intensified as robotics operations are realigned

• Important milestone on the way to technology leadership

Neunkirchen, Germany / Linz, Austria January 27, 2023 – The SSI SCHAEFER Group, a leading international provider of modular warehousing and logistics solutions employing some 10,000 people, and DS AUTOMOTION GmbH, a leading provider of mobile robotics (AGV - Automated Guided Vehicles and AMR - Autonomous Mobile Robots) headquartered in Linz, signed an agreement under which SSI SCHAEFER will acquire all shares in DS AUTOMOTION GmbH.

SSI SCHAEFER will thus expand the minority interest it has held since 2018 to reflect the growing importance of autonomous and mobile robotics and the AGV business in intralogistics. The acquisition of the remaining shares will take effect on March 1st, 2023 and is subject to approval by Austria’s Federal Competition Authority.

The parties agreed not to disclose the purchase price of the shares. The management team led by Managing Directors Manfred Hummenberger and Wolfgang Hillinger will stay on board. DS AUTOMOTION will continue to operate independently with its well-established brand.

The further development of autonomous mobile robots (AMR) is one of the key joint initiatives in the context of the general realignment of the robotics business. Characterized by simple commissioning and flexible applications, this product segment is becoming increasingly important and offers excellent growth opportunities. DS AUTOMOTION has developed standards such as Plannable Autonomy and Cooperative Navigation in this product segment, which help combine the benefits of flexibility with the reliability and availability of industrial systems. This transformation is based on DS AUTOMOTION’s high in-house technology expertise, which builds on 40 years of navigation and control know-how.

“DS AUTOMOTION has grown strongly and continuously over the past years, and by placing a stronger focus on technology and product standardization, we have greatly increased the quality and performance of the company,” says Manfred Hummenberger, CEO of DS AUTOMOTION. “To continue to keep pace with the rapid developments in this industry, now is the right time to take the cooperation with SSI SCHAEFER to a new level and to participate in the global growth opportunities of the robotics sector by joining forces.”

The acquisition of the remaining shares in DS AUTOMOTION represents an important milestone in expanding the technology leadership of the SSI SCHAEFER Group and will strengthen its competitiveness and innovation power in robotics and automation, which are pioneering for intralogistics.

At the same time, DS AUTOMOTION will continue to operate in the established fields such as production and healthcare logistics as well as assembly systems. These segments will continue to be further expanded with a focus on innovation and existing customer relationships will be strengthened.

The Best of Industry Award honors top industrial innovators. In the ‘Digital Infrastructure’ category, the Computerized Maintenance Management System, WAMAS Maintenance Center (SSI CMMS) from SSI SCHAEFER is convincing. It offers planning and digital control for all required maintenance activities. The winners were announced in the course of the online award ceremony.

Over the past five months, in the voting phase almost 20,000 trade media readers of MM MaschinenMarkt, MM Logistik, INDUSTRY OF THINGS, PROCESS, LABORPRAXIS and DeviceMed voted for their favourite innovations and projects to receive this coveted industry award. More than 190 nomination applications were submitted for the online voting in 24 different categories.

The winners in the seven total categories were announced on December 12, 2022 in an online award ceremony. “We are very pleased to receive the Best of Industry Award 2022 in the ‘Digital Infrastructure’ category and would like to thank the readers for their votes and their trust,” says Stefan Godina, VP and Global Head of Field Services at SSI SCHAEFER. “Our WAMAS Maintenance Center (SSI CMMS) provides the perfect basis for predictive maintenance planning and continuous optimization of the maintenance processes and strategy.”

Those who receive the coveted industry award have, according to the jury, successfully demonstrated that they belong to the best of the best. SSI SCHAEFER’s proprietary computerized maintenance management system offers digital planning and control of all required servicing and provides a visualization of pending maintenance at the push of a button. “Thus the WAMAS Maintenance Center (SSI CMMS) optimizes maintenance, documents activities, significantly increases efficiency and ensures high system availability,” explains Stefan Godina.

SSI SCHAEFER’s WAMAS Maintenance Center (SSI CMMS), winner of the Best of Industry Award 2022, is an intelligent solution from for Maintenance 4.0 offering comprehensive system protection and optimum availability.

Neunkirchen/Hranice – SSI SCHAEFER has officially reopened its spare parts warehouse in Hranice, Czech Republic. The new location is located in close proximity to the facility for storage-retrieval machines and boasts significantly expanded production capacity with additional opportunities for growth. In addition to the comprehensive pallet spaces, the spare parts warehouse also has three SSI LOGIMAT lifts with ergonomic workstations for rapid processing of small parts orders.

Since 2014, the previous warehouse on the factory site of SSI SCHAEFER in Hranice has been supplying customers and service technicians with spare parts for automatic warehouses. The trend towards warehouse automation is causing business development to expand. As part of this trend, SSI SCHAEFER planned some adjustments in the storage-retrieval machine production facility. This required changes to the production flow in Hranice and a relocation of the spare parts warehouse. “Thanks to the excellent support from plant manager Robert Selzer and his team, it was possible to find a new location for the spare parts portfolio quickly. The tight time frame made successful implementation of this project a major challenge, but everyone involved helped us meet it successfully,” says Christian Puntigam, Global Head of Service Line Part Services at SSI SCHAEFER.

In an initial step, SSI SCHAEFER prepared half of the available space in an existing building for the new use. The capacity of the pallet rack warehouse was doubled, and SSI LOGIMAT lifts were integrated into the new layout for small parts storage, as well as a crane for handling heavy spare parts packages. The remaining space will be converted to meet the new requirements in the first quarter of 2023. Located a very short distance from the production facility, the new building minimizes the internal transport time for parts and also provides a very efficient goods delivery and collection process for external suppliers.

Rapid Delivery and High Availability Benefit Customer Service

Regional SSI SCHAEFER customers and employees can order all the spare parts conveniently from the SSI Webshop. Incoming orders are automatically forwarded to the warehouse via established IT interfaces, so the picking process can start immediately. In addition to automated order and warehouse processing, the new building also houses the following activities: incoming goods receipt and quality inspection, picking, pre-assembly, organizing transport and issuing customs documents. In the future, it will also be possible to carry out minor repair work at.

The spare parts warehouse portfolio will follow a so-called “highly dynamic warehouse management process,” with the clear objective of integrating highly critical, high-priority parts with dedicated flexible stock. The significant reduction in delivery times and high availability of the required spare parts will also increase customer satisfaction.

From left to right: Jan Skypala, Spare Parts Team Leader, Hranice; Radek Nemec, Spare Parts Department Head, Hranice; Elie Zita, SVP of the Customer Services Business Unit; Christian Puntigam, Global Head of Part Services; Robert Selzer, Head of the Hranice plant; and Gerald Insupp, Global Head of Spare Parts Management, at the official reopening of the spare parts warehouse in Hranice, Czech Republic.

SSI LOGIMAT lifts store all the small parts for rapid ergonomic picking.

In just six months, SSI SCHAEFER was able to automate the existing mobile racking system at Ostendorf in Emstek using automated guided vehicles (AGV) and its WAMAS® intralogistics software. Right after the go-live in the middle of 2021, the positive impact of this partially automated logistics solution was clear and quantifiable: it ensures transparent, error-free processes and makes the material flow resource-independent – and thus more efficient – in three-shift operations. Achieving these objectives was an important step for this plastics specialist in order to meet its customers’ increasingly specific demands and strengthen its position on a highly competitive market.    

Gebr. Ostendorf Kunststoffe GmbH is one of the leading manufacturers of wastewater pipe systems in Germany and has sold these plastic pipes and polypropylene fittings since 1973. Its customers come from the construction industry, which generally orders large quantities of a wide range of variants and operates in a cost-intensive environment. Given its ongoing growth and the demand for shorter and shorter delivery times, Ostendorf had already commissioned a new distribution center at its headquarters in Vechta in 2017 for packaging-optimized overnight goods staging. SSI SCHAEFER equipped the center with an automatic channel storage system including SSI Orbiter® load handling devices, WAMAS® intralogistics software and a conveyor system.

The Path to Semi-Automation

At its Emstek site, Ostendorf also faced the challenge of adapting processes to increasingly demanding market conditions. It needed to optimize intralogistics, increase productivity and cut costs. At the same time, Ostendorf entered into an agreement with a major construction industry customer for pre-picking goods onto mixed pallets. That meant that suddenly, there were more packaging materials and pallets that had to be kept on hand and moved around the warehouse. However, it is not easy to recruit qualified staff for the additional work involved, as well as for three-shift operations – especially in the Oldenburg Münsterland region, which enjoys nearly full employment. Therefore, Ostendorf chose a partially automated plug-and-play solution from SSI SCHAEFER that could be installed quickly and is ideal specifically for smaller warehouses with moderate throughput rates. The new solution, combining automated guided vehicles (AGV) with the existing mobile racking system (MRS), handles the storage and retrieval processes and internal transport reliably, offering Ostendorf the advantage of high process reliability around the clock.

Ostendorf chose SSI SCHAEFER because it wanted a single partner that could serve as the general contractor for the whole solution, including all the interfaces. This made communication much easier and ensured a time-optimized project schedule. Furthermore, the two companies already had good experience collaborating on other projects, such as the high bay warehouse in Vechta and the mobile pallet racking system in Rain am Lech, in which SSI SCHAEFER proved a reliable expert partner. Last but not least, Ostendorf was already familiar with the WAMAS® intralogistics software from the Vechta site and had had good experiences with it.

“For Emstek, relying on full automation, as was done at Vechta, would have been wishful thinking and excessive,” reports Ludger Stroot, operations manager for Emstek at Ostendorf. “But we still wanted to introduce a certain degree of automation to get the benefits that come with it. In this context, the automated guided vehicles were the appropriate technology and were just right for our comparatively low throughput.” “In addition, time was tight,” adds Lukas Varelmann, head of in-house logistics at Ostendorf. “While the planning and implementation of a fully automated high bay warehouse, including the building permit, takes at least three years, we were able to achieve our objectives in less than six months thanks to partial automation.”

A Practical Combination of an MRS, AGVs and Software

This extremely manageable timeframe highlights the particular advantages of the scalable logistics solution that was introduced here: “The combination of a mobile racking system with automated guided vehicles is a mature standard and can be directly integrated into the customer’s warehouse structures,” explains Stefan Reichwald, sales manager at SSI SCHAEFER. “The automated pallet handling solution immediately has positive effects on delivery reliability and quality, as well as ongoing operating costs.”

SSI SCHAEFER successfully completed this partial automation project together with AGV specialist DS Automotion, an SSI SCHAEFER Group company, in the middle of 2021. In the process, the partners set up an interface to the existing mobile racking system. At the same time, they were responsible for the integration of the AGVs and conveyor system and for the overall integration into Ostendorf’s WAMAS® software environment. “This was a comprehensive solution package, including software, so the decision to implement it in this form was an easy one,” emphasizes Lukas Varelmann.

Improved Workflow and Continuous Material Flow in 24/7 Operation

“The AGVs ensure a constant material flow in three-shift operation at Ostendorf; the processes are clearly structured, and this approach virtually eliminates defects,” explains Roland Hieslmair, sales engineer at DS Automotion. This reduces the workload of employees, whose current responsibilities include cross-process activities in the control center. All the processes are also clearly traceable via WAMAS®. Furthermore, the secure, reliable communication between the MRS and AGVs eliminates waiting times; as a vehicle approaches its destination aisle, the system opens the aisle already. The software communicates with the mobile racking system via ProfiNet with barcode support. “WAMAS® sends the orders to DS Automotion’s fleet controller, which you can think of as a kind of ‘dispatcher’”, explains Roland Hieslmair. The system simultaneously checks which vehicle is free and issues the transport command. For a retrieval order, WAMAS® makes sure the aisle opens promptly so the AGV can drive right in, pick up the requested pallet and move it to the transfer point on the conveyor system. The fleet controller notifies WAMAS® that the order is complete, and the AGV is now ready for its next task.

Linking DS Automotion’s solutions with SSI SCHAEFER’s portfolio offers customers the opportunity to reap the benefits of integrated solutions without interface problems; a central contact person is always available, and laborious coordination among different systems is eliminated.

Additional Benefits for Ostendorf

 When companies grow and seek to increase the efficiency and quality of their order processing, they – like Ostendorf at its Emstek site – often consider introducing software in conjunction with automated processes. The combined system solution, consisting initially of an MRS and two AGVs, increases efficiency for this plastics specialist by having the AGVs operate continuously, with no breaks. With the vehicles used, SSI SCHAEFER not only met Ostendorf’s time target for double cycle use, but actually exceeded expectations; the AGVs complete the double cycles about 30% faster than even required. If even higher performance is required in the future, additional vehicles can be added without difficulty. Modern sensor technology makes the vehicles safer for employees than conventional forklifts. In addition, the AGVs pay for themselves quickly. The same is true of the extremely space-efficient mobile racking systems, which SSI SCHAEFER offers in combination with AGVs as a solution package from a single source exclusively.

Continuing a Successful Project Partnership

Together with SSI SCHAEFER, its partner of many years, Ostendorf hopes to repeat the success achieved in Emstek at another location. There as well, the aim is to establish a solid operational foundation to perfectly meet the growing demands of the construction industry – for example, through order-specific pre-picking. Initial scenarios are also being considered for construction of an automated small parts warehouse in Vechta. Ludger Stroot and Lukas Varelmann agree: “The professional project management and fast implementation impressed us once again.” “The two sides worked in harmony, the approach was always solution-oriented, and the cooperation was always positive. The results we achieved were thoroughly positive and speak for themselves.”

In partnership with SSI SCHAEFER, Ostendorf has implemented an impressive partially automated warehouse solution. They automated the existing mobile pallet racking by combining it with the new AGVs and connected both components to the new WAMAS® software. This solution gives Ostendorf an efficient, optimized storage, transport and picking process and strengthens its competitive edge.

Lean Processes and Integrated Software Expertise for Greater Efficiency in the Flow of Goods

Fluctuating demand and a shortage of skilled workers pose mounting challenges for many companies. In order to translate multi-layered requirements into efficient logistics structures, companies need flexible logistics systems that work together perfectly. SSI SCHAEFER offers a solution in the form of an intelligent combination of space-saving pallet channel storage with an SSI Orbiter channel shuttle and automated guided vehicles (AGV) – a solution that also provides a gradual entry into automation. In parallel, the system guarantees 24/7 availability of goods, helping compensate for the ongoing labor shortage. Operators can start with a manually operated SSI Orbiter environment and then introduce a control system with manually operated ground conveyors, gradually integrating AGVs as needed.

Improved Performance, Even With Space Restrictions

Increasing time and cost pressures are another reason companies are considering process automation for their warehouse logistics and production supply. This is where volume-optimized channel storage systems for pallets come in. Thanks to high storage density, they require less logistics space than static racks or conventional floor block storage. Johan Kagerö, Global Product Line Manager at SSI SCHAEFER, is familiar with other benefits of this combination: “The solution doesn’t require a large initial investment – it can grow as the company develops, making it especially attractive for small and medium-sized enterprises. Thanks to the high volume utilization rate, customers get more storage capacity in the warehouse, can systematically adjust their resources to the daily order volume and can significantly increase their throughput.”

A Powerful Combination Keeping Costs and Processes Under Control

The turnkey combination of SSI Orbiters and AGVs is especially practical where SKU variance is low, particularly in the food and beverage industry. In addition to a space-saving design, which allows easy integration with the stock system, the channel shuttles can potentially save significant energy. Manually operated bin stackers can be integrated flexibly to cover temporary peaks. The combination with AGVs offers additional advantages providing basic transport capacity, reducing the error rate and ensuring material flow consistency thanks to continuous availability, even in a three-shift operation. “This is especially important in countries experiencing critical shortages of skilled workers and high labour costs,” emphasizes Johan Kagerö. “Staff can instead be deployed more efficiently in regular operations and assigned to plan further process optimization.”

A Smooth, Software-Supported Interplay

SSI SCHAEFER offers the system solution together with a warehouse control system (WCS), which handles the coordination of transport orders. In addition to the channel shuttles, a fleet controller is coupled to this system to control the AGV network, with optional fleet management for manually operated ground conveyors. For example, in the storage process, transport orders are first generated via the host, which sends the orders to the WCS. When the transport order is transferred to the fleet control system, resources are automatically aligned with priorities. The transport order is then assigned to a vehicle according to the retrieval strategy, prioritization, sequencing or bundling rules and the AGV availability. The AGV picks up the loading unit and transports it to the storage cube. The specially tailored WCS ensures that the assigned destination rack is already equipped with a channel shuttle to eliminate waiting time. Once the transport order is completed, feedback is simultaneously sent to the host, and the vehicle is now available for its next deployment.

WCS for Even Greater Flexibility and Performance

“Using the WCS we offer gives operators even greater flexibility,” adds Johan Kagerö. “The software offers options such as applying FIFO/FILO (‘first in, first out’ / ‘first in, last out’) handling principles, performing sequencing and using KPIs for further performance optimization.” Interface compatibility with all common customer systems and their interface technologies also guarantees flexibility. With this foundation, integrating a WCS-supported combination of SSI Orbiters and AGVs is possible not only in greenfield environments with a high degree of design freedom – integration even into existing (brownfield) structures poses no difficulty. This allows companies to gradually switch from manual processes to partially automated processes at reasonable cost. Other warehouse areas, such as static racks, mobile rack systems, vertical lift modules or conveying systems, can also be integrated flexibly to create a tailored logistics solution.

One Partner for Planning, Implementation and Support

SSI SCHAEFER supplies the entire system as a turnkey solution from a single source. This eliminates the need for complex coordination of different systems and risks. “The intelligence the software includes is what makes our solution so special,” adds Johan Kagerö. “The solution lets our customers adapt their intralogistics to up-to-date requirements at any time. That makes it ideal for a kanban approach to production supply, for equipping and supplying production lines and for use at the interface between outgoing goods and truck loading, for example.”

SSI SCHAEFER offers operators a comprehensive portfolio of services from a single source, through implementation and beyond, and its Customer Service & Support (CSS) helps ensure continuous system availability. This allows companies to upgrade their intralogistics step by step with transparent costs. This can be achieved with additional channel shuttles and automated guided vehicles. A WCS takes most control tasks off their plate and handles them automatically. Thanks to the Schaefer Maintenance Philosophy (SMC), customers can fully rely on SSI SCHAEFER’s skilled experts for maintenance, too.