Blog

In the Let's Talk format at SSI SCHAEFER's booth at LogiMAT 2024, Knut-Andreas Kran, CEO of ASKO OSLOFJORD AS, and Thomas Elstner, Head of Product Management Software at SSI SCHAEFER, discuss the challenges in developing, planning, and building the highly complex facility. The discussion also focuses on the SSI Case Picking solution, which has significantly contributed to the high level of automation in the facility, and thus, the improved order fulfillment quality.

Why do companies choose the SSI LOGIMAT Vertical Lift Module? What types of materials can be stored in it? How complex is the planning and design process? And what are the expected delivery times? Benjamin Höller, System Consultant for Vertical Lift Modules at SSI SCHAEFER, answers these and other exciting questions in this expert discussion.

Freely scalable mobile racking systems are the perfect solution for maximizing warehouse capacity and providing full flexibility in handling operations. Thanks to his many years of market experience, David Eisenhut from SSI SCHAEFER understands how much deep-freeze logistics companies, for example, benefit from this. In this interview, the expert for dynamic intralogistics solutions provides insights into how mobile racking can be integrated into warehouse processes, when automation is worthwhile and how the systems help to save energy costs.

Digitalization offers a huge range of opportunities, but this is accompanied by security risks as a result of cybercrime. SSI SCHAEFER, one of the world’s leading providers of solutions in all areas of intralogistics, tackles these challenges with a comprehensive security concept based on standards such as ISO 27001 and IEC 62443, and the “Defense in Depth” approach. By combining cutting-edge technology, a strong partner network, and keen awareness of security issues, the company is able to ensure security in all areas and provide effective support for its customers.

What does a warehouse management system (WMS) need to do to meet the challenges of the fashion market? What is important when selecting a WMS? How can a WMS improve throughput times in the warehouse and support warehouse staff at the same time? These and other interesting questions will be answered in this expert talk.

The Middle East and Africa (MEA) region is on the brink of a significant transformation in warehouse logistics, driven by technological advancements, economic reforms, and a dramatic rise in e-commerce. Countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE are making substantial investments in logistics infrastructure as part of strategic initiatives such as Saudi Vision 2030, positioning themselves as key logistics hubs.

In the expert panel discussion at LogiMAT 2024, Pär Svärdson, CEO of Apotea, and Hans Ekström, Solution Design Manager at SSI SCHAEFER, talk about the challenges in e-commerce and how they have solved them in joint cooperation through warehouse automation - with the A-Frame picking system at the heart of the solution, which processes up to 70 percent of all orders quickly, reliably, fully automatically and without errors. Pär Svärdson also provides insights into the next joint project and its innovative warehouse solution.

Conventional remote access solutions, such as virtual private networks, open the network to attacks by establishing a direct connection between potentially untrustworthy people. SSI SCHAEFER has worked with BearingPoint to develop a secure remote access solution based on Cyolo's software solution. Cyolo's RPAM tool (Remote Privileged Access Management) is an identity and access management and fraud detection software that helps to reduce attacks on networks and thus enables secure privileged remote access.

The SSI LOGIMAT not only redefines efficiency and ergonomics in small parts storage but also paves the way for future-proof automation solutions. Benjamin Höller, Vertical Lift Module expert at SSI SCHAEFER, highlights the fundamental benefits and provides insights into the first steps companies can take on the road to automation.

Carsten Spiegelberg, Managing Director of Middle East and Africa, brings close to 40 years of logistics expertise. A key figure in establishing SSI SCHAEFER’s automation business across Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, and Australia/New Zealand, Carsten has driven the success of automation ventures. He discusses several key aspects of SSI SCHAEFER’s operations and achievements in the interview with Logistics Gulf News

Wear and tear, defects and even discontinuations can pose a real risk for system operators – in the worst-case scenario, they can even lead to a shutdown. To prevent this, proactive action is required. The solution? Obsolescence management: Through strategic planning and implementation of necessary measures, failures can be avoided, costs reduced and the lifecycle of machines efficiently extended.

Cloud solutions are on the rise everywhere. Stationary servers have become obsolete almost everywhere, not only in private and office applications, but also in warehouses. Since 2019, SAP has been offering the standard warehouse management solution SAP EWM (Extended Warehouse Management) as a separate system within the SAP S/4HANA suite. The WMS can be hosted or operated both “on premise” (i.e. on the operator's own servers or a connected data center) and in the cloud.

Digitalization in the warehouse is the key to efficiency in dynamic day-to-day business. As a logistics service provider with multi-user warehouse locations, Gebrüder Weiss works with 1,250 customers worldwide and operates a total of around 620,000 square meters of warehouse space. All processes in the warehouse as well as the connection to the IT systems of customers and transport service providers are inextricably linked to state-of-the-art software.

In the world of intralogistics, where efficiency and precision are crucial, the Warehouse Management System (WMS) plays a central role in success. WMS systems are the backbone of any modern warehouse, enabling companies to optimize their stock levels, accelerate process orders, and seamlessly integrate the entire logistics process. But how can companies ensure they are getting the best possible WMS solution that meets their individual needs? The answer lies in complete logistics and software consulting from a single source.

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.

Whether in industrial, e-commerce, or the pharmaceutical and cosmetics sector: Wherever single-piece picking is required in the small parts area, maximum precision is essential – with growing product assortments and increasing availability and quality demands. In the interview, SSI SCHAEFER experts Markus Jammernegg, Head of Modules, and Thomas Elstner, Head of Product Management, Product Line Software, provide insights into the fully automated solution for single piece picking SSI Piece Picking, which is characterized by its gentle product handling. The robotic solution takes over repetitive tasks and speeds up picking processes thanks to intelligent software.

The corona pandemic and the war in Ukraine are crises that have caused many industries to evaluate operations because they highlight and even aggravate known problems. For instance, lack of digitization or the shortage of skilled workers have exposed a somewhat fragile ecosystem. Solutions to these challenges are needed quickly to remain competitive and secure the future of many companies. Cold storage logistics is one of the sectors that calls for new solutions.

What are the implications of the labor shortage, the sustainability factor and rising energy costs in deep-freeze logistics? Dr. Sabine Eichner from the German Frozen Food Institute, Guido Follert from Fraunhofer-IML and Andreas Oy from SSI SCHAEFER discuss the challenges and solutions for future-proof deep-freeze logistics in the Let's Talk expert panel discussions 2023.

How can seasonal fluctuations be mastered with the help of automated logistics systems? Can the use of automated guided vehicles avoid staff shortages and increase efficiency and productivity? Stefan Neubauer from LGI Logistics, Karl Rapp from DS AUTOMOTION and Stefan Reichwald from SSI SCHAEFER discuss the challenges and solutions of future-proof logistics in the Let's Talk expert panel discussions 2023.

What do user-centric solutions for digital intralogistics from SAP look like? What advantages do they offer? And what do you need to consider before and during implementation? Matthias Nater, Digital Supply Chain Management & Manufacturing at SAP Germany, and Alexander Bernhard, Managing Director of SWAN GmbH, discuss the current challenges and SAP software solutions along the supply chain in the Let's Talk expert panel discussions 2023.

Implementing a uniform warehouse management system (WMS) across multiple sites around the world requires appropriate software capabilities and extensive program management expertise. The tried and tested solution approach of the experts at SSI SCHAEFER presents a combination of industry and implementation expertise alongside the use of our in-house WAMAS Enterprise WMS solution. The scalable approach offers customers of all sizes, from local start-ups to global enterprises, numerous advantages – both in terms of technology and cost.

In March 2022, Nahdi Medical Company (Nahdi) launched its first automated pharmaceutical distribution center, IMDAD, located in Jeddah Second Industrial City as part of developing its core capabilities to support the company’s strategy. Covering an area of 250,000 m², the advanced facility features temperature-controlled logistics and employs cutting-edge technology and systems to automate the order fulfillment process.

Explore the nexus of efficiency and innovation in logistics at the LogiMAT | Intelligent Warehouse 2023 event, where SSI SCHAEFER showcased a forward-thinking approach to intralogistics. A standout feature was the immersive “Dream Warehouse Experience”, guiding visitors through a vision of warehouse operations marked by optimization, efficiency, and precision.

Pallets, bins and cartons in partly or fully automated warehouses are transported to palletizing, picking or shipping in certain sequences. The more efficiently this is done, the greater the technical performance that can be achieved. SSI SCHAEFER's WAMAS logistics software features a new sequencing solution that provides flexible waiting points for short-term buffering of goods within the conveyor network, increasing flexibility and scalability in the warehouse.

Cold chain solutions are required at every stage of the supply chain, from the point of production, through manufacturing and storage to wholesale and ultimately to retail or catering establishments and to people’s homes. In this climatic world that we live in today, higher temperatures and more extreme events are affecting the cost and the demand for cooling across the world.

Thinking of building an automated warehouse solution and have questions about the myriad of ASRS systems in the market?

How does technology drive cost reduction and productivity boost? Warehouse managers face the ongoing challenge of optimizing operations to increase productivity while reducing labor costs. Fortunately, advancements in technology have revolutionized the warehouse management industry, offering innovative solutions that can transform operations and yield remarkable results. This blog article will explore how warehouse managers can leverage technology to lower labor costs, boost operational productivity, and enhance efficiency.

In 2007 we saw the launch of the iPhone, heralding a new digitalera. Since then, our personal lives have undergone dramatic change.We are always connected, and able to communicate with the rest of theworld anytime and anywhere, generating huge volumes of data.

HUMAN CREATIVITY AND ANALYTICAL AI — A SUSTAINABLE COMBINATION
Artificial intelligence (AI) is opening up new possibilities for us in both the private and industrial spheres.

Intelligent solutions for individual shopping carts
The rapidly growing sector of online retailing places a high demand on intralogistics for grocers. Constant cost restraints, the growing demand for order today and deliver today, along with the need for higher process efficiencies, mandate companies apply the dynamics of e-grocery to their supply chain.

The Enterprise Solutions business segment at SSI SCHAEFER is defined as the logistical control instrument between warehouse, transport, and customer. In short, it is about sustainably and holistically fulfilling customer requests.
EVP Enterprise, Hannes Neubauer, explains how this works in practice and what is behind these intelligent solutions.

Deriving Recommended Courses of Action from Valid Material Master Data
‘Data is the new oil’. This now widely used quote was coined by Meglena Kunevas back in 2009. With regard to oil, certain developments such as combustion engines or specialty chemicals were required in order to make full use of this precious resource. Similar considerations apply to the warehouse, where data runs all ongoing processes. But it takes more than just data. Only if the quote is extended with ‘...but information is the new gold’, can the circle be successfully closed. Ultimately, the goal is to derive actions from data on the basis of information.

In times of e-commerce, digitalization and automation, continuously increasing requirements towards performance and efficiency in warehouses are on the daily agenda. In order to achieve top performance rates despite increased requirements, SSI SCHAEFER applies their in-house warehouse management system WAMAS® for the administration of automated warehouses.

The initial situation for Robert and "Freizeit Handels GmbH" was extremely tricky, when they reached the joint decision to make changes to stock handling and therefore also to warehouse management: Due to the rising demands and constantly increasing throughput, the same work required comparatively greater effort than before. The increasing costs of storage began to eat into additional profits. However, this is now water under the bridge and the customer – with Robert at the helm – appears thoroughly delighted with the results of this decision.

Valid Material Master Data as a Basis for More Efficient Material Flow Processes
When it comes to innovative warehouses and logistics centers, SSI SCHAEFER is a strong partner who delivers and realizes solutions from a single source on demand. Its extensive and at the same time high-end products lay the foundations for complete customized solutions. A complete solution by SSI SCHAEFER generally also covers the migration of a considerable amount of data to the IT systems, which are installed with the new warehouse. SSI SCHAEFER has the required expertise to migrate data into a new system in coordination with the customer and advises the warehouse operator regarding the significance of valid data and its benefits for a sustainable and efficient warehouse operation.

Java programmer for complex warehouse logistics software and proud mother of twins. Does not work? Sure, it does! I am telling you about my everyday experiences, not only in my professional, but also in my family life. These small insights illustrate the compatibility of family and work. It shows how both worlds cross over and co-exist and reveal points in your life, where you feel like you are hitting a wall.

Everything has a limited lifespan, including intralogistics systems. While steel and iron are less susceptible to the ravages of time, control and IT systems are rather more exposed to the effects of advancing years. Even processes themselves grow long in the tooth and require an overhaul to bring them back to cutting-edge relevance. We call this "retrofitting" – in other words, turning old into new.

With conventional storage systems, only a single – albeit important – aspect of the system is shown: the purely technical situation. Traditional visualization systems are not capable of meeting the current and future requirements of an intralogistics system and are therefore no longer adequate sources of information upon which to operate an installation. Other important aspects, such as the material flow or the comparison of key performance indicators (KPIs), are not usually considered in sufficient detail.

The SAP logistics suite already goes back a long way. Logistics processes were first covered in the R/2 ERP software up to the early 1990s, before being developed in the R/3 software when Warehouse Management (WM) and Transport Management (TRM) were introduced in their own modules as part of the ERP. This marked the launch of the first-ever embedded warehouse management and control system. WM is still maintained as an embedded module in the era of S4/HANA, although SAP will stop providing official support by the end of 2027. However, there is a delimited workaround available in the meantime with “Stock Room Management” that can be used beyond 2027.

Artificial intelligence, Industry 4.0, big data – just some of the buzzwords we hear every day in relation to intelligent, digitally networked systems. As well as the availability of the overall installations, the issue of security is becoming ever more prominent when it comes to the IT components. Protecting the integrity and confidentiality of the data stored on the IT systems is of particular importance.

New and increasingly demanding market requirements mean that companies are facing increasing pressure to improve their performance. This pressure also causes extra challenges for intralogistics, such as constantly growing quantities of goods that need to be handled during warehouse operations or additional tasks that need to be carried out in the warehouse, as well as short delivery times.

Nowadays, timely service for customers with intralogistics solutions goes far beyond the provision of spare parts and the maintenance of systems. Every day, customers are confronted with new challenges in their business environment which need to be dealt with as quickly as possible; this is made all the more essential due to e-commerce and the rapid shortening of delivery times.

The name "Leonardo" is most commonly associated with the multi-talented Leonardo da Vinci, who 600 years ago used his wide range of skills to develop pioneering inventions and make groundbreaking discoveries[i].

Social media, streaming services, and search engines – more and more services and systems are benefiting from the advantages of cloud computing. With the increasing complexity of IT and software infrastructures within and between companies, professional cloud solutions can help with the development of efficient and flexible company processes.

Ines and Max are sitting in the warehouse control center monitoring the operating states of the material flow systems on the screens that surround them. The visualization does not show any incidents, everything appears to be running smoothly. In fact, it looks like today is going to be a pretty boring day...

Warehouse management systems find routes that will minimize the distance covered between storage and picking points. Parameters can be adjusted to apply various strategies that will boost efficiency levels while still ensuring that goods are handled correctly.

The starting point: A sudden increase of orders and a broken pallet led to major delays in the warehouse. In the example of Ines and Max, there are a number of ways in which the system can take action.

Warehouse automation has many advantages: it increases the efficiency and speed of order processing, helps to reduce costs and reduces the number of errors caused by people. However, there are still doubtful opinions on if it necessary to automate the warehouse. SSI SCHÄFER's expert shares his opinion on some popular misconceptions about automation and explains why they don’t reflect the way things really are.

Flexible solution for a wide range of applications
With the SSI Order Verifier, items from an already picked customer order can be identified, counted, checked, verified, and documented in a single step – regardless whether the article is cubic or cylindrical, packaged in a blister pack, tube, or bag.

Computers can be used to quickly process and analyze large volumes of data in complex settings. Self-learning machines can recognize and remember patterns, and then react as we would when new situations with similar patterns arise, provided that we have defined the ideal result.

Your warehouse is the hub of activity where goods are received, stored, and shipped out to customers. With so many simultaneous activities taking place, it is essential to maintain a safe working environment for everyone involved. Read on to find out 5 practical guidelines to check if you're on track to making safety your top priority.

Hackers often sneak unnoticed into companies’ IT infrastructure. One popular method is to gain access through phishing emails or exploit security vulnerabilities and then access not only the company’s IT systems, but also connected systems.

Expectations of logistics continue to grow, and the ability to respond consistently requires a high degree of agility and flexibility. Affordable plug & play solutions serve as the basis for easy integration into existing processes, and diverse expansion options ensure a high degree of flexibility, even for dynamic requirements in connection with ongoing expansion. SSI SCHAEFER is a family-run intralogistics specialist with a long history anchored in the SME sector, offering modularly combinable, scalable and reliable logistics systems in particular for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

SSI SCHAEFER participated in Vietfish, one of the largest aquaculture trade shows in Southeast Asia from 24 – 26 August 2022. One of the event highlights includes the sharing of solutions to keep pace with the market growths and challenges of not only seafood logistics but also for other businesses in the cold chain industry.

Times are changing for business owners, the environment where businesses are usually ‘normal’ are no longer usual, at least from where the next generation is concerned. In a survey conducted by PWC on the ‘Family Business Survey 2021, Singapore’, it reveals how the new wave of next-gen leaders is motivated to lead their family-owned businesses into a more digitalized state, however, implementation and transformation has been slow.

The pandemic-driven acceleration in e-commerce has brought both unprecedented opportunities and enormous challenges to global FMCG businesses. If there’s anything that the phenomenon has taught the logistics industry, it’s that the “just in time” approach simply doesn’t work anymore in this new environment.

The e-commerce sector continues to grow exponentially and promises rapidly increasing sales. However, at the same time, the number of returns is constantly rising, which puts a strain on margins. The fashion industry suffers from this development, as it wants its products to be available for the customer as quickly as possible to prevent loss of value in the seasonal business. Automation is an effective solution of meeting this ideal.

Successful fulfillment has become a multidimensional and complex service within the supply chain. Automated, highly dynamic warehouses in particular require sophisticated order fulfillment software solutions: such as those offered by the WAMAS Warehouse Control System (WCS). Modern WCS systems are the first choice in automated warehouses across all industries. They connect both people and performance modules and help align order fulfillment efficiently.

In intralogistics, the term "retrofit" refers to the modernization of machines, equipment, and software systems. It is a cost-effective alternative to buying new, ensures sustainable operation, and goes hand in hand with increased system efficiency. But what exactly does it mean when a software system in a warehouse is modernized? What impacts on ongoing operation can be expected?

The challenges wrought by 2020 have proven the importance of future proofing—or, in other words, protecting a business against the push and pulls of consumer demand, anticipating future events and minimising the effects of supply shocks.

Recent changes in consumer purchasing behaviour have turned the logistics industry on its head—and the effects of this is far-reaching. For example, The Guardian newspaper predicted that online supermarket product sales would increase by a quarter due to the pandemic—but that is not the surprising factor. In relation to this upswing, Forbes also indicated that 82 percent of consumers are now more interested in buying products online instead of brick and mortar stores, with or without the looming pandemic.

Freshness, timeliness, and service quality are the challenges of the food retailing industry in the classic, stationary retail trade. Due to the changing consumption patterns and the online boom in the food retail industry, new logistics challenges arise, which can only be met with state-of-the-art software.

A leading company specialized in the design and manufacture of a wide variety of labelling and functional materials enabled to increase the storage capacity for higher production.

A global Fortune 500® corporation, Avery Dennison is a global materials science and manufacturing company specializing in the design and manufacture of a wide variety of labelling and functional materials. The company is headquartered in Glendale, California, and is the global leader in pressure-sensitive and self-adhesive labels for consumer and commercial products like shower-gel bottles and syringe labels.

Intralogistics is all about complex, long-term relationships with multiple personal contacts at every stage, from warehouse layout design to implementation to lifetime service. To achieve operational efficiency, maximum availability and rapid response are essential. Service providers in all industries consider their top priority to be making customers' everyday lives easier. The standard service package for intralogistics includes 24/7 technical support, call out support, preventive maintenance, reactive support and a long list of other services. With the introduction of Industry 4.0 and also remote tools, such as SSI Augmented Support, communication became clearer and respond times became shorter.

... Even When the Temperature Rises in Frozen Food and Fresh Produce Logistics

Special requirements are the order of the day, particularly in fresh produce logistics. Fresh produce logistics comprises fresh fish, dairy, and fruit and vegetable shipments from countries all over the world, as well as frozen food shipments straight to the consumer – and always in the shortest time possible. Frozen food and fresh produce require uninterrupted cooling in order to preserve their maximum shelf life. It goes without saying that this also involves adherence to all legal provisions regarding the cold food chain.

Learn more about how SSI SCHAEFER increases efficiency in manual or semi-automated processes with our AGV portfolio.

Fully automatic concepts that are integrated seamlessly into intralogistics processes, provide the ideal basis for tailor-made, gentle and reliable product handling. For this purpose, SSI SCHAEFER offers tailor-made, modular solutions for robot-supported palletizing and picking as well as high-performance robotics applications for single-piece picking in the warehouse.

To manage such seasonal shifts in demand, combined with the expectation for e-commerce to continue growing upwards within the region and beyond, we’re looking at establishing an integrative, collaborative effort between the labour force and automation.

When planning a new logistics building – and for retrofits too – green building and sustainability factors gain in importance. SSI SCHAEFER offers several green solutions. Moreover, the company offers further services from energy consulting and planning, certification and monitoring, and subsidy consulting. Johannes Zimmermann, Director Construction Management at SSI SCHAEFER, provides deeper insights in the following interview.

In times of e-commerce, digitalization and automation, continuously increasing requirements towards performance and efficiency in warehouses are on the daily agenda. In order to achieve top performance rates despite increased requirements, SSI SCHAEFER applies their in-house warehouse management system WAMAS® for the administration of automated warehouses.

To stay competitive in a pandemic climate, many food and beverage businesses might have considered, researched and even strategized co-opting automation solutions to their operations. For many of them, the term automation still implies machines or robots taking over manufacturing plants. While there is a space and need for such solutions, automation can also further enhance efficiency side-by-side with human labour. Further, manufacturers could also incorporate software solutions that help ensure product quality and safety that Labour would struggle to keep up with.

No matter whether it is due to rapid growth, supply bottlenecks or absence of employees – the importance of flexibility in small parts storage becomes apparent in cases of unforeseen events. How do you ensure delivery capacity, even in dynamic times? If automation is the solution, what measures can be implemented in a small parts warehouse with only minor investment? How flexible and scalable are these systems?

Designed and made to last, warehouse storage racks are often taken for granted. Unlike forklifts or conveyor systems, which have planned maintenance schedules, warehouse storage racks are often overused. The damages are usually ignored or go unreported as they may reflect poorly on the person (s) involved in the incident.

In the area of Integrator Business Automation, SSI SCHAEFER applies a product-based approach to supplying the market. Our day-to-day business involves delivering intralogistics components to a general contractor. How this business sector works and the role that SSI SCHAEFER plays is explained by Arnold Lanz, Vice President of Hub Development & Integrator Business Automation.

The new hazardous goods container by SSI SCHAEFER meets the special safety requirements for transporting solid dangerous substances.

Your warehouse has maxed out, so what should you do next?
Finding a bigger unit is one option - but not the only one OR can you make better use of your existing facility? While both options require effort and planning, the latter can be more rewarding.
Should you decide to go down this path, where do you start and how do you begin?

Striking the right balance between Standardization and Individuality
In an age of increasing digitalization and growing e-commerce, the challenges of volatile markets and unforeseeable environmental and societal events – along with fluctuations in demand that are virtually impossible to plan for – make flexibility a vital top priority. We all aim for individuality in both our personal lives and in business. However, to gain efficiencies in material handling (with the associated software), one must look for the right balance of custom flexibility and standardization.

The everyday role of e-commerce in retail, wholesale, and fashion industries, becomes also more important for pharmaceutical and cosmetics companies with the growth of online pharmacies. Increased consumer health awareness, coupled with self-medication trends, is leading to higher online demand for over-the-counter products and beauty and care orders.

An activity is carried out efficiently and effectively when it comes easy and follows clear processes. In order to meet these requirements, as part of the ergonomics@work!® program, we implement special picking stations designed to motivate employees, promote peak performance and significantly improve ergonomics at the work station. Movements such as lifting and carrying are assisted with ergonomic pulling and pushing. This means optimization of workflows and work heights. The goal is to create “feel-good work stations” that feature intuitive operator guidance using intelligent communication and display systems. The solutions are specifically tailored to the customer’s needs.

Felix Lütkebomk, Head of Product Sector Dynamic Systems at SSI Schaefer explains how existing storage solutions can be made more efficient and transparent.
Digitalization, automation, industry 4.0, and smart logistics are buzzwords that are discussed in many companies. Material handling has numerous examples of well implemented digitalization strategies. In sectors where storing and picking items is not yet part of the core business, there are still longstanding structures with manual registration tasks, little transparency, and no interconnectedness. Making a future-proof warehouse requires digitization, which is now a prerequisite in order to stay competitive. One can achieve modernization through a gradual implementation of flexible upgrades and retrofits.

Efficient use of storage space
How we deal with lack of space, high energy costs and rising property values with an individual and adaptable rack system
Mr. Frank Matysiak, Head of System Planning at SSI Schaefer, explains how the appropriate rack solution can solve typical warehouse challenges, and how SSI Schaefer provides customers with individual and future-oriented support in finding the most suitable racking system.

Manual picking methods in material handling have always been physically demanding. In addition, the aging demographic and decreased physical ability of older employees put further strain on operations. For these reasons, ergonomics plays a central role in the development of logistics systems. Ergonomic workplace design is also critical for younger employees, in order to avoid damage to health and to minimize sick leave. This is why SSI SCHAEFER develops solutions for innovative storage systems and high-performance conveying systems with the guiding principle of healthcare.

One Step Ahead for Permanent Availability.

Interview with Dr. Armin Vogel: how sustainable plastic containers are produced and used in logistics over the long term.

Intralogistics systems are becoming larger and larger and increasingly complex. Today’s computing power of a modern warehouse IT infrastructure is breaking new ground in terms of size and complexity, thus reaching dimensions that would have been unimaginable just a couple of years ago. In the following article Markus Klug, Team Leader Data Analysis & Simulation, explains how SSI SCHAEFER enables sustainable logistics with and through IT.

Racks are an integral part of the warehouse storage infrastructure. Equipped with racking systems that are well designed and maintained, managers can maximize the available space and optimize the warehouse for efficiency.

The inspection of warehouse racks and shelves is crucial for warehouse owners and operators. Most racks and shelves are static and sheltered from harsh weather conditions, however, the environment in which these racks operate is highly dynamic with frequent loading and unloading of load carriers. Should the racks fail, consequences may be serious.

A new compact “C” assembly group is now available, completing the range of proven SSI Exyz storage-retrieval machines from SSI SCHAEFER. SSI Exyz C automates the pallet rack processes in existing buildings in heights of up to 13.5 m. Without any need to upgrade floor slabs or perform extensive modifications - implementation during ongoing operation is also possible. Learn more about the energy-efficient solution.

India is the world’s fifth-largest economy, with a population of 1.35 billion, the country has demonstrated itself as one of the quickest growing IT hub in South Asia. However, India has also long branded itself with its lower wage structure and access to a vast labour market; and on the other side, it has a pool of young technology enthusiasts and innovators. According to the Global Innovation Index, India’s ranking went from 81st in 2015 to 52nd in 2019. Notably, Indian start-ups and companies are continuously making significant steps to further improve technological innovation.

Digitalization is on the rise also finding its way into warehousing. Unlike most Industry 4.0 images suggest, this (r)evolution is not always achieved via automation. Digitalization also involves illustrating and controlling intralogistical processes in a software while executing processes manually. This task can be easily assumed by WAMAS, the warehouse management system by SSI SCHAEFER.

It’s easy to take warehouse safety for granted. Unlike a construction site, a warehouse looks and feels safe. After all, there are no dangerous machines neither are the operations high risks. But the reality is accidents in warehouses occur rather frequently, though they are usually not fatal. In the rush to fulfil orders to meet ever tighter deadlines, slip ups occur. Lifting and moving heavy objects, going through the same motions repeatedly while lifting, reaching, pulling and pushing can result in muscle fatigue and injury.

As warehouses look and feel safe, it is so easy for warehouse employees to be lulled into a false sense of safety. Unlike shipyards or construction sites, the potential for life threaten accidents appear limited.

Demand for cold storage facilities has never been higher.
In the US, the spike in online grocery is spurring growth for cold stores. Real estate services and investment firm CBRE Group Inc. expects that up to 100 million sq. ft. of cold storage warehouse space will be added in the US by 2023. Here in Asia, the rise in consumer demand for perishable food items and the need to maintain the quality and shelf life of food, cosmetics are driving industry growth.

Daunting though it may be rack reconfiguration may be necessary with changes in product and SKU mix or with expansion in businesses. What was suitable when the racking system was first configured no longer applies and continuing to use it without making necessary changes may result in less than optimal warehouse performance.

While profits have traditionally been the top concern for businesses, safety and sustainability have become mainstream issues of focus for companies. However, both of these goals are achievable with reusable packaging. Now more than ever, manufacturers and distributors should examine how warehouse safety can be improved by utilizing reusable plastic packaging and pallets.

Automated vertical lift modules (VLMs) were developed in the 1980’s specifically for small to medium parts storage rather than the lighter commercial applications of the vertical carousel.

One of the biggest challenges in warehouse management and operations is effective use of floor area. Since warehouse operation is increasingly more complex in the digital age, it is important that storage areas take up as little floor area as possible but also maintain an effective storage and retrieval system.

Everybody is talking about climate protection. Discussed in-depth in society and linked to global campaigns, the topic of sustainability is also increasingly becoming a decisive criterion in logistics to ensure whether the offered solutions are viable. This is nothing new for SSI SCHAEFER as the topic corresponds to the long-term view on Green Logistics that was firmly engrained at an early stage. This is part of our Think Tomorrow. philosophy according to which we plan logistics solutions that are tailored to our customers’ needs and continually optimized with a view towards long-term criteria - this is the basis of our success.

How volume reduction helps to reduce CO₂ emissions and what returnable container options SSI SCHAEFER provides.

In the following interview, Elie Zita provides an overview of how digitalization has revolutionized customer service, guaranteeing maximized system availability and sustainability as a result of customized, predictive maintenance.

With its sleek design and clean lines, the vertical lift emanates positive vibes. Unlock it and you find trays upon trays stacked up in layers right to the top. With the touch of a button, the automated storage system designed on the tried-and-tested Ferris wheel principle swings into action.