The opening of EDZ Mitte means that the Schaeffler Group now has one of the most modern logistics centers in Europe. As general contractor for intralogistics, SSI Schaefer took on the integrated design, planning and implementation of the turn-key system. 

The dimensions of the new EDZ are truly impressive: it covers a built area of 94,000 m² – of which the logistics spreads over 25,000 m² with two levels – on a nearly 15-hectares site. The fully automated processes of the highly dynamic system emboss the internal material flows from goods-in registration to dispatch staging, and help Schaeffler to meet its targets. Besides the needed bin and pallet conveying system, SSI SCHAEFER also installed a fully automated 7-aisle high-bay warehouse with 28,000 pallet storage locations and a two-tier automated miniload system with approximately 95,000 bin storage locations, as well as ergonomic workstations. A 900 m long electric pallet conveyor with 50 vehicles also provides for the efficient transport of goods. Fully automated robotic applications for depalletizing and palletizing of bins complete the scope of supply  and services. The conveying system is also connected to respectively one sequencing tower with 20 buffer storage locations to ensure the efficient and sequenced supply of the packing locations in the outgoing goods area. The WAMAS® logistics software from SSI Schaefer acts as the server system. The SSI SCHAEFER IT specialists connected the software to Schaeffler's SAP EWM.

Aside from the automation of the internal material flows, SSI SCHAEFER and Schaeffler also worked together to develop the "Maintenance 4.0 for Intralogistics" solution package. It comprises intelligent, condition-based maintenance of operational drive systems and a semi-automated maintenance system.