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, utilising 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 honoured 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 honoured 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 centres, 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

For 2024 SSI SCHAEFER ANZ has increased its involvement in CeMAT Australia by becoming an event sponsor.  For the first time the CeMAT Knowledge Theatre will be powered by SSI SCHAEFER.

CeMAT continues to be the world’s leading trade fair for intralogistics, materials handling and supply chain management.  The Australian event, this year being held in Melbourne, has grown another 25% on 2023.  

Mike Nissen, from Hannover Fairs, said "CeMAT Australia continues to go from strength to strength and we are looking forward to an even better event this year.  Innovation leaders in the industry, SSI SCHAEFER, approached us after last year's show with an innovative and unique sponsorship concept.  We were delighted to parnter with them to deliver the CeMAT Knowledge Theatre powered by SSI SCHAEFER for 2024."

The CeMAT exhibition will be a one-stop-shop of the leading technology and service providers in intralogistics, robotics and automation, warehousing, supply chain management and materials handling. CeMAT will showcase innovation and best practices in a wide variety of settings and sectors - from e-commerce to manufacturing, from the food industry to resources.

As well as cutting-edge product demonstrations on the show floor, visitors will also be able to access our Knowledge Theatre, this year powered by SS SCHAEFER, which will offer attendees insights, inspiration and practical take-away solutions to challenges facing decision makers and front-line professionals in the logistics and warehousing industry.

SSI SCHAEFER are taking the stand right next to the Knowledge Theatre at the 2024 exhibition.  Come and visit the stand and speak to one of our solution experts, and discuss how we can combine our diverse range of technologies and components to enhance the efficiency of your warehouse processes and help you deliver a future-proof logistics solution.

Pre book your CeMAT meeting with us now.

To register to attend the CeMAT Australia event, click here.

• 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 optimised 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 digitalisation 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 standardised 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 optimisation. 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 centre, 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
 

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.

• SSI SCHAEFER is honoured 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 favourites from the 24 different categories.

The innovations and projects that made it to the top three places in each category were honoured 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 honoured as a finalist," says Peter Lambrecht, Global Head of Sales Logistics Solutions at SSI SCHAEFER. "The exciting project shows how the logistics centre 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 honoured 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 optimising 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 centre.

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 optimising 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.”

Neunkirchen, 07 December 2023 - SSI SCHAEFER, a leading global solution provider for all areas of intralogistics, has announced the publication of its updated main catalogue with a new design. Under the motto "More efficiency with system", interested customers will find suitable products and solutions for in-house material flow. From fully automated warehouses with tailor-made service and maintenance offers, robotics and Automated Guided Vehicles to manual and semi-automated systems such as workstations, racking and containers, SSI SCHAEFER offers cost-effective intralogistics solutions with industry expertise and from a single source for small and medium-sized companies as well as large enterprises. The comprehensive software portfolio covers all processes from warehouse management to material flow control and offers all possibilities for holistic, sustainable resource management with modern real-time analyses, smart data processing and optimisation algorithms.

The new main catalogue can now be found on the SSI SCHAEFER company website: https://campaigns.ssi-Schaefer.com/en-de/campaign/lp/generalcatalog

• 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)

• 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.

• 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 revolutionise 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 digitalisation:

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

• Integrated Zone: Dedicated to SMEs that have adopted a basic level of digitalisation 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, optimised 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 Organisation - 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 centre 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 centralise its spare parts storage system and equip the new warehouse of 3,700 square metres 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 organisational 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 centre 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 realised 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-metre 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 utilise 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 optimising 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, utilises the vertical space optimally.

Cantilever racks provide space for storing long and bulky goods.

Modern Design, Improved User-Friendliness and Target Group-Specific Content

The corporate website is the business card of every company and the central point of contact for users of all kinds, from customers, suppliers and other interest groups, to employees and potential new employees. With the new, optimised website of SSI SCHAEFER, a leading provider of modular warehousing and logistics solutions, users can now more effectively find their way around, and easily get to the information that is of interest to them more quickly.

After an extensive revision, the site now presents itself with a modern design, with improved user-friendliness and various options for direct contact, as well as shorter loading times. Tailor-made target group and specialist content on solutions and products - from fully automated warehouses, service and maintenance, robotics and automated guided vehicles to workstations, racks and containers - has been restructured and in some cases updated or newly added. It gives users comprehensive information provided through the website's product pages, news and blog articles with videos, best practice guides and white papers. Under the restructured Trends & Insights section, all the latest best practice guides and customer case studies, can be downloaded. In addition, the most important and current information is bundled in the new Newsroom.

Along with the new and updated content of the website, special attention was paid to the navigation, which is now intuitively structured and allows easier user operation. The complexity of the site was reduced with a new frontend and backend structure, bringing the performance of the website up to the latest standard.

The websites for Germany, the USA, the UK, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands and , most recently, Australia and New Zealand are already live. The launch of the new website in the other countries is in full swing.

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 customised 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, summarises. "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 utilisation or the stability optimisation 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," emphasises Thomas Elstner, Product Manager WAMAS Robotics at SSI SCHAEFER, and thanks everyone who participated in the voting.

• ARCOS vehicle software combines AGV and AMR

• Milestone in the expansion of mobile robotics within the SSI SCHAEFER Group

Neunkirchen, Germany / Linz, Austria – 4th July 2023.
DS AUTOMOTION, subsidiary of the SSI SCHAEFER Group, has been awarded the IFOY Award 2023 (International Intralogistics and Forklift Truck of the Year Award). In the category "Intralogistics Software", the vehicle software ARCOS convinced the jury and prevailed against the competitors: ARCOS enables AGV and AMR fleets for the first time to drive with variable zone-based fixed lane guidance, lane guidance with flexible avoidance as well as with free navigation using one vehicle software. The efficient solution can also integrate vehicles from other manufacturers via the VDA 5050 interface.

Wolfgang Hillinger, CEO DS AUTOMOTION, is pleased about the award: "We are proud to offer our customers worldwide state-of-the-art AGV and AMR solutions that help them master their logistical challenges and increase efficiency. A special thanks goes to our dedicated employees, who have contributed significantly to this success with their innovative strength and commitment." Steffen Bersch, CEO of SSI SCHAEFER Group, adds, "The IFOY Award is an important milestone for DS AUTOMOTION and for us within the SSI SCHAEFER Group. Together, we will further strengthen competitiveness and innovation in the fields of robotics and automation, which are trendsetting for intralogistics."

The IFOY Award honors the best intralogistics products and system solutions of the respective year. The products and solutions nominated for the finals by an international jury underwent various tests during the IFOY Test Days from March 27 to 29, 2023, including the IFOY test protocol comprising around 80 criteria and the scientific IFOY Innovation Check. A total of 23 jury members from 19 countries gave their assessment based on the test results. The awards were announced at a ceremony during the IFOY Award Night on June 22, 2023 in Dortmund. The IFOY Award is under the patronage of the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection.

DS AUTOMOTION wins the IFOY Award 2023 with the vehicle software ARCOS. Ronald Lengyel, Head of Marketing DS AUTOMOTION, the Managing Directors of DS AUTOMOTION, Wolfgang Hillinger and Manfred Hummenberger, Steffen Bersch, CEO SSI SCHAEFER Group, Martin Böhmer, Vice President Global Technology at SSI SCHAEFER.

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.

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.

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

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 standardised WAMAS WMS forms the backbone of our digitisation 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 optimisation 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 organisation'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.

Gartner Disclaimer:

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, a global leader in intralogistics and automated warehouses, is attending CeMAT Australia 2023 on July 25-27. At this year’s show, the brand — known worldwide as a full-service, one-stop shop for end-to-end supply chain solutions — is demonstrating how a holistic, customised approach to automating and future-proofing warehouses can address the many challenges warehouse managers face today and in the near future.

To experience SSI Schaefer’s digital representation of an automated warehouse with products hotspots, please visit Stand #L11 (The Dome, Sydney Olympic Park).

Particularly in recent years, suppliers have had to balance high consumer expectations, the push to reduce carbon footprints, instability in supply chains, and rising costs, among other challenges. In fact, according to a newly-released study by the Reserve Bank of Australia, rising prices are increasingly related to high consumer demand. Modern consumers not only have greater needs in terms of volume, but in today’s digital economy they also expect ever-greater speed, convenience, and innovation.

Complex challenges require comprehensive, tailored solutions

The key to addressing the many challenges for suppliers across industries is a holistic, customised approach to designing and managing facilities and embracing warehouse automation. As a full-service, consultative partner in this process, SSI Schaefer has championed this customer-centric approach across a wide range of market sectors. Offering both breadth and depth of expertise across all aspects of intralogistics — from simple storage to complete fulfilment solutions — the brand focuses on guiding customers throughout their individual journey from manual to automation.

"There are no one-size-fits-all solutions in our industry, and each customer has unique business challenges, particularly in today’s environment,” notes Ronni Poulsen, Senior Vice President, Regional Head APAC and MEA at SSI Schaefer. “Whether it’s a greenfield project or retrofitting, our systemic, individualised approach takes account of all material flows before delivering what is exactly right for each business, both now and into the future."

A common theme among many companies in Australia and New Zealand is struggling with a lack of space and the need to quickly expand storage capacity and fulfillment capabilities. To address this, SSI Schaefer has a range of solutions to maximise use of existing space, offering immediate results while planning for the future.

Envisioning the big picture of automation at CeMAT Australia

To demonstrate its full range of capabilities on-site at CeMAT, SSI Schaefer is offering an AR visualisation tool for visitors to explore while speaking with its experts. Using this tool, attendees can envision the designs, infrastructure, and material flows of a facility equipped with fully future-ready automation systems — particularly automated high-density storage systems — providing a visual preview of a partnership with SSI Schaefer.

All-in-one, centralised management

A cornerstone of SSI Schaefer’s full-service portfolio is end-to-end software. Platforms such as its WAMAS® solution deliver centralised coordination, visualisation, monitoring, and management of warehouse operations.

The WAMAS software portfolio provides a 360-degree logistics software toolbox of turnkey solutions, but WAMAS-based warehouse solutions take intralogistics performance to the next level, comprising of perfectly coordinated products, modules and solutions. These can be implemented according to a mix-and-match principle to provide exactly what a customer’s warehouse project or distribution concept requires, as well as easily adapted and expanded at any time.

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 centre, optimising resource utilisation. 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 utilisation 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.

Brick and Mortar businesses adopting e-commerce? Higher demand for Cold Chain logistics? These are commonly researched topics and people want to know what do they share in common - fulfilment and distribution deviating from the standard strategies. How should a business pivot and prepare its logistics operations with the right technology and equipped the employees with the knowledge to grow the business through this “New Normal”?

Find us at LogiSYM Asia Pacific 2022 – “Transforming Logistics, Intralogistics & the Supply Chain as We Emerge into the “New Normal”. Our experts will be sharing how to integrate the right amount of automation into the business to keep up with productivity, and what today’s logisticians need to know regarding costs reduction for logistics operations
 

Event information:
Date:              24 & 25 May 2022
Time:              9:00 – 17:00
Venue:           Grand Copthorne Waterfront
Speakers:      Mr. Brett Thirup
                         Mr. Carsten Spiegelberg

To know more about the agenda, click here. 

This is a hybrid event.

The EDEKA Group of Companies Northern Bavaria-Saxony-Thuringia is one of seven regional groups of companies within the cooperatively organized EDEKA Group. It supplies around 900 grocery stores in northern Bavaria, northern Baden-Württemberg, Thuringia and Saxony, making it the largest local grocery supplier in the region. The Gochsheim location supplies some of the EDEKA stores in northern Bavaria with items from the dry goods line, frozen goods, delicatessen products, as well as fruit and vegetables. Expanded warehouse space is in demand given the rate of steady growth in the past plus the projected growth in years to come. The general contractor SSI SCHAEFER was awarded the contract to implement the warehouse expansion in 2020.

“SSI SCHAEFER’s excellent concept planning and potential for cost optimization helped us right from the sales phase,” says Dr. Stefan Winter, Project Manager Logistics at EDEKA Handelsgesellschaft Nordbayern-Sachsen-Thüringen mbH. “We were also impressed with the expertise in logistics solutions for food wholesale.”

More Warehousing Capacity

Given the limited amount of space available for expansion, the objective was to implement an economical solution that required little space while creating the greatest possible additional capacity for fast movers. Therefore, an automated high-bay warehouse was ideal for the available space because the capacity expansion was achieved by constructing higher. SSI SCHAEFER built the 4-aisle high-bay warehouse in Gochsheim in 2020/21 with a floor area of approx. 100 m x 32 m and a height of 28 meters. It provides space for more than 10,000 pallet locations and is designed for single- and double-deep storage of the dry goods line. The concept already accounts for projected growth. The silo construction, i.e. the wall and ceiling cladding, is directly connected to the high-bay racks, saving construction costs for EDEKA. SSI SCHAEFER supplied all the components of the intralogistics solution from a single source and in-house, including the steel construction for the high-bay warehouse as well as storage-retrieval machines, pallet and roller container conveying systems, and the corresponding logistics software as well.

Increased Picking Efficiency

Goods from EDEKA’s suppliers arrive at the regional warehouse in Gochsheim. After goods-in, the pallets are transported via pallet conveying systems to the high-bay warehouse, where intermediate buffering of the goods takes place. The special aspect of the high-bay warehouse is the picking supported by the WAMAS® logistics software using Pick by Voice across two levels, which SSI SCHAEFER has integrated into the steel construction. This increases the number of picking stations and the transparency of the processes on the given floor space, allowing the space to be used efficiently. The pallets retrieved by the storage-retrieval machines are transported directly to the ergonomic workstations on the respective level via gravity roller conveyors, in what is known as tunnel picking. Here, the picking processes occur bundled on the levels, which in turn increases ergonomics and optimizes process efficiency. In addition, significantly fewer forklifts are needed in picking, which increases the transparency of picking processes. At the material-supply areas of the high-bay warehouse, the cases are then manually picked directly onto the corresponding roller containers and pallets, from where a special roller container conveying system transports them to the goods-out area. If a store requires single item pallets, they are removed from the high-bay warehouse and automatically transported directly to the goods-out area via the pallet conveying system.

Suitable Solution for Food Retail

The intralogistics solution from SSI SCHAEFER also features a high degree of customization. It adapts to the special requirements in EDEKA’s food retail and covers all customer-specific requirements. For example, the WAMAS logistics software, the modules of which have been specifically tailored to meet customer needs, is impressive because of its strong functional depth and has been setting standards in the EDEKA Group for a large number of retail stores throughout Germany since 2003. WAMAS stands for perfect interaction between the warehouse management and material flow system, all from one source. The core tasks of the WAMAS warehouse management software include the administrative functions, inventory and storage location management and the mapping of the logistics processes. The main focus is always on centralized organization across the locations. Within the hierarchy, the WAMAS material flow system is located below the warehouse management system, responsible primarily for allocated transports. Control and optimization functionalities and the corresponding interfaces to the subordinate control and external systems ensure a continuous, uninterrupted mapping of the flow of goods. In Gochsheim, a number of special features were implemented in line with the storage units, including the item-dependent speed of the storage-retrieval machines: The speed of the storage-retrieval machine is adjusted according to the pallet system, system utilization and load. This means absolute safety for the storage location. In addition, a plausibility check of the pallet height is performed via the quantity and number of layers. Another advantage of the load-dependent speed of the storage-retrieval machines is the reduced noise level for warehouse staff.

Moreover, the intralogistics solution scores with the maximum availability of the system, even at peak times. Projected business growth has already been factored into the planning so that it can be handled by the new system. In addition, EDEKA can rely on technically reliable components. The installed components all come from SSI SCHAEFER’s own production, which ensures the consistently high quality of the product. Should a malfunction ever occur, the service contract specifies fast response times in case of need to ensure the high performance of the system.

Four SSI Exyz storage-retrieval machines are used in the high-bay warehouse, which are characterized by their energy efficiency and thus contribute to sustainability. On the one hand, the extremely compact design of the SSI Exyz and the optimized control system ensure 5% more space after installation as compared to high-bay warehouses with conventional storage systems. This means that the SSI Exyz eliminates many cubic meters that would otherwise have had to be built, heated or air conditioned. On the other hand, a counterweight integrated in the mast completely saves the energy for the lifting gear from the outset. Conventional storage-retrieval machines can only recover this energy incompletely and with poor electrical efficiency. Standards at SSI SCHAEFER include drive dynamics and drive curves optimized for demand, energy-efficient drives and internal and external energy recovery.

After a realization period of just twelve months, the home stretch has been reached: Thanks to the expansion of the logistics center at the Gochsheim location, EDEKA can supply its stores in northern Bavaria extremely reliably.

“The high-bay warehouse has allowed us to make the best possible use of the available space, and the two picking levels have increased the number of picking locations in the area,” says Dr. Winter in summing it up. “In the course of automation, we now benefit above all from optimized process efficiency – from goods-in to pallet replenishment and the reduction in forklift transports.”

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.

MISUMI, a global manufacturer and leading provider of mechanical components and indirect materials for special machine construction and assembly automation, has commissioned SSI SCHAEFER to implement a new logistics center in Frankfurt/Main. Until the beginning of 2020, the distribution center with a capacity for 450,000 items on more than 10,000 m2 of storage area will be built in several stages. Core elements of the system are an automated shuttle warehouse, a four-storied rack system, ergonomic work stations connected via a conveying system and the logistics software WAMAS®.

MISUMI was founded in Tokyo in 1963 and today has selling agencies all over the world. The business model of the company is based on highest quality, low costs and short delivery times. In the logistics center in Frankfurt stock items, standard components from its own production and third-party suppliers and make-to-order (MTO) parts are handled. MTO parts are currently produced in particular in Japan, China and Vietnam. For the turnover of MTO parts, MISUMI uses the cross-docking principle: After arrival, items are directly consolidated with the existing stock and sent to the customer the same day – without being stored. The short delivery time resulting from this approach is important because innovation cycles in mechanical engineering constantly decrease and therefore less time remains for product development. In order to be able to process the increasing number of orders in even shorter times in the future, MISUMI counts on a state-of-the-art automation solution from SSI Schaefer.

Tailor-made logistics solution for efficient make-to-order processes
For storing the items, a four-storied platform rack system for 250,000 items and a 10-aisle shuttle warehouse with a capacity for 200,000 items are realized. In the latter, Cuby single-level shuttles within a double-deep storage concept will take care of the high-efficiency storage and retrieval process in the future. Four goods-in work stations, four work stations integrated into the platform rack system and four multi-functional work stations will support the distribution and sortation process of incoming items and the make-to-order business. Picking will be performed at five ergonomic Pick to Tote work stations and a pick wall with a clearing station. Before leaving the logistics center, orders will pass one of the ten packing stations. All work stations are connected to the system with a high-performance conveying system. For the coordinated process control of the material flows, the logistics software WAMAS by SSI SCHAEFER is used.

"Quality, competitive prices and high speed are our recipe for maximum customer satisfaction. With efficient logistics structures, we will reinforce these principles in the future. The entire investment volume emphasizes the high potential that we see at the location in Germany and in Europe", comments Jörg Gonnermann, General Manager Logistics Service Platform of MISUMI, the assignment of SSI SCHAEFER.

To speed up logistics processes and reduce costs, partial automation options are worth considering. SSI Schaefer stands by as an advisory partner in this situation. The intralogistics specialist, offering intelligent system combinations for typical requirements in smaller and medium-sized companies, with a straightforward Plug & Play approach and at attractive prices. SSI mobile robots are a good choice for faster picking in combination with shelving systems. 

Adapting Intralogistics Structures to Dynamic Markets

Markets and customer requirements undergo continuous change, yet their dynamics have reached unprecedented levels. This is particularly noticeable in e-commerce. While more and more frequent orders are being placed, order quantities are falling – sometimes as low as a batch size of 1. Many retailers have to adapt their intralogistics structures to rapidly increasing order volumes. However, due to inadequate space utilization, the existing warehouse capacity may already be full. Other challenges include a lack of planning certainty, rising fixed costs and staff shortages.

Rapid Picking with SSI Mobile Robots and Shelving Systems

Decision-makers in logistics should consider whether partial automation could be a solution to increasingly challenging requirements. SSI SCHAEFER is available for consultation and can draw on a very broad range of products. SSI SCHAEFER’s combination solution consisting of mobile robots (so-called RackBots) and shelving systems can significantly reduce picking and order throughput times while minimizing error rates. This system combination is ideal for e-commerce, can be installed quickly in existing facilities, is easy to scale up at any time and reduces logistics costs in the long term.

One Partner for All Systems

The components of SSI SCHAEFER systems match perfectly to ensure reliable functionality. “SSI SCHAEFER can handle the interface coordination; they also draw on a broad range of products, so they’re never pushing one specific product. Customers appreciate having a single partner that can do all that,” says Markus Külken, Vice President for Product Line Material Flow at SSI SCHAEFER. 

Streamlining Processes and Reducing Costs with Partial Automation

Companies that choose partial automation of repetitive processes with shelving systems and mobile robots benefit in many ways. The Plug & Play solution allows straightforward, cost-effective automation of storage and picking processes. The goods-to-person principle (GtP) minimizes walking distances and search effort in the warehouse while reducing physical strain on employees. This can achieve a fourfold productivity increase in picking while ensuring delivery accuracy, even during seasonal peaks. At the same time, their process costs have been reduced and failure risks minimized. This approach also achieves optimal utilization of existing space. The systems are integrated precisely into existing buildings, resulting in an 80 percent increase in storage density.

The Perfect Combination of Shelving Systems and SSI Mobile Robots

Mobile robots make efficient human-machine cooperation possible. They have up to eight buffer stations, are designed for around 35 to 45 double cycles per hour and cover warehouse areas with a maximum height of just under 10 meters. Both the number of robots and the design of the shelving system can be customized and adapted as needed. Thanks to the frame system with a plug-in design, the shelving systems can be assembled quickly and easily. Reusable containers from SSI SCHAEFER or cartons are suitable for storage on and retrieval from the rack.

More Options for Partial Automation

Additional process sections can also be automated as needed. For example, a conveying section with connected workstations can be integrated for greater picking performance, as can the space-saving SSI LOGIMAT® vertical lift module in combination with the WEASEL® automated guided vehicle system for rapid replenishment. Mobile robot ports can also be used, which make bin storage and retrieval faster. This approach allows incremental automation of various processes – from goods registration to goods staging in shipping – for the company’s long-term intralogistics strategy.

We are excited to be attending CeMAT 2023
July 25-27, 2023

The Dome
Sydney Olympic Park
Sydney

Come and visit us at Stand #L11.  If you would like to pre-book an appointment to explore your future-proof intralogistics solution with us, get in touch.

CeMAT 2023 website

Growing FMCG businesses will inevitably reach the point where their existing logistics operations will no longer be able to handle increasing buyer demand.  At some stage, limitations in space, a growing number of SKUs or other bottlenecks, will stretch the capacity of existing picking and distribution systems until a solution needs to be found. 

Recently Brett Thirup spoke to Inside FMCG about how many companies begin to consider the benefits of automating some of their processes to not only answer immediate shortfalls in their operation but also to future-proof their businesses.

Click here for the full article.

• The dynamics of the e-commerce market and the small nature of the shipments can only be handled with high-performance omnichannel logistics concepts.

• SSI SCHAEFER recommends complete intralogistics solutions consisting of flexible modules to serve all sales channels from one system.

• Smart service concepts ensure trouble-free operation even during peak times

Every year, Black Friday heralds the global peak season in retailing. However, the days of this sales campaign, with lots of discounts, being limited to only the Friday after Thanksgiving, and even to selected products or product groups, are very much over. More and more frequently, vendors are expanding their sales tactics and discount battles over an entire Black Week and seamlessly transitioning into the hot final phase of Christmas trade with Cyber Monday and other offers.

How will buying behavior fare in challenging times?

This year, many retailers are relying on more inventory. They have ordered early to have enough stock, unlike last year. In the USA and Asia in particular, the industry traditionally expects increased consumer demand at Christmas time. In Europe, consumer sentiment has been dampened to some extent due to the rise in energy and living costs, high inflation and general uncertainty surrounding the war in Ukraine. With the discount battle of Black Friday, the industry nevertheless expects increased demand, which needs to be managed as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Efficient intralogistics for standard and peak times

In order picking and shipping, seasonal peaks could previously be realized by reorganizing the warehouse to set up fast-moving pick zones and by increasing staff. The latter in particular is becoming increasingly difficult. However, the extension of discount campaigns to large parts of the existing range or additional seasonally purchased goods also increases the complexity and dynamics in the warehouse. Added to this are problems in replenishment due to delivery difficulties or transport bottlenecks, price increases and increased sick leave in the warehouse.

Successful e-commerce and omnichannel retailers have positioned their warehouse logistics accordingly for the future. In order to be able to achieve higher throughputs, warehouse, transport and picking processes are automated as precisely as possible, but also flexibly and sustainably. SSI SCHAEFER supports companies all over the world as an intralogistics partner with decades of experience and an enormous product range – from the SSI LOGIMAT® vertical lift module to AGVs (Automated Guided Vehicles) and robotics applications, from SSI Carrier overhead conveyor technology to the high-performance 3D-MATRIX Solution® automated warehouse and the modern software solutions with WAMAS® and SAP.

E-Grocery - omnichannel logistics solution for grocer Lotus's in Thailand

A best practice example from the growing global e-commerce grocery segment is Lotus's, a hypermarket operating in Thailand with over 2,000 stores, 15 million customers, and an online platform. In order to respond to growing demand and omnichannel consumer behavior, the grocer implemented an innovative material flow concept with partial automation at its largest unit load distribution center, in WangNoi, together with SSI SCHAEFER. The main objective of the project was to develop a more cost-efficient solution for unit load storage and single item picking on the existing floor space, in order to increase labor productivity and handle orders more efficiently. The solution included a multi-level manual picking system with carton flow racks for storing fast-moving items and carton and bin conveyor technology connecting all picking zones and workstations. In addition to retrofitting the warehouse's hardware, all processes within the existing Oracle WMS environment were integrated into WAMAS via an IT interface, without re-engineering for a completely new WMS. The result is a flexible logistics solution from order start to picking and shipping sortation.

Electrical engineering supplier Fust invests in omnichannel solution

To prepare for its growing e-commerce business, Swiss Coop subsidiary Dipl.-Ing. Fust AG, the largest supplier of household electrical appliances, consumer electronics and computers in Switzerland, has invested in modernizing and expanding its logistics site in Oberbüren, Switzerland. The goal was to centralize the warehouse capacities as well as to align the logistics concept, which was previously focused on store deliveries, with the changed requirements in both the B2B and B2C business. Together with SSI SCHAEFER, the company has implemented a highly efficient and extremely flexible multi-channel solution, which has already proven itself in the Corona pandemic with the rapid increase in online orders, with high process and fail-safe reliability.

Over a construction period of only two years, the logistics floor space was doubled to 50,000 m²; at the same time, the required storage capacities have been tripled. The scalable solution mix consists of a bin warehouse with the SSI Cuby single-level shuttle system, a high-bay warehouse, solutions for manual areas, and the WAMAS logistics software including a Warehouse Control System to control all automated warehouse resources in a sequenced and synchronized manner. Through optimized processes, productivity in small parts picking could be increased by a remarkable 40%. The SSI Cuby makes an important contribution here by providing the picking bins to the workstations in an efficient manner. Whereas previously about 1,800 shipping packages could be produced per day for store deliveries and the online business combined, Fust is now able to send a total of 4,000 shipments per day for both sales channels.

Department store retailer Stockmann successfully handles sales campaigns online and offline thanks to high-availability logistics.

Since 2016, Finnish retailer Stockmann has been handling all deliveries to stores and e-commerce customers from a highly automated logistics center in the greater Helsinki area. The assortment includes hanging goods, lay-flat goods, and other items, all of which are stored in the automated, multifunctional distribution center. The system developed by SSI SCHAEFER is designed for a throughput of 55,000 order items with 180,000 individual parts per day. While all the hanging goods are transported and sorted via the energy-efficient overhead conveyor system, SSI SCHAEFER implemented the 3D-MATRIX Solution for the flexible handling of the flat goods. This is an 8-level shuttle warehouse with 130,500 storage locations for double-deep storage and 45 lifts for parallel storage and retrieval of bins. The connected order picking zone for hanging garments accommodates 9 picking workstations. The hanging garment picking area is arranged on 3 levels and accommodates over 350,000 garments.

The entire solution was designed with potential expansion in mind. This means that the layout of the warehouse is capable of integrating additional parts to the system for both hanging garments and flat garments, if required, to accommodate the company's growth and possible future changes. Furthermore, Stockmann relies on SSI SCHAEFER's comprehensive maintenance service "SCHAEFER Maintenance Philosophy (SMP)", which supports both seasonal sales peaks and the handling of daily standard quantities. SSI SCHAEFER's Residence Maintenance (RM) team is on site every day, monitoring the performance of the systems and ready to immediately resolve any challenge that arises to prevent disruption to the facility. During peak and off-peak seasons, 5 to 6 RM employees are on duty for Stockmann; during peak times of year, the team is expanded to 6 to 8 technicians.

Conclusion

A total intralogistics solution to serve all distribution channels from one system offers many advantages for omnichannel providers. For example, they have access to their entire inventory at all times and can service every order, regardless of whether it originates from the store or from an e-com customer. With the help of powerful and flexible automation solutions, warehousing, transport and picking processes can be handled efficiently and changing requirements and seasonal peaks can also be managed reliably. An important benefit for employees is also ergonomic workstations with IT-supported and intuitively designed processes and automatic support for particularly stressful activities. To ensure the highest availability of the systems, SSI SCHAEFER offers a broad portfolio of services using smart technologies that are individually tailored to the customer's needs.

Looking to the future, efficiency in the processing of online orders is becoming increasingly important in order to meet the increased demands of online retailing, as higher energy and purchasing prices, together with transport costs, are increasingly squeezing retailers' profits.

High-Performance Fashion Logistics for Efficient Omnichannel Management

SSI SCHAEFER served as the general contractor to equip a new logistics facility in Weil am Rhein with a state-of-the-art systems technology for Work in Progress Textilhandels GmbH (Carhartt WIP). SSI SCHAEFER’s powerful intralogistics solution seamlessly connects the existing system with the new one. It ensures process efficiency and optimizes order processing in the respective distribution channels – wholesale, e-commerce and retail. The warehouse capacity has also been expanded to accommodate the steady growth in the e-commerce business. The fully scalable installed intralogistics solution includes an SSI Cuby shuttle system, a compact carton and bin conveyor system, various handling systems and sequence towers.

The “Carhartt WIP” premium streetwear brand is known for casual, timeless styles and durable quality. The company behind the label is Work in Progress Textilhandels GmbH, which manufactures and distributes Carhartt products outside the USA. The new reality of e-commerce-driven shopping presents even a successful fashion supplier like Carhartt WIP with the challenge of ensuring efficient processing of online orders and maximum availability of merchandise as the product range grows. The process needs to manage daily and seasonal peaks flexibly and quickly process returns. With “Shop-Friendly-Delivery”, merchandise must be supplied reliably and quickly to the brick-and-mortar retailers. They receive the goods from Carhartt WIP pre-sorted and optimized for the specific store.

Linking New and Existing Structures Intelligently

Carhartt WIP supplies its own stores and outlets worldwide (B2B); at the same time, orders are also increasing from end customers (B2C) through its own online store and other digital platforms. As a result, Carhartt WIP experienced a shortage of warehouse capacity. Carhartt WIP needed a solution to minimize the rising complexity of omnichannel management. In addition, integrating the dynamically growing e-commerce part of the B2C segment into processes without fundamentally modifying tried-and-tested B2B business procedures was a major challenge. This challenge had to be met on the software side; however, from a technical point of view, it also meant seamlessly connecting the existing system to a new, expanded intralogistics system in such a way as to allow continued use of existing systems. Furthermore, given Carhartt WIP’s expected growth figures, it was essential, even at this stage, for SSI SCHAEFER to plan for optional expansion scenarios in order to allow their seamless implementation in the future during ongoing operations.

Reliable, Proven Collaboration

A logistics project in Weil am Rhein first brought Carhartt WIP and SSI SCHAEFER together many years ago. In that project, the intralogistics specialist optimized and automated the processes in the first logistics facility, with a focus on the automated small parts warehouse (ASPW). “We commit to SSI SCHAEFER based on a long-standing collaboration with trust and a high degree of reliability,” says Wolfgang Heldt, Head of Logistics at Carhartt WIP. Given the increasing success of e-commerce, the expansion of the logistics center was the next logical step: “Customers expect a certain level of service, and online vendors need to maintain that level 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Furthermore, for Carhartt WIP, this performance must reflect our premium brand’s reputation,” emphasizes Wolfgang Heldt. In particular, the expansion project focused on maximum flexibility and efficiency, modularity, and built-in buffers for future growth. These features are essential for an adequate response to current and future challenges – from a business perspective as well.

Perfectly Coupled Service Modules for Greater Efficiency

In the extension building with around 4,000 m² of floor space, SSI SCHAEFER installed a fully automated, space-optimized shuttle storage system in which 110 SSI Cuby single-level shuttles handle storage and retrieval. Around 35,000 container and carton storage locations with double-deep storage, distributed over five aisles, were created. “The SSI Cuby shuttle system is very powerful – the performance we get, 22 shuttles per aisle, is remarkable and has led to a reduction in order throughput times,” says Wolfgang Heldt, adding: “The shuttle storage system allows us to efficiently meet the needs of the B2C business, where low order quantities are the norm.” Depending on the order structure, Carhartt WIP can now handle up to 100,000 picks in one day. Lifts, which ensure high throughput, as well as the infeed and take-away conveyor systems, including a high-speed loop, are connected to the shuttle storage system. The ten sequence towers, each with 2 × 22 transfer locations, serve to sequence the source cartons and continuously supply the ten picking stations, which are equipped with put-to-light displays. “These towers efficiently buffer and sequence cartons retrieved from the shuttle storage system to ensure that they’re always fed to the picking stations in the correct sequence,” explains Johannes Zach, Vice President Market Sector Fashion at SSI SCHAEFER. “This increases process reliability while boosting performance.”

The workstations in the different areas, such as incoming goods, order picking, new incoming returns and packaging, are connected through the conveyor system. In addition, the eight new B2C packaging workstations and the six special handling workstations for value-added services, such as prepricing and customer-specific carton or pallet loading, are also integrated. These processes are supported by various handling systems, e.g., automatic carton openers and erectors, scanners, automatic sealing machines and label applicators. The conveyor system also connects the eight-aisle ASPW, to which SSI SCHAEFER has added two further aisles. This made it possible to create completely new material flow structures and link them to the processes in the B2B area, which were mostly retained, in order to efficiently handle the seven defined order scenarios. These result from the different composition of the items, which can come from up to three warehouse areas: the existing ASPW, the block storage for non-conveyable items and the new shuttle storage system. “Due to the complexity of the system elements and processes, we divided the commissioning in two phases,” adds Udo Peintner, project manager at SSI SCHAEFER. “Phase one, which was completed in January 2020, involved the ASPW expansion and retrofitting the existing system, incoming goods and switching the existing software to WAMAS®. This was followed in September 2020 by the go-live of the SSI Cuby system, the sequence tower and the connection of the existing system to the new shuttle storage system through the conveyor system.” As a result, the overall system was able to deliver the required performance in time for “Black Friday” and “Cyber Monday” – promotional discount events popular with consumers.

During project implementation, SSI SCHAEFER delivered the individual pieces, such as steel construction, the conveyor system, the shuttle system, and software as a complete package. This was an advantage since the reduction in the interfaces involved benefited Carhartt WIP through time-optimized project execution.

WAMAS® – the Pulse Generator for the Overall System

The intelligent WAMAS® Warehouse Control System (WCS) connects people and service modules and harmonizes processes in warehouses – a crucial contribution to making order processing efficient. The WAMAS WCS controls automated processes within the warehouse in real time and ensures a constant material flow. Should conditions change, the system reprioritizes operations so that fulfillment performance meets current needs and is accelerated. It also uses the SCADA system visualization of WAMAS Lighthouse, which provides a realistic representation of the entire system and lets you derive precise insights into the smallest details on different levels. This ensures countermeasures are initiated quickly if critical operating states are imminent, ensuring maximum availability.

Maximum Throughput for Constant Availability of Goods

“We’ve been bowled over by our success in the past two to three years,” reports Wolfgang Heldt. “As a result of the pandemic, the proportion of online orders has increased by leaps and bounds. The shuttle storage system puts us in a good position, and we plan to work with SSI SCHAEFER to expand it in the near future with three additional aisles, which will give us around 125,000 available item storage locations at the Weil am Rhein site.” Thanks to the WAMAS® logistics software, the dynamic, fully scalable warehouse logistics solution from SSI SCHAEFER provides the perfect interplay among the new and existing storage systems, the sequence towers, and the new and existing picking workstations. This ensures that Carhartt WIP can process a wide variety of order scenarios in the best way possible.

To speed up logistics processes and reduce costs, partial automation options are worth considering. As your partner, SSI SCHAEFER is available to advise you. An intralogistics specialist, SCHAEFER not only provides equipment for complex logistics centers, but also offers intelligent combinations of logistics solutions for smaller and medium-sized companies interested in taking their first steps towards automation with straightforward “Plug & Play” components and at attractive prices.

In any warehouse, the processes and workflows are designed according to specific requirements that can change over time. The number of items can increase and lead to storage space bottlenecks; walking distances and item searches can take too much time. Perhaps picking also becomes too slow and error-prone, negatively impacting the satisfaction of the customers the warehouse supplies. Fluctuating demand and increasingly dynamic markets, as well as a shortage of skilled workers, are making day-to-day warehouse and logistics operations even more difficult. Partial automation of certain areas and processes offers many benefits, such as faster processes, lower error rates, more effective space utilization, more ergonomic workflows and lower costs.

The first step: Introducing simple technology

Partial automation of one process or area can serve as the first step. For example, workstations can be connected more efficiently through a short conveying section. The conveying system can also lead directly to a vertical lift module, which is perfect for compact storage and rapid picking of small parts. However, installing a conveying system demands a fixed storage area, which may not be an option in some locations. In such cases, automated guided vehicles (AGVs) offer a more flexible option that does not interfere with flexible space utilization. They are also equipped with intelligent sensors, allowing safe use in manual warehouses with mixed traffic.

Intelligent system combinations for typical storage requirements

With intelligent combinations of storage and picking systems, SSI SCHAEFER makes it easier for smaller and medium-sized companies to take their first steps towards semi-automated logistics processes – with a simple “Plug & Play” approach and attractive prices. Semi-automated systems allow optimization of the following typical warehouse requirements:

Space savings thanks to mobile racks and AGVs

When existing warehouses need to be upgraded or new buildings require smaller dimensions due to other limiting factors, more and more companies opt to use mobile racks in combination with automated guided vehicles. Both systems allow flexible integration into the existing layout of the hall, save space, enable a constant material flow around the clock and help to permanently reduce operating costs.

Small parts picking in tight spaces with WEASEL® and SSI LOGIMAT®

The WEASEL is a cost-effective solution for your first steps towards automation of internal transport and can be combined with the SSI LOGIMAT vertical lift module to create an efficient storage and picking solution. This approach increases storage density and throughput and significantly improves picking quality.

Fast picking times with SSI mobile robots and static rack systems

Static racks in combination with mobile robots can significantly reduce picking and order throughput times, are ideal for e-commerce, can be installed quickly in existing properties, are easy to scale up at any time and reduce logistics costs in the long term. In addition, this innovative solution handles work steps with poor ergonomics, heavy goods and repetitive, tiring tasks so warehouse employees don’t have to.

State-of-the-art logistics software for optimal process control

However, automation doesn’t necessarily have to start with technical components – another option is a warehouse management system. SSI SCHAEFER's WAMAS® logistics software allows seamless integration into companies’ system infrastructure and connects upstream and downstream systems into an intelligent overall system. It supports order consolidation and inventory and controls all stock movements in transparent processes.

Whether software or technical components – the step towards automation doesn’t mean a complete about-face. Instead, it involves incremental partial automation and digitalization of selected warehouse areas and processes in order to adapt storage and logistics to the company’s development. The advantages offer greater efficiency and lower costs, bolstering the company’s competitiveness.

Cost optimization thanks to reliable storage and picking processes through ergonomic system solutions with WEASEL® LITE and SSI LOGIMAT®

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. The objectives of future-proof intralogistics can be met through a coordinated interaction of one or more SSI LOGIMAT® vertical lift modules with WEASEL® Lite automated guided vehicles from SSI SCHAEFER. Storage density is increased, technical performance and picking quality improve and downtimes during operation caused by slow material supply or incorrectly supplied parts are almost excluded.

Identifying potential for improvement and solving challenges of small load carrier handling

The intralogistics sector offers many cost-saving opportunities. Reducing costs while increasing process reliability with the shortest possible cycle times has become a task which is almost impossible to achieve in conventional, manual warehouses. Standardized and repetitive processes are particularly suitable for automation. Employees can then handle these processes without extensive training or lengthy instructions. At the same time, the use of vertical lift modules for the picking of small parts, which are supplied with the required materials by automated guided vehicles, allows for process transparency and efficiency on a new level. This benefits companies directly:

• 50% time savings during entire picking

• Increase in availability speed by 90%

• 120 m² storage space on a footprint of 11 m² possible

• Constantly timed flow of goods

• Improved workload

• Reduction of buffered stock

• Error reduction

Another aspect companies increasingly focus on is the creation of an ergonomic work environment. By using modern warehouse solutions, employees are relieved of monotonous and health-damaging lifting activities and engage in an attractive, system-supported environment, in which they are guided safely through the tasks assigned to them.

WEASEL® Lite – ensures constant flow of goods

In combination with the WEASEL® Lite automated guided vehicle for small load carriers, SSI SCHAEFER’s SSI LOGIMAT® storage and picking solution, which is specifically designed for production and intralogistics, offers an integrated end-to-end solution to meet the ever-increasing demands of dynamic markets. The WEASEL® Lite AGV ensures reliable and safe transport of goods in bins, cartons or on trays with a total weight of up to 35 kg. It boasts quick and easy integration – the period from ordering to commissioning is usually only about one to two weeks within Germany – and guarantees a fully automated material flow from goods-in, to picking, to shipping and provision at workstations.

All vehicles use Bluetooth to communicate with each other. A complex IT landscape is thus not necessary. Users can configure the WEASEL® Lite on their own and put it into operation with a plug-and-play approach. No particular IT knowledge or specific technical know-how is required. In addition, the number of vehicles in a WEASEL® Lite fleet can be quickly increased at any time as a company’s throughput demand increases in parallel with its growth. If the challenges become more complex, the vehicles can be upgraded to the WEASEL® Classic version, which is controlled by a fleet controller via Wi-Fi. This provides further efficiency and interface benefits for the operator.

SSI LOGIMAT® – intuitive and ergonomic picking

The vertical lift module SSI LOGIMAT® is another storage and picking solution that grows with the expansion of a company and the respective new challenges. As the available space volume is fully utilized in terms of height, operators save space without having to reduce stock. With an assumed unit height of 7.5 m and a goods height of 220 mm, 48 trays will fit into the vertical lift module SSI LOGIMAT®. With a tray size of 3025 x 815 mm, this corresponds to a storage area of around 120 m² on 11 m² of floor space. A clear visual interface provides better performance and picking safety. The LOGIPOINTER indicates the correct storage position via Pick by Light so that the operator can store and retrieve items accurately and time efficiently. During retrieval, an LED display (Put to Light) at the transfer station assists in ensuring the correct item assignment to the different orders. The LMB containers, specifically designed for the SSI LOGIMAT®, can be individually adapted to the item structure by using compartment separators, making the best possible use of the tray depth and width. The trays are accessed from above. To further improve ergonomics at the workstation, operators can adjust the inclination of the tray (LOGITILT) according to their body size.

A focus on customer and employee satisfaction

Combining the WEASEL® Lite and SSI LOGIMAT® into a system solution allows continuous processing of the basic loads that arise in everyday storage, retrieval and picking operations. At peak times, additional personnel can be brought in as needed.

Markus Külken, Vice President for Product Line Material Flow, Products & Equipment at SSI SCHAEFER, points out another quality issue: “Especially in e-commerce, every order directly impacts someone’s impression. No company can afford dissatisfied customers in the long run. Correcting errors internally incurs huge costs. Therefore, the priority should be to prevent them from the outset with a system-guided approach.” That only increases the importance of intelligible dialogs and displays with images, colors and numbers to eliminate language barriers and prevent errors. “The light guidance on the vertical lift modules also makes it possible to combine orders into batch orders, further increasing picking performance. It’s only necessary to approach the vertical lift module once when picking one item for multiple orders in a batch order,” emphasizes Udo Neumann, Senior Business Consultant at SSI SCHAEFER. “Employees don’t need any special know-how. Instead, the WAMAS® LOGIMAT logistics software handles this task virtually, ensuring continuous process optimization based on current demands.”

Diverse customer benefits to secure competitiveness

Installing SSI LOGIMAT® vertical lift modules requires only minor adjustments. The WEASEL® Lite AGV requires no structural alterations either; a track is simply glued to the floor of the hall and can be modified quickly and easily at any time. Storage areas that create clutter can be eliminated; the approach frees up employees who can be deployed more productively elsewhere; and the unnecessary movement of parts between functional areas that forklifts cause is eliminated. Shorter walking distances and better ergonomics in the operating environment also lead to higher employee satisfaction and motivation. Pick rates increase, and unnecessary transport is eliminated. Linking, which enables a continuous, clearly timed material flow, can significantly reduce buffer levels and ensure consistent utilization of individual work areas. This semi-automated solution is especially attractive to small and medium-sized companies that want to reorganize their processes through a manageable investment. Digitalization and automation of small parts handling processes increase efficiency, lower costs, reduce repetitive activities and help guarantee and sustain customer competitiveness.

Powerful solution packages from a single source

With this combined application, SSI SCHAEFER offers a safe, proven and tailor-made solution package with interfaces and product components designed for mutual compatibility from a single source. This saves time, provides investment security and prevents unplanned follow-up costs. Customers do not have to coordinate and implement the services and products of different suppliers, which may not be perfectly compatible. Several different interfaces complicate troubleshooting if errors occur during operation. In contrast, with our proven solution package, companies can focus on their core business and have confidence from the outset that all components are perfectly attuned to each other and will interact seamlessly and intelligently. Also maintenance and support are provided by a single source at SSI SCHAEFER. Furthermore, small and medium-sized companies benefit from SSI SCHAEFER experts’ extensive experience implementing numerous large, complex projects.

This week Brett Thirup spoke to the Australian Financial Reivew about Warehouse and Logistics Solutions and applying innovation to boost efficiency.

With Australia’s e-commerce boom not subsiding to pre-pandemic levels, automation is the key for businesses looking to bolster their warehouse and logistics systems to cope with the challenges that lie ahead.

‘‘The key is partnership and customisation as you can’t settle for a one-size-fits-all solution. You need a partner who will listen, learn and understand your businesses, to offer a solution that will meet your needs and objectives both today and well into the future.’’

Click here to read the full article.

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:

• Official Partner of the Consortium of the German Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai

• Vertical Farming Solution showcase in the Future City Lab

Neunkirchen/Siegerland / Dubai December 08, 2021 - The SSI SCHAEFER Group, a German family-owned company with a history spanning more than 80 years and a leading international provider of modular warehousing and logistics solutions, will be demonstrating what the sustainable supply of food to an urbanized society can look like at Expo 2020 in Dubai, which started on October 1. As an official partner of the German Pavilion Consortium, SSI SCHAEFER will present an innovative vertical farming solution developed in cooperation with Infarm, the world’s fastest growing vertical farming company, in the City of the Future section of CAMPUS GERMANY. With its data-driven modular farming units, in which herbs and vegetables are grown under perfect conditions with 95% less water and land compared to conventional farming and without chemical pesticides, Infarm is building a global network of farms to grow and distribute fresh produce close to urban centers. Infarm’s vertical farming network already consists of more than 1400 farms in more than 50 cities worldwide.

Steffen Bersch, CEO of SSI SCHAEFER Group: "According to the United Nations forecast, around 80% of the world's population will live in cities by 2030. Together with the expected population growth and the increasing demand for food, it will be crucial to design the supply of the cities of the future in an integrative, safe and above all efficient and resource-saving way. Infarm’s Vertical Farming solution that we are presenting in the Future City Lab at the Expo, can be up to 400 times more efficient than conventional farming, measured in terms of the cultivated area. With this, the SSI SCHAEFER Group is consistently implementing its value proposition to drive its customers' sustainability globally with future-proof solutions."

Expo 2020 Dubai, the start of which has been postponed by one year due to the Corona pandemic, takes place from October 1, 2021, to March 31, 2022, under the motto "Connecting minds, shaping the future." The World Expo site is located only about 15 minutes by car from the SSI SCHAEFER office in the Dubai Logistics City area, a hub for intralogistics solutions in the Middle East and Africa. Within the German Pavilion, SSI SCHAEFER is the only member of the intralogistics industry.

The German Pavilion, whose client is the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, will be showcasing sustainability at the fair. The exhibits will be grouped into the thematic areas of energy, city of the future and biodiversity. The aim of CAMPUS GERMANY is to provide visitors with solutions for a more sustainable future in a vivid way with many interactive elements.

"How do we want to live in cities in the future? The Future City Lab in the German Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai answers this elementary question. In this Lab, our CAMPUS GERMANY takes visitors into the city of the future and shows, among other things, how food can be produced and made available sustainably in urban spaces," says Sebastian Rosito, Deputy Commissioner General and Director of the German Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai.

Growing urbanization and the rapidly increasing importance of e-commerce lead to ever more complex requirements for SSI SCHAEFER's customers. This is caused by increasing expectations from consumers for the individualization of products, same-day delivery and the highest service quality. This poses ever greater challenges for the warehousing and logistics of large retail chains and online platforms. Against this backdrop, SSI SCHAEFER sees itself in the role of "enabler", contributing to meeting the needs of customers more efficiently and sustainably with intelligent intralogistics solutions in the field of digitalization and automation.

• Order intake grows by 17.5% to almost EUR 2 billion, driven by all four business units

• Group sales revenue grows by approx. 30 %

• Largest project in company history for US retailer successfully implemented

• Significant technology partnerships concluded in the field of automation

• Material handling business continues to benefit from booming online trade
   

Neunkirchen/Siegerland, Germany February 28, 2022– The SSI SCHAEFER Group, a leading international provider of modular warehousing and logistics solutions with almost 10,000 employees, significantly increased its order intake and sales revenue in fiscal year 2021 based on preliminary figures. The strong performance in new business was driven by all four business units: Logistics Solutions, Products & Equipment, Customer Services, and Waste & Packaging. At just under EUR 2 billion, order intake was 17.5% higher than the previous year.

Sales revenue increased by 30%. The biggest revenue driver was the Logistics Solutions business, which increased its revenues significantly, in particular due to the completion of a number of major intralogistics projects in the fourth quarter. This included the largest project in the company's history, the e-commerce fulfillment center of one of the leading omnichannel retailers in the USA, which was launched in December 2021 in time for Black Friday after only three years of construction. The Customer Services business also grew strongly, benefiting from high project utilization. The Waste & Packaging and Products & Equipment businesses also developed positively.

In terms of earnings, the positive trend of the previous year is consolidating and, according to preliminary figures, the Group has further significantly increased its profitability.

Important technology partnerships consolidated; on track with sustainability strategy

An important milestone for the aspiration to be a technology leader in the industry was the acquisition of a majority stake in SWAN GmbH in the past fiscal year. Through this, SSI SCHAEFER increases its activities in the area of SAP Extended Warehouse Management (EWM) integration in addition to its own software WAMAS®. This strengthens the Group's market position and opens up new customer potential. In the field of automated guided vehicles in intralogistics, the already successfully established partnership with the Austrian manufacturer of self-driving vehicles DS Automotion was intensified and joint development work was advanced.

The SSI SCHAEFER Group is also on course in the area of sustainability. In the fall of last year, the group-wide sustainability strategy was adopted. It will be presented with the Sustainability Report 2021, which will be published in summer 2022. On the customer side, the Group contributed to meeting customer needs even more efficiently and sustainably in numerous projects last year through its intelligent intralogistics solutions. Exemplary for the innovative strength is the Vertical Farming solution in cooperation with Infarm for the sustainable supply of an increasingly urbanized society, which will also be presented at the Expo 2020 in Dubai until March 31, 2022.

In 2022, the SSI SCHAEFER Group will continue to drive forward its focus on modular and scalable intralogistics solutions.

Even More Efficient Together – Mobile Racks in Combination with Automated Guided Vehicles to Save Space and Optimize Material Flow

When existing warehouses need to be upgraded without the option of expansion, or new buildings require smaller dimensions due to high property prices or other limiting factors, more and more companies opt to use mobile racks in combination with automated guided vehicles. This solution package from SSI SCHAEFER can be easily integrated into existing warehouse layouts, saves space, enables a constant material flow around the clock and helps reduce operating costs in the long run. Customers become less reliant on staff, and the error rate tends towards zero.

Identifying Potential for Improvement and Meeting the Challenges of Large Load Carrier Handling

Continuing cost pressure is forcing more and more companies to put the organization of their intralogistics processes to the test. Personnel expenses are high, at the same time there is a shortage in qualified staff who have to meet increasingly complex requirements in production, installation and warehouse logistics. In addition, processes can often no longer be ideally coordinated due to historically grown structures. This results in material supply delays and picking performance declines, which in turn may have a negative impact on on-time delivery and customer satisfaction. Moreover, operators have to expand their capacities on a limited footprint. However, it is often obvious that the height of a building is not optimally used. Volume-optimized mobile racking (MR) systems accessed by automated guided vehicles (AGV) save space while increasing storage density and achieve maximum process reliability and flexibility, as well as efficient, staff-independent transport of goods. This solution offers a simple approach to automation at a moderate price and can be extended at any time if required. Companies can choose between AGVs designed for narrow aisles or wide aisles and see the benefit immediately:

• 40% less space required than with stationary rack lines

• Only one operating aisle to access stored goods

• Storage capacity increased by more than 90%

• 85% more storage quantity on the same footprint

• Constantly timed flow of goods

• Improved utilization

• Reduction of buffered stock

• Error reduction

Mobile Racks – More Storage on a Smaller Footprint

Both modules are part of SSI SCHAEFER’s extensive, modular range of products for holistic optimization of material flows among various areas. For example, a mobile racking system for pallets requires approximately 40% less space than stationary rack lines, so it is the ideal solution for creating more storage space on a limited footprint. The increase of capacity in vertical direction enables companies to increase their storage capacity by approx. 85% while having the same footprint. Search processes and walking times are eliminated, and previously required traffic areas are reduced. Therefore, mobile racking systems are ideal for efficient storage of pallets with different SKUs and a comparably low picking frequency on a small footprint. Further advantages, especially concerning the responsiveness in case of changing framework conditions, are achieved by combining a mobile racking system with one or several automated guided vehicles.

AGVs – Always Reliable, Always on Track

Automated guided vehicles (AGVs) for large load carriers, such as SSI Heavy Load AGVs, allow seamless integration, require less space than conventional conveying systems and pay for themselves in next to no time. They enable continuous and constant material flow and reduce the dependence on staff and expensive forklift equipment. The error rate is minimized as well, leading to a better delivery quality. In combination with a mobile racking system, an automated guided vehicle (AGV) can handle 11 to 14 double cycles per hour. If performance demands increase, the number of aisles and AGVs can be increased, or storage and retrieval steps decoupled to take advantage of less busy periods. The WAMAS® logistics software with an integrated fleet controller offers performance-oriented control. This control system can also be easily connected to superordinate host systems of the customer via a standardized interface. Optionally, WAMAS® Lighthouse can also be used for visualization purposes.

Increased Efficiency and Supply Reliability

Whether it’s the automotive sector, food & beverage, e-commerce or productive industry – the demands on a constant availability of goods and/or materials is constantly rising. To prevent supply bottlenecks, the trend is for companies to revert to insourcing for process steps that had been outsourced to external service providers. They are thus able to control all their processes, obtain planning security by linking all process steps and improve their responsiveness. Thanks to software such as WAMAS® WMS/MFS or SAP EWM, they also benefit from greater stock and material flow transparency. Transparency also is essential for controlling. While it is almost impossible to measure the performance of forklift truck drivers, the use of mobile racking systems which are supplied by automated guided vehicles generates key figures that provide explicit information on system performance. In this way, the degree of supply reliability to be provided can also be clearly represented, a criterion which is relevant for (potential) customers and creditors, such as banks.

Better Utilization and a Short Payback Period

“For increasing efficiency and optimizing costs in the medium term, an interlinked overall system has the advantage that it can achieve smooth 24/7 operation,” says David Eisenhut, Director of Business Development for Dynamic Systems, Products & Equipment at SSI SCHAEFER. “The warehouse can, for example, be reorganized overnight and prepared for goods-in and goods-out on the following day. Moreover, existing buildings can be automated with high density, and the material flow is stabilized.” Markus Külken, Vice President of Product Line Material Flow, Products & Equipment at SSI SCHAEFER, adds: “Operators benefit from completely autonomous storage, retrieval and transport processes with reliable timing. They can expand without being dependent on staff. They no longer have to pay for damage to warehouse equipment caused by forklifts or for the absence of employees. Shorter search times and walking distances, as well as a minimal return rate, also help to reduce costs in the long term.”

Diverse customer benefits to secure competitiveness

The mobile racking systems as well as the automated guided vehicles by SSI SCHAEFER are designed as a modular system and can be easily retrofitted. In combination, they decisively contribute to the optimization of storage and transport processes and help to map these processes from a business management perspective. This solution is particularly suitable for so-called slow movers or B/C items, which are not accessed frequently. Category A goods can be stored in static racks or in even higher performance areas, such as the SSI Orbiter® pallet shuttle system. Small and medium-sized enterprises in particular benefit from the high storage density that mobile racking systems can achieve, freeing up space that can be used for other purposes. You reduce staff, the system works around the clock if required, and you can respond flexibly and quickly to new customer requirements. If the requirements increase, the system grows with them. The initial implementation takes about 10 months. After delivery, commissioning is completed within a maximum of three weeks and the AGV(s) is/are immediately ready for operation.

Powerful solution packages from a single source

With this combined application, SSI SCHAEFER offers a safe, proven and tailor-made solution package with interfaces and product components designed for mutual compatibility from a single source. It saves time, ensures investment security and prevents unplanned follow-up costs. Customers do not have to coordinate and implement the services and products of different suppliers, which may not be perfectly compatible. Several different interfaces complicate troubleshooting if errors occur during operation. In contrast, with our proven solution package, companies can focus on their core business and have confidence from the outset that all components are perfectly attuned to each other and will interact seamlessly and intelligently. Also maintenance and support are provided by a single source at SSI SCHAEFER. Furthermore, small and medium-sized companies benefit from our extensive experience gained by implementing numerous large and complex projects.

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.

Nahdi Medical Company, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's largest pharmaceutical retail chain, in cooperation with SSI SCHAEFER, the world’s leading provider of modular warehousing and logistics solutions, announced the implementation of the country’s first world-class pharmaceutical system in March 2022. In the heart of Jeddah’s industrial zone, the new facility significantly increases the country's logistics capacity and preparedness for safe and reliable pharmaceutical distribution.

The Nahdi Distribution Center in Jeddah (IMDAD) is the Kingdom’s first-ever automated pharmaceutical facility and falls in line with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 initiative, which aims to turn the Kingdom into a global logistics hub and create a long-term investment environment in the industrial and logistics sector.

Covering an area of 250,000 m2, the facility features temperature-controlled logistics, and automated order fulfillment using cutting-edge technology and systems to support Nahdi to guarantee medical security in accordance with the latest international standards and the Saudi Food & Drug Authority (SFDA) best practice regulations. Powered by SSI SCHAEFER technology, the facility was developed in cooperation with the Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones “MODON” as the first smart distribution center in the retail sector for Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

 IMDAD is designed to handle an annual 200 million units of medical products alone. This is an unprecedented feat and is made possible by SSI SCHAEFER’s state-of-the-art SSI Cuby shuttle technology in combination with conventional Pick by Light picking consolidated by an intelligent system infrastructure. With automation, IMDAD can move up to 600 shipping bins containing more than 10,000 order lines per hour of operation. The SSI SCHAEFER scope of supply comprises an impressive range of subsystems from receiving and product decanting, SSI Cuby supported goods-to-person picking, Pick by Light picking, conveyor technology, automatic bin closing, labelling, and strapping to sortation and presentation for shipping. The whole solution is controlled and managed by SSI SCHAEFER's logistics software WAMAS®.

In addition to the storage capacity of the SSI Cuby goods-to-person and Pick by Light areas of 37,260 and 26,500 bin locations to support the picking of slow and fast moving products respectively, the SSI SCHAEFER scope also included extensive pallet storage to support the storage and picking of medical appliances, returns handling and other related processes. These storage areas incorporate a special channel storage system using an automatic SSI Orbiter® with specific picking tunnels to enhance the performance, selective racking system, pallet flow racking system, shelving, multi-tier shelving system with high standard steel structure and carton live storage system.

“In a climate which has a lot of uncertainty, modern automated material handling solutions are becoming the trend and way to move forward for many businesses. In the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry, we see the benefits being amplified throughout the supply chain. Through the understanding of operations and processes, complete data, performance analysis and design consultancy, the technology and innovation provided by SSI SCHAEFER allows Nahdi to assure higher efficiency standards, accurate reporting, and high quality customer service,” said Ayman ALA‘mar, GM at SSI SCHAEFER Saudi Arabia.

In addition to the hardware, the SSI SCHAEFER supplied WAMAS® Warehouse Management System provides tracking of the goods. It not only fulfills Nahdi’s vision of providing world-class services, but also enables the company to efficiently track, trace and move its goods, both by batch and FEFO (First Expiry, First Out). This assures integrity, productivity, and performance effectiveness and accurate records that ensure all goods are accounted for and deter pilferage.

Nahdi Medical Company CEO Eng. Yasser Joharji sums up the successful cooperation: “The vision of IMDAD stems from Nahdi’s unyielding commitment towards achieving Vision 2030 and the National Industrial Development Program’s targets of creating and improving the performance of logistics hubs across the Kingdom. SSI SCHAEFER has played an integral role in bringing this vision to life through equipping IMDAD with the latest technologies that would not only support us in providing world-class services but would also assure higher efficiency standards, accurate reporting, and quality customer service. We convey our heartfelt gratitude to the SSI Schafer team, who have tirelessly supported us throughout all phases of this project. The launch of IMDAD will mark a significant milestone in our journey towards becoming the most loved and trusted partner to our guests - a milestone reaffirming our commitment towards serving millions of guests across the Kingdom in the most efficient way possible.”

Nahdi Medical Company CSCO Eng. Raed Monagel also added: “IMDAD is the largest logistics Distribution Center in the Middle East in the pharmaceutical industry designed to guarantee medical security in accordance with the latest international systems and to reflect Nahdi's role as an effective partner in supporting Vision 2030. With SSI SCHAEFER’s vast experience in the region, on-the-ground engineering and after sales capabilities to provide complete solutions, adding value to its customer’s specific needs and benefits, Nahdi Medical Company can make this grand vision a reality.”

SSI SCHAEFER skips not one but two software generations thanks to successful big bang adoption

The WAMAS® warehouse management system by SSI SCHAEFER has been proving its worth at LANDI Schweiz AG's central warehouse in Dotzigen since 2003. At the end of November 2020, the latest high-performance generation of WAMAS went live, marking the completion of a top-class retrofit. The 'big bang' involved all manual and automatic processes being switched over in parallel on the very same day, skipping two software generations at once.

Quality at a fair price and a strong base in rural regions have made LANDI a brand name in German-speaking and western Switzerland. As a purchasing, logistics, and marketing organization, LANDI Schweiz AG supplies around 270 stores with a range of approximately 8,000 items in the areas of home and garden as well as agriculture and food (primarily beverages). Around 4,000 employees serve 80,000 customers daily, generating an annual turnover of over 1.4 billion francs.

Time-saving big bang instead of multi-stage changeover

Supply reliability is primarily ensured via LANDI's 35,000 m² central warehouse in Dotzigen. This houses a compact, highly sophisticated logistics infrastructure, installed and continuously expanded by SSI SCHAEFER, for the storage, picking, and dispatch of goods. Since the successful release update in November 2020, which involved a reliable and simultaneous switchover of all systems and processes, LANDI has benefited from state-of-the-art standard software with the latest control and visualization applications. Thanks to its integrated intelligence, warehouse logistics can now be organized even more efficiently and flexibly adapted in parallel to ever more challenging market conditions.

Longstanding partnership allows for an atypical approach

The complexity of the manual and automatic processes as well as the need to keep operations running perfectly during the release upgrade posed just as much a challenge as the big bang migration itself. Meticulous planning and intensive preparations for the go-live in the operational environment were required. The decision to carry out a big bang migration rather than an iterative one was also supported by LANDI's trust in the stability and process reliability of partner SSI SCHAEFER's proprietary logistics software, which had seen the company through around two decades of growth.

Clearly structured quality assurance measures

Highly professional project management coupled with communication as partners was also a key factor in the successful migration to the new warehouse management system (WMS). During the two-year lead time, specialist members were added to the established project team as required. The main task was to thoroughly integrate the new WMS into the existing IT landscape. Thanks to the open system architecture, it was possible to directly link to LANDI's ERP and transport system. All processes were carefully evaluated so that all customer-specific requirements could be taken into account. Detailed simulations and tests on the test system verified the stability of WAMAS and paved the way for a smooth big bang release upgrade. As of the appointed date, the regular order volume was able to be processed in 2.5 shift operation without any significant compromises. Personnel were trained in any new processes and dialogs in advance.

WAMAS at LANDI: Quick, reliable, and uninterrupted

The new WAMAS with integrated material flow system and WAMAS Lighthouse provides LANDI in Dotzigen with a future-proof standard software which efficiently controls and continually optimizes highly-complex processes which require excellent coordination, and also completely fulfills changing market requirements. The established project team also played a key role in the direct changeover to WAMAS 5.8, which involved skipping not one but two software generations. Karoline Poderschnig, Project Manager IT, SSI SCHAEFER says: "A big bang, which involves switching over both manual and automatic processes as well as a variety of technology at a highly complex location like Dotzigen, all at the same time, is extremely exciting. Thanks to our excellent collaboration with LANDI, this has been a complete success." Supply to LANDI stores was not compromised at any point. "There were no interruptions to operations or any significant backlog as a result of the switchover," confirms Stefan Eggli, Head of Conveying Systems / IT Logistics, LANDI Switzerland.

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.

• 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