The rapidly growing contract manufacturer and development partner of the pharmaceutical industry, Losan Pharma, aims to expand its production capacities. A new manufacturing plant is set to commence operations in 2025. At the same time, a new logistics center is being established, for which SSI SCHAEFER has been appointed as the general contractor for intralogistics. The scope of delivery includes an automated pallet high-bay silo, energy-efficient storage and retrieval machines, automated guided vehicles, extensive conveyor technology, and the integration of the new warehouse into the existing SAP EWM.

Losan Pharma GmbH has been an innovative CDMO partner (Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization) for the pharmaceutical industry since 1992. With more than 750 employees, the company, founded in 1992 in Neuenburg am Rhein, South Germany, undertakes the development, manufacturing, and packaging of smart pharmaceuticals on behalf of its pharmaceutical clients and offers analytical services and artwork services.

Since 2017, the company's expansion strategy has focused on a second location in nearby Eschbach. On the Losan Pharma Campus, breaking the ground for an innovative logistics center took place in September 2024. The commissioning is planned for the end of 2026. The fully automated high-bay warehouse will then supply the newly constructed production facilities with raw materials. Additionally, it will serve as a shipping warehouse for the pharmaceuticals produced in Eschbach.

As the general contractor for intralogistics, SSI SCHAEFER delivers the complete storage and conveyor technology and manages the involved trades. Losan Pharma's high-bay warehouse is being constructed by SSI SCHAEFER as a self-supporting steel structure in silo construction, eliminating the need for a separate hall construction. The high-bay warehouse, from where the production and packaging buildings are supplied and disposed of, is founded at a depth of 6 meters.

Intelligent Conveyor Solution from DS Automotion 
In the basement, an automated guided vehicle system (AGV) with two AMADEUS classic vehicles connects the conveyor technology with four pallet lifters. The vehicles transport raw materials and finished pharmaceutical products. Another AGV, with an AMADEUS classic, is used on the ground floor to connect sample trains to the high-bay warehouse. All AGV solutions are provided by DS Automotion, a company of the SSI SCHAEFER Group. Five energy-efficient SSI Exyz storage and retrieval machines, which will supply the 20,000 double-deep pallet spaces in the warehouse completely automatically, will handle the conveying processes within the high-bay warehouse.

Connection to SAP EWM via SWAN
The order management of the entire storage and conveyor technology is carried out via the SAP Extended Warehouse Management (EWM) software already used at Losan Pharma. The integration of the storage and conveyor technology into SAP EWM is realized by SWAN, a project house for SAP logistics and also a member of the SSI SCHAEFER Group.

On the Losan Pharma Campus, breaking the ground for an innovative logistics center took place in September 2024. The commissioning is planned for the end of 2026. The fully automated high-bay warehouse will then supply the newly constructed production facilities with raw materials. Additionally, it will serve as a shipping warehouse for the pharmaceuticals produced in Eschbach.
 

© Lifa Breisgau GmbH

• Recording of sustainability performance indicators extended to the 22 largest entities of the group

• Climate strategy adopted and energy transformation concept for international headquarters finalised

• EcoVadis “Bronze” certification for the entire SSI SCHAEFER Group

Neunkirchen/Siegerland, Germany, October 16, 2024 – The SSI SCHAEFER Group, a leading global solution provider for all areas of intralogistics, today published its third sustainability report, which underlines the continuity of its activities in this area over the last few years. The report provides an overview of specific measures as well as further efforts and goals for a more sustainable future. Activities continued to focus on implementing the sustainability strategy developed in 2021, which covers ecological, social, and economic aspects alike.

Despite continued difficult market conditions and a gloomy investment environment, the SSI SCHAEFER Group was able to achieve important sustainability progress and successes last year. In addition to expanding the collection of sustainability performance indicators to include the 22 largest entities in the group, a climate strategy with measurable reduction targets was adopted and an energy transformation concept for the international headquarters in Neunkirchen was finalised.

“In 2023, we as a global company have once again worked hard to make a positive contribution to sustainable development,” says Peter Edelmann, CEO of the SSI SCHAEFER Group. “We are therefore particularly pleased to be among the top third of the companies assessed and to have received the EcoVadis “Bronze” rating for the entire group. The third sustainability report underlines our ongoing commitment and shows our progress and successes.” In 2024, the company intends to continue its efforts by pursuing its sustainability goals and identifying further measures to strengthen the sustainability of its own business activities and those of its customers.

Download the full 2023 Sustainability Report here

The long-established mould manufacturer agathon, based in the Ruhr region of Germany, aims to increase the efficiency of its tool warehouse. The company’s relocation to a new site has created space for this fresh start. SSI SCHAEFER is supplying several SSI LOGIMAT® vertical lift modules, which agathon is using to optimize and partially automate order picking. The new storage solution also enables ergonomic handling and maximizes the use of vertical space.

agathon GmbH is the leading manufacturer of chocolate moulds for large-scale industrial production worldwide. The family-owned company develops and manufactures customized chocolate moulds that give confectionery an unmistakable, high-quality design. From its headquarters in Bottrop, Germany, the company has been a system partner to nearly all major manufacturers and plant constructors in the chocolate, confectionery, and food industries for 75 years.

agathon's tool store holds the expertise of its past development work. Generally, the tool moulds remain the property of client companies. They must be stored securely and, if needed, made available to the injection moulding machines or the in-house workshop.

Relocation to a new facility

Over the years, agathon's headquarters reached its capacity limits. Since the end of 2022, the company has been relocating to a larger site in neighboring Essen. The new hall for the tool warehouse is already in place. In March 2024, SSI SCHAEFER received the order for the vertical lift module solution. Currently, SSI LOGIMAT storage lifts and a gantry crane are being installed. Storage within the vertical lift modules is managed using SSI SCHAEFER's WAMAS Lift & Store software, which is integrated with agathon’s ERP system. The new solution is expected to go live in October 2024.

Warehouse consolidation and ergonomic handling

The vertical design of SSI LOGIMAT allows for maximum utilization of the facility’s height. Agathon’s tool warehouse will feature a total of 8 storage lifts, each over 9 meters high. Warehouse staff will select the required tool mould, and the vertical lift module will deliver the relevant tray to the operator opening. With the additional LOGIDRIVE option, the tray is fully extended from the lift, enabling easy and safe transfer of the mould to the crane. To optimize this process, the cross beams of the crane runway are mounted directly onto the uprights of the storage lifts, offering ergonomic benefits and saving space.

Transparent inventory management

The integration of the SSI SCHAEFER solution also enhances the company’s software systems. Central to the data exchange is the WAMAS Lift & Store control solution, which manages article and order handling across the vertical lift modules, ensuring optimal use of available storage locations. This also provides full transparency in inventory management for warehouse staff.

WAMAS Lift & Store is connected to agathon’s ERP system, proALPHA, via a standard interface provided by SSI SCHAEFER. This connection allows warehouse data to be accessible company-wide. Additionally, the picking of tool moulds is fully automated and recorded in the ERP system.

Attractive design for high-quality shapes

agathon expects to benefit from warehouse consolidation, as well as from efficient, semi-automated, and ergonomic order picking using the vertical lift modules. A secondary but important factor was the aesthetic design of the systems. The sleek design of the storage lifts and trays is intended to enhance the visual appeal of the new facility. Both employees and agathon’s clients will benefit from this, especially considering the close development partnership between the toolmaker and product designers in the confectionery industry. Much of this collaboration occurs in the company’s Chocolate Design Center.

agathon’s Managing Director Volker Krämer is eagerly anticipating the upcoming launch, stating: “The concept of the vertical lift module solution from SSI SCHAEFER is impressive in terms of functionality, ergonomics, and design. We are now preparing together for the commissioning in October.”

© SSI SCHAEFER

• Logistics consultants and planners at the “Intralogistics Day 2024”

• Exchange of technologies and experiences for the benefit of customers

• SSI SCHAEFER event series continued with success

After the inaugural event last year, SSI SCHAEFER once again invited logistics consultants and planners to the “Intralogistics Day” at its technology center in Giebelstadt near Würzburg. Around 35 participants from the DACH region and Belgium came together on September 24, 2024, to discuss current challenges in the industry and learn about solutions from the SSI SCHAEFER Group's range of products and services.

After all, the demands on intralogistics are high. In view of the shortage of skilled workers, cost pressure, complex supply chains, the desire for sustainability and the urgent need for digitalization, many companies are looking for solutions to optimize their intralogistics processes and remain competitive.

Flexible and scalable solutions for step-by-step automation are particularly in demand. The experts from SSI SCHAEFER, DS Automotion, Ro-Ber and SWAN presented picking solutions with mobile robots, AGVs, gantry robots and tugger trains, references from the fashion and deep-freeze logistics sector and emulation for process optimization in the implementation phase from the software sector. The presentations and discussions were complemented by live product demonstrations of SSI SCHAEFER Piece Picking and Case Picking, the Mobile Robots solutions with RackBots and AGVs as well as the Flat Pack Picking System.

The “Intralogistics Day” is part of a series of in-house exhibitions and customer events that SSI SCHAEFER intends to hold ongoing. Mauro Lunardelli, Head of Business Unit Logistics Solutions at SSI SCHAEFER, comments: “Successfully realizing logistics projects together requires not only expertise and technology, but also a high degree of trust. We have known many of our customers and partners for decades and will continue to expand our personal contact with interested companies and partners internationally in order to create a competitive advantage for our customers with innovative intralogistics solutions from the SSI SCHAEFER Group.”

© SSI SCHAEFER

After the inaugural event last year, SSI SCHAEFER once again invited logistics consultants and planners to the “Intralogistics Day” at its technology center in Giebelstadt near Würzburg, Germany.

© SSI SCHAEFER

The participating consultants and planners were introduced to picking solutions with mobile robots, AGVs, gantry robots and tugger trains from the SSI SCHAEFER Group's range of systems.

SSI SCHAEFER will improve Scalpers' order picking performance thanks to the implementation of 26 RackBots in the distribution center of the popular Sevillian fashion brand in Guillena. The project, which is being developed in two phases, will equip the warehouse with a total of 100,000 locations for cardboard boxes and two picking stations organized using the Put-Wall system and Pick to Light order preparation, with eight positions in each one, to offer a throughput of 250 boxes per hour, both incoming and outgoing.

Implementation in two phases
The first phase of the project, which went into operation in August 2024, involved the integration of 12 RackBots, which operate in 20.000 double-depth locations for 600 x 400 x 400 mm cartons, arranged in 10-meter-high racks.

In the second phase of the project, the warehouse will increase its capacity by a further 40.000 double-deep storage locations and will incorporate another 14 RackBots, which will enable it to replace more manual processes and to cope with the increase in logistics tasks resulting from the large increase in sales that the company, founded in 2007, is experiencing.

Advantages of the RackBots technology
RackBots combine the flexibility of an autonomous mobile robot (AMR) with the capabilities of an automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS). The shuttle vehicle is fitted with a crane equipped with a load handling device, enabling it to insert and extract containers, trays and boxes to and from conveyors, shelves, workstations and picking stations.

New solution for fast processes
The new solution from the SSI Mobile Robots product family is replacing an area of conventional pallet racking for overstock and storage of picking boxes with a new automated area, in which the preparation of orders for initials (items for the following season destined for the shops), repeats (repeat orders in the current season) and online commerce will be carried out in three work shifts. In addition to automated picking, the solution from SSI SCHAEFER offers higher storage density.

Javier Sangalo, Logistics Director at Scalpers, comments: “One of the great advantages of working with RackBots is the scalability of the system, which allows both the expansion of storage capacity and the incorporation of new vehicles. Automation increases the speed of order picking, makes up for the lack of skilled labour and minimises errors, which results in a higher quality of service and reduced costs.”

Another significant advantage is the ease of integration with the company's management software. Moreover, Scalpers relies on efficient new technologies such as RFID tunnels and automatic folded garment sorters.

As the automated warehouse solution is easily scalable, it offers many opportunities for future growth.

Project details:

• Number of RackBots: 26

• Number of locations: 100.000 locations for 600 x 400 x 400 mm cartons

• Rack height: 10 meters

• 2 picking stations equipped with a Put-Wall and Pick to Light order picking, each with eight positions

• Inbound via roller conveyor with transfer to the RackBot

Output:

• 250 boxes/hour input and output

Planned Go-live:

• Go-live of first project phase in August 2024

© SSI SCHAEFER

SSI SCHAEFER will improve Scalpers' order picking performance thanks to the implementation of 26 RackBots in the distribution center of the popular Sevillian fashion brand in Guillena. The project, which is being developed in two phases, will equip the warehouse with a total of 100,000 locations for cardboard boxes and two picking stations.

• For the 59th National Day, intralogistics expert honours homegrown partner companies that have contributed to the nation’s position as the top logistics hub worldwide, as it celebrates its own 40th anniversary.

In honour of Singapore’s National Day, SSI Schaefer, a global leader in intralogistics and automated warehouse solutions, is celebrating the success of its numerous Singaporean partners over the years, as the company itself commemorates its 40th anniversary in APAC.

The World Bank recently ranked Singapore as first globally in its most recent 2023 Logistics Performance Index, with its highest score for Infrastructure, and had previously noted that the nation’s position as a global logistics hub played a key role in its economic success. Underpinning Singapore’s logistics infrastructure across sectors are intralogistics centres — storage and distribution facilities — whose performance and capacity have repercussions for global supply chains, international trade, and economic growth.

“Having been here for 40 of its 59 years, Singapore is home to SSI Schaefer’s headquarters for Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa, overseeing 15 locations across these regions as well as a factory in Simpang Renggam, Malaysia. During our time here, it’s been spectacular to witness Singapore’s meteoric rise as a major global supply-chain hub,” remarked Sean Lim, Country Head at SSI Schaefer Singapore. “The nation has done particularly well by prioritizing infrastructure and recognizing that cutting-edge technology, top performance, optimal efficiency, and rigorous safety are absolute necessities for world-class facilities. It’s been an honour to be a part of this for four decades through both our domestic and international partners.”

Specific to homegrown companies, three partnerships provide a snapshot of the company’s impact on the Singaporean economy.

YCH Group’s Supply Chain City™

Overview:

• Completed 2018

• 65,000 m2 total surface area, including 10,080 m² of high-bay warehouse

• 50 m high and 5 floors of ramp-up warehousing

• Over 66,000 pallet storage locations

• 18 energy-efficient SSI Exyz storage-retrieval machines (SRMs)

• Capable of moving 450 pallets per hour

• Capacity for 21.6 tonnes total load

• Access to over 100 loading bays

Using technologies from SSI Schaefer, YCH Group, the leading homegrown supply chain solutions company, created a world-class logistics centre to reinforce Singapore’s position as a key supply chain hub and nerve centre that connects Asia to the world. Located in the Jurong Innovation District, Supply Chain City™ utilizes SSI Schaefer’s rack-clad automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS) and its WAMAS® smart warehouse management system.

Since the facility’s launch, the fully automated processes have enabled YCH to deliver higher value-added logistics services for customized end-to-end solutions to companies. Furthermore, with WAMAS®, comprehensive visibility of material flows has strengthened the collaboration and communication between every stakeholder in the supply chain, including the warehouse.

Tee Yih Jia Food Hub

Overview:

• Completed 2022

• Singapore’s largest fully automated cold storage facility and largest automated rack-clad, high-bay warehouse

• $450 million facility

• 40,000 m2 total surface area

• Three warehouses: two cold rooms and one ambient temperature dry storage

• 100,000 pallet positions of frozen storage racks

• 15 SSI Exyz SRMs

• Capable of moving 300 pallets per hour

Tee Yih Jia Manufacturing Pte Ltd, a leading frozen foods manufacturer, partnered with SSI Schaefer on its Tee Yih Jia Food Hub, a food factory and storage and distribution facility in Senoko. Combining SSI Schaefer’s cold storage expertise with its rack-clad ASRS, Tee Yih Jia successfully leveraged full automation to significantly expand supply chain efficiency and capacity.

Collaboration with SME in Automotive and Industrial Industries

Overview:

• Completed 2024

• 1075 m2 total surface area

Singapore’s rigorous safety standards as a global logistics hub can sometimes create challenges for companies with less experience and thorough planning, particularly SMEs. As a one-stop shop, SSI Schaefer follows exacting safety standards from the EU and Singapore’s Building and Construction Authority (BCA) from the start, and it has guided several Singaporean SMEs to make facility approval processes seamless.

Most recently, SSI Schaefer implemented their mezzanine solution, which complies with BCA and EU structural safety standards, for a collaboration with an automotive and industrial supply company on their facility in Defu. With the solution, the company greatly scaled up their total floor area and maximised storage capacity while advancing their journey towards automation. For their warehouse workers, the mezzanine solutions made workflows significantly more streamlined and user-friendly.

• Storage capacity increased by 90% thanks to mobile racking system from SSI SCHAEFER

• Follow-up project after collaboration to provide critical vaccine infrastructure during the Covid-19 pandemic

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

By leveraging SSI SCHAEFER’s mobile pallet racking system that increases storage capacity by over 90%, the partnership created the largest mobile racking system installation for deep-freeze cold rooms in the UAE, which is part of AD Ports Group’s KLP21 warehousing hub, located at Khalifa Economic Zone Abu Dhabi (KEZAD).

In addition to boosting cooling efficiency and storage density, the system also succeeded in enhancing warehouse safety through its multiple failsafe mechanisms and cutting-edge programmable logic controller (PLC) to enable customized and automated control. With the increasing demand for pre-built, state-of-the-art cold room storage facilities in KEZAD, the partnership fulfills a key need for new clients, while accelerating business growth in the region and beyond.

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

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

An initial collaboration to deliver crucial pandemic-era vaccine logistics infrastructure

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

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

Under the motto "Together We Shape the Future of Intralogistics," SSI SCHAEFER invited intralogistics consultants from across Europe to the "Future Automation Partner Forum" at the Technology Center in Giebelstadt, Germany, on June 19, 2024. Approximately 30 consultants from 10 different countries, including France, Italy, Scandinavia, and Eastern Europe, attended the two-day event. The forum featured information on technologies, tools, and trends, live product demonstrations, and valuable networking opportunities.

The Partner Forum is part of an ongoing series of customer events and in-house exhibitions that SSI SCHAEFER plans to expand internationally. The aim is to bring together companies interested in a specific application such as deep-freeze logistics, or a special service such as consulting, and to provide them with focused information and networking opportunities in order to take cooperation to a new level.  

Michal Kazmierczak, Regional Head Northern Europe, and Conrad Cardona, Regional Head Southern Europe, who hosted the event, said: "We value the close relationships we have with our customers and partners. By maintaining ongoing communication and providing continuous updates on innovations and our internal initiatives, we can achieve better cooperation. This enables us to engineer and implement successful intralogistics projects together. We are convinced that our innovative solutions offer real added value. Together, we are shaping the future of intralogistics!"

In the future, SSI SCHAEFER will increasingly focus on smaller customer events and in-house exhibitions, such as the European Partner Forum on June 19 at the Technology Center in Giebelstadt, Germany.

Thomas Elstner, Head of Software Product Management, will lead a discussion on how software maximises the advantages of automated intralogistics, addressing key questions such as:

• How will software be integral to driving my business Innovations into the future?

• Why are scalability and flexibility so important?

• What should I prioritise when selecting warehouse management software?

SSI Schaefer, a global leader in intralogistics and automated warehouse solutions, is set to host a series of insightful presentations at CeMAT Australia 2024, occurring from July 23-25 in Melbourne (Booth #821). As a proud sponsor of the event, several of the company’s executives will share their expertise at the CeMAT Knowledge Theatre powered by SSI Schaefer. Kicking off the panel discussion on the first day, Thomas Elstner, Head of Software Product Management at SSI Schaefer, will discuss how software is integral to unleashing the full potential of intralogistics innovations.

Event Details:

1. “Upscale your Warehouse: How Will Software be Integral to Driving your Business Innovations Into the Future?” 

July 23, 15:00-15:30

Presenter: Thomas Elstner, Head of Software Product Management at SSI Schaefer

Panel Speakers:

Brett Thirup, Managing Director Australia and New Zealand, SSI Schaefer

Jens Nikolai, National Sales Manager, SSI Schaefer

Airyn Ong, Head of Software APAC & MEA, SSI Schaefer

Customised software provides a significant competitive advantage, enabling businesses to fully realise the potential of automation. By centralising and simplifying processes, it enhances warehouse performance and efficiency while supporting future growth.

Additional Sessions:

1. “As Automation Expands, is there Still a Role for People in Materials Handling?”

Panel Speaker: Jens Nikolai, National Sales Manager, SSI Schaefer

July 24, 11:35-12:15

1. “Warehouse Automation but Make it Scaleable - Making Transformation More Accessible for SMEs”

Panel Speaker: Brett Thirup, Managing Director Australia and New Zealand, SSI Schaefer

July 25, 9:30-10:15

To participate in a panel discussion, please visit: https://www.ssi-schaefer.com/en-au/newsroom/events/ssi-schaefer-will-participate-in-cemat-2024-melbourne-1814414

To pre-book a one-on-one consultation session: https://www.ssi-schaefer.com/en-au/about-us/contact-us

“Just like every person is unique, every software solution must be tailored to the specific facility and business it serves,” stated Brett Thirup, ahead of the expo. “By approaching challenges comprehensively and collaborating with intralogistics experts, businesses can harness software to unlock their full potential while strategically planning for future growth.”

Empowering Automation with Centralised Software

Warehouse managers globally are increasingly adopting automation to future-proof their operations, yet there remains a vital need for digital solutions - specifically, software tailored to individual businesses. For software to serve as the command centre of any facility, it must align with the unique goals, operations, and growth trajectory of each organisation. SSI Schaefer’s centralised warehouse management software WAMAS® offers full visibility with real-time monitoring of processes, optimising control and configuration.

WAMAS® Software Portfolio

Visitors to SSI Schaefer’s CeMAT Australia booth (Booth #821) can experience the impact of WAMAS® at first hand with the on-site Augmented Reality App. Recognised in the Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Warehouse Management Systems, WAMAS WMS (Warehouse Management Software) delivers a comprehensive logistics software toolbox, elevating the performance of intralogistics. Comprised of perfectly coordinated modules and solutions, WAMAS® can be implemented using a “mix and match” approach to meet specific needs. When new challenges arise, SSI Schaefer’s experts work closely with clients to adapt existing systems for optimal outcomes.

• SSI SCHAEFER implements e-commerce warehouse in Varberg for Sweden’s largest online pharmacy

• Efficient order processing through A-Frames, ergonomic work stations, a shuttle warehouse, an automated small parts warehouse, robotics and WAMAS logistics software

• A flexible system and discrete picking for fast deliveries, best quality, and first-rate service

Apotea is Sweden's largest online pharmacy and accounts for about half of the market share when it comes to e-commerce in the pharmacy market. In 2023, together with the intralogistics expert SSI SCHAEFER, the distribution center in Morgongåva, Sweden, was optimized, doubling its performance. However, demand in e-commerce continues to increase rapidly, and capacities keep getting tighter. In order to be able to process up to 50,000 more orders a day, a new warehouse is being built in Varberg with the target to reduce the delivery times to the southwest of Sweden. SSI SCHAEFER’s highly efficient system will enable Apotea to achieve short cycle times, fast deliveries and an excellent level of service.

The plan is to create a highly automated solution which combines several cutting-edge technologies and can grow alongside the online pharmacy in the future: An SSI Cuby shuttle warehouse with around 87,000 storage locations and an automated small parts warehouse with almost 45,000 storage locations will ensure high availability and throughputs as well as optimum use of space. Automatic picking using A-Frame systems and piece-picking robots will maximize productivity.

For the ergonomic and gentle handling of non-throwable items, Advanced Pick Stations one-level will be integrated – this reduces picking errors to almost zero, and parallel picking into four order bins is possible without any problems. Ergonomic work stations will also ensure efficient processes in goods-in and when checking prescription drugs. Discrete picking allows all orders to be picked directly into the shipping cartons in 4 different sizes, automatically reduced in volume, sealed, labelled, and sent to goods-out. The seamless connection of all areas will be guaranteed through conveying systems.

Apotea also benefits from smooth software processes in the new e-commerce warehouse: At the heart of the system will be the WAMAS Warehouse Control System (WCS) logistics software, which provides optimum support for a wide range of picking scenarios. Moreover, the WAMAS Control Center can be used to monitor and control all processes – enabling warehouse management at the highest level.

Apotea’s CEO, Pär Svärdson, can hardly wait for the go-live: “We have already been working with SSI SCHAEFER for a long time and are convinced that the new warehouse will also perfectly meet our requirements. The solution was flexibly tailored to our needs. This means we can continue to offer our customers first-rate service in the future and are well prepared for further growth.”

For Apotea, the new warehouse in Varberg is an important forward-looking step and another milestone in the partnership with SSI SCHAEFER. Installation starts in the third quarter of 2024, and the system is planned to start operating in 2025.

• Pharmacy giant opens first warehouse in Italy in Telgate, Bergamo  

• SSI SCHAEFER and Geekplus implement a forward-looking logistics concept in just a few weeks

• Modern e-commerce warehouse with flexible automation options covers over 14,000 m²

Around 3,000 pharmacies, an online platform with more than one million customers per month and over two million items sold per day – the Dr. Max Group is one of Europe’s leading pharmaceutical chains. The company is active in 17 countries and is now continuing their success story: As of February 2024, the new distribution center has been supplying the entire Italian market.

New Markets Need New Solutions

Dr. Max not only sells medication, but also has an enormous selection of health and cosmetic products for their customers, ranging from nutritional supplements to beauty products. This extensive range alone poses major challenges for logistics. But that’s not all: Demand is increasing rapidly in the online shop. In 2023, Dr. Max achieved a remarkable 55% year-over-year increase in e-commerce revenue.
 

With the aim to ensure the fastest possible delivery to end customers throughout Italy – either via home delivery or via click-and-collect pickup in pharmacies – and in order to meet the diverse requirements, Dr. Max decided to build a warehouse in Telgate specializing in pharmaceutical and cosmetics e-commerce fulfillment. This should not only ensure efficient processes and a seamless supply chain, but also pave the way for future growth: With the acquisition of Neo Apotek SpA, the number of pharmacies that Dr. Max supplies in Italy has grown to over 210 branches. With the help of future expansions, the new warehouse will gradually handle pharmacy deliveries in addition to e-commerce orders.

A project for which the pharmaceutical retailer turned to two of the world’s largest and most experienced intralogistics experts.

Together Toward Success

Dr. Max chose SSI SCHAEFER as the general contractor and Geekplus as robot technology partner, combining maximum logistics expertise in the new warehouse in Italy to create a unique, high-level solution. In this way, even the sheer quantity of items with different order patterns for multiple channels can be stored, picked and dispatched smoothly. The shortest lead times guarantee fast delivery, sometimes even on the same day.

From automatic order start and picking directly into cartons to automated shipping preparation, including volume reduction and carton sealing, the integration of a wide range of components meets all the requirements of high-performance e-commerce fulfillment. This overall concept has not only convinced Dr. Max in Italy – SSI SCHAEFER and Geekplus have already implemented their smart logistics solution in several of the pharmaceutical chain’s European sites to the customer’s complete satisfaction.

Dr. Max’s Miguel Martins da Silva, Group Chief Supply Chain Officer, is impressed: “We needed a warehouse that could both handle the increasing quantity of online orders, but also keep up with our growth on the Italian market. SSI SCHAEFER and Geekplus’ holistic solution enables us to do just that – it is scalable, innovative, and flexible.”

Single-Source Solution: SSI SCHAEFER’s Smart Logistics Concept

As a leading global solution provider for all areas of intralogistics, SSI SCHAEFER is also a specialist in the field of individual warehouse automation. Thanks to this expertise, a customized end-to-end concept was developed for Dr. Max and implemented in practice within a matter of weeks. In addition to pallet racks, conveying systems, handling systems and other hardware, the software for controlling all components and processes in the new warehouse also comes from the intralogistics expert.

SSI SCHAEFER’s integrated warehouse management system (WMS) effectively supports Dr. Max in the optimization of complex logistics activities. Among other things, it enables real-time control, the automation of repetitive processes and more efficient transport routes through the dynamic management of storage location allocations. The result: Fewer errors, a better use of resources and significantly higher productivity overall.

“It is important to us to flexibly tailor our solutions to the requirements of our customers. Thanks to the cooperation with Geekplus, we were able to implement a sustainable concept for Dr. Max that sets industry-wide standards and can be flexibly implemented at other sites,” says Oleg Rak, Project Manager, SSI SCHAEFER.

Efficient Picking Using Geekplus Mobile Robots

The Tote-to-Person solution from Geekplus, the global leader in autonomous mobile robot (AMR) technologies, combines a shuttle robot achieving 8 meters height for double-deep container storage for maximum use of vertical storage space with a fulfillment robot for fast order processing based on the tote-to-person principle at the Telgate site. “This warehouse is a good example of how we can grow with our customers. We have offered our wide and comprehensive portfolio of mobile robots and expanded it with additional solution elements according to the customer requirements. The combination of our robots with SSI SCHAEFER’s components offers Dr. Max a variety of possibilities. Should the requirements change, the system can be customized at any time,” explains Wayne Tai, Channel Partner Manager for EMEA, Geekplus.

Step by Step to Omnichannel Fulfillment

With a seamless network of pharmacies, Dr. Max aims to reliably supply their customers with a wide range of medicines and cosmetic products, both online and in stores. In Italy – and beyond. The logistics solution from SSI SCHAEFER and Geekplus implemented in Telgate provides the perfect foundation for this and has already been successfully established at several Dr. Max sites in Europe. The cooperation will also continue in the newly opened Italian warehouse: Shortly after the system went live, additional automation steps and future expansions are already being planned.

Images: © Dr. Max

The innovative SSI Piece Picking solution, for efficient fully automated single-piece picking, impressed at this year’s IFOY Award (International Intralogistics and Forklift Truck of the Year Award), securing first place in the “Stationary Robots” category. The coveted IFOY Award was formally presented during the IFOY Award Night on June 14, 2024, at the Congress Center Baden near Vienna.

The IFOY Award honors the best intralogistics solutions of the year. Providers could submit their products and system solutions online, in six different categories. The products and solutions nominated for the finals were subjected to various tests during the IFOY Test Days on April 10 and 11, 2024, including the IFOY test protocol, with around 80 criteria, and the scientific IFOY Innovation Check. A total of 26 jury members from different nations evaluated the test results. The winners were announced on June 14, 2024, during the IFOY Award Night in Baden near Vienna.

“We are particularly pleased and proud of receiving the IFOY Award. This award confirms our efforts in our innovative approach, as well as the sustainability and future viability of our concept in the market comparison,” said Mauro Lunardelli, Head of Business Unit Logistics Solutions at SSI SCHAEFER. “The award encourages us to continuously develop our Piece Picking solution to assist relieve workers and make order processing more efficient and secure.”

The award-winning SSI Piece Picking solution is a joint development by SSI SCHAEFER and the robotics specialist and subsidiary RO-BER. It features AI-based object recognition and innovative gripper technology. The use of compact suction cups instead of finger-shaped grippers allows for fast and gentle handling of small parts. With the help of machine learning, the system continuously improves and builds a comprehensive knowledge database. The pick & place method ensures particularly gentle handling, achieving optimal utilization of storage space. The compact design of the cell allows for easy transport in a shipping container. WAMAS Piece Picking, as part of the WAMAS portfolio, provides efficient material flow control and seamless integration into existing WMS systems without extensive TeachIn processes.

SSI Piece Picking demonstrates its versatility not only in e-commerce, but also in industry and with third-party logistics providers (3PL). Particularly in healthcare and cosmetics, the solution stands out for having optimal, gentle, and error-free picking.

© IFOY / Tim Walker

The innovative robotics solution SSI Piece Picking was awarded the IFOY Award in the "Stationary Robots" category. Representatives of the company and its subsidiary RO-BER accepted the award from presenter Alexander Klacska in Baden near Vienna.

Features f.l.t.r.:
Markus Jammernegg, Head of Modules, SSI SCHAEFER
Elmar Stöve, Managing Director, RO-BER
Alexander Klacska, Chariman of the Federal Transport and Traffic Division, Austrian Economic Chambers

Recognized for its significant contributions to the advancement of intralogistics and automated warehouses, SSI SCHAEFER was awarded the prestigious LogiSYM Awards 2024 as the Best Warehouse Automation Company. The award ceremony, held at the Singapore Expo on May 16, 2024, spotlighted SSI SCHAEFER’s groundbreaking innovation in facilitating Nahdi Medical Company’s construction of IMDAD Distribution Center in Jeddah - the first semi-automated pharmaceutical distribution center in the Middle East.

Bob Gill, Chairman of the LogiSYM Awards Judging Panel, presented the 2024 Best Warehouse Automation Company Award to Carsten Spiegelberg, Managing Director at SSI SCHAEFER for Middle East & Africa (f.l.t.r.).

As SSI SCHAEFER celebrates its 40th year in APAC MEA, the company has received various awards throughout its journey as a testament of its dedication. Delighted to receive the award, Carsten Spiegelberg, Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa at SSI SCHAEFER, said, "It is a great honour to receive this prestigious award, which marks a significant milestone in our 40-year journey of innovation and excellence. This recognition not only underscores our commitment to advancing intralogistics and warehouse automation, but also celebrates our successful partnership with Nahdi Medical Company. This award motivates us to continually push the boundaries of our capabilities to ensure that we consistently deliver exceptional service and innovative solutions to our customers.”

The award not only celebrates SSI SCHAEFER's accomplishments, but also the two-year partnership with Nahdi Medical Company to build the 250,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility that has set new standards for the industry. IMDAD Distribution Center is an example of innovation with its semi- automated order fulfilment systems, comprehensive data analytics, real-time inventory tracking and temperature-controlled logistics. Notably, the facility has achieved a 98.5% increase in warehouse efficiency since its inception, significantly increasing capacity and competitive advantage in the region. Its robust infrastructure supports a maximum daily picking capacity of 100,000 items and manages over 5,500 shipping totes, effectively handling the surge in online orders.

Yasir A. Jamal, Chief Supply Chain Officer at Nahdi, remarked, "We are deeply honored to receive this award, which stands as a testament to our unwavering commitment to innovation and excellence as a leading Saudi company in the healthcare industry. This success is due to innovative and industry leading strategic core capabilities, which include technical capabilities and robust supply chain management, supported by our dedicated team and valued partners, including SSI SCHAEFER, which has been instrumental, from design to implementation and beyond, ensuring not only the efficient handling of quantities but also the highest quality of service we deliver to our Guests, adding beats to their lives."

Now in its 6th year, the LogiSYM Awards recognize outstanding achievements within the supply chain and logistics industry. The rigorous selection process, managed by an 11-person judging panel, involves evaluating nominees based on their innovation, productivity, efficiency benefits, and contributions to safety and ergonomics. SSI SCHAEFER’s triumph in this competitive category underscores its longstanding commitment to expanding the frontiers of warehouse automation.

• Expanding competencies in digitalization and technology with innovation start-up

• SupplyBrain GmbH provides data-based solutions in the very shortest delivery time

• Optimizing logistics processes, maintenance and energy consumption

Neunkirchen/Germany, Graz/Austria – In day-to-day logistics, companies are confronted with numerous challenges to which they must respond quickly and efficiently to avoid additional costs. The services of the recently founded innovation start-up SupplyBrain, part of the SSI SCHAEFER Group, strike a chord with countless logistics companies. SupplyBrain provides data-based software solutions that complement the company’s logistics software to optimize the core areas of the supply chain, increase efficiency and reduce operating costs.

In order to optimize the supply chain, SupplyBrain offers market-ready products with different approaches. A digital twin enables the companies to simulate alternative solutions and quickly determine the most efficient variant if, for instance, picking staff is absent due to illness or order structures change considerably due to varying market conditions. Another service component is the optimization of the maintenance strategy towards predictive maintenance. An AI-supported analysis of the utilization data determines the optimum maintenance window for the system components. Increasing energy efficiency is also part of the services offered by SupplyBrain. The optimized use of components is particularly important with regard to rising energy prices.

By founding SupplyBrain GmbH, SSI SCHAEFER invests in the expansion of their technology and digitalization expertise in the field of intralogistics. The start-up, led by Managing Director Mario Traar, consists of about 10 employees and is based in Graz, Austria, close to SSI SCHAEFER. Peter Edelmann, CEO of the SSI SCHAEFER Group, states: “We are excited that we act as a start-up incubator for SupplyBrain and thus expand SSI SCHAEFER's service portfolio to include rapidly available digital products and services. Systematic optimization of all processes and components strengthens the competitiveness of our customers and is an important step towards Intralogistics 4.0.”

SupplyBrain stands for the intelligent use of all the data which is accumulated in large quantities in the warehouse and often not used sufficiently as a basis for decision-making. The customers benefit from products and services that can be integrated smoothly into the company’s existing software. In addition to intralogistics software, SupplyBrain's solutions tap into artificial intelligence, simulation algorithms and real-time analysis of processes to provide a solid basis for short-term decisions for optimization in different areas.

Mario Traar, Managing Director of SupplyBrain, sees great potential in this area: “The future of logistics will not be constant expansion and coexistence of different systems, but rather the consistent networking and seamless integration of additional solutions. The products and solutions offered by SupplyBrain perfectly complement existing logistics software, such as WAMAS software by SSI SCHAEFER or SAP solutions.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

© Hermann Rupp

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Global intralogistics brand shares tips for 3PL providers and suppliers in the Middle East to prepare for surging orders, including:

1. Thoroughly and comprehensively evaluate facilities and materials flows

2. Leverage automation, real-time inventory tracking, and data analytics

3. Prepare dedicated processes for effective returns management

Before White Friday 2023 starts on November 24, SSI Schaefer, a global leader in intralogistics and automated warehouses, is sharing essential strategies and solutions for Middle East-based suppliers to overcome common challenges and capitalize on the region’s largest E-commerce event of the year.

Under the strain of high E-commerce customer demand during White Friday, breakdowns and bottlenecks in fulfillment capabilities often come to light, ultimately impacting consumers by causing delays and delivery of incorrect or damaged products.

Key logistics challenges on White Friday

• Unpredictability of demand: Both overestimating and underestimating demand often occur, resulting in overstocking and stockouts, respectively.

• Delivery time limits: Customers are becoming increasingly used to having the option for express and even same-day delivery.

• Inefficient warehouse infrastructure and processes: Facilities not designed for high-volume processing result in inaccuracies and delays.

• Scaling up staffing: Insufficient workforce and shift coverage increases fulfillment times and error rates.

• Returns management: As generous returns policies become standard, high volumes of returned goods must be efficiently vetted, processed, and restocked.

Solutions for suppliers

1. Evaluate all angles of facilities and processes

With all the intricacies of E-commerce fulfillment — across receiving, picking, storing, packing, and shipping — a comprehensive look at warehouse design and material flows allows suppliers to fully understand and take corrective action to:

• Solve bottlenecks

• Ensure system performance can realistically match actual demand

• Maximize storage density

• Maximize process efficiency

To successfully harness peak seasons like White Friday, SSI Schaefer often utilizes its extensive intralogistics expertise to help customers in these areas — by attaining a full understanding of their business and volumes, collecting data, observing operations, pinpointing bottlenecks, and then providing fit-to-purpose solutions.

2. Leverage warehouse automation, real-time inventory tracking and data analytics

Intelligent automation solutions, such as automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS) and conveyor systems, future-proof warehouses and greatly boost order fulfillment speed and accuracy, ensuring facilities are prepared for surges in demand and future expansion.

Also essential to handling fluctuating demand, digital solutions such as SSI Schaefer’s WAMAS® end-to-end software provide:

• Real-time inventory tracking for full visibility and control over warehouse operations

• Data analytics and predictive algorithms to analyze historical data, identify patterns, forecast demand, and plan inventory levels with greater precision

3. Establish dedicated processes for effective returns management

Processing high volumes of returns requires additional measures, including:

• Dedicated returns sorting systems: Specialized sorting through conveyors, robots, and barcode or RFID-based systems enable efficient categorization and processing.

• Efficient re-stocking process: Once goods are approved to sell again, they must be quickly returned to inventory for resale.

• Multi-channel returns handling: For suppliers who sell through different sales channels, it is necessary to have a centralized system capable of handling each.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Transformation process is moving forward: focus on innovation and sustainability

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

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

Further Information:

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

Martin Gerdtsson

Spare Parts Manager at Swedish Agro Machinery in Skurup

Martin Gerdtsson

Spare Parts Manager at Swedish Agro Machinery in Skurup

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

Material flow supported by the new solution

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cantilever racks provide space for storing long and bulky goods.

• 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)

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.

• New event format from SSI SCHAEFER highlights the key role of software in intralogistics

• Continuously expanding software know-how for innovative customer solutions

Automation in combination with the right software is the key to optimizing warehouse logistics. However, linking the two coherently and efficiently requires expertise that needs to be continuously developed. That is why 70 SSI SCHAEFER experts from around the world came together at the Austrian software headquarters in Friesach near Graz to combine their software expertise and exchange ideas in extensive discussions on development and the future.

WAMAS® - Software that connects and moves

In the face of ever more demanding markets and customer requirements, companies and their logistics need to be dynamic and adaptable to remain competitive and be able to implement new, profitable business models. In this context, SSI SCHAEFER’s logistics software WAMAS® serves as the pacemaker of modern intralogistics systems and processes where one cog runs smoothly into another. “WAMAS has been driven by the competence of our 1,100 software experts for almost 30 years and proven by worldwide successes,” states Martin Frischenschlager, Vice President of Product Line Software. “We have established close partnerships with many of our customers for years, often decades. It is this success that drives us to look ahead together and become even better."

Forging ideas and securing customer success together, sustainably

With the new format “Software Summit”, SSI SCHAEFER is further expanding its associated commitment. 70 employees from Spain, Italy, Denmark, Brazil, Mexico, and the USA followed the invitation to Friesach. Under the motto “connect-exchange-evolve”, the speakers at the Software Summit provided insights into best practice cases, new strategies, and forward-oriented solutions. “"Right now, it is enormously important that we again create an intensive, personal exchange across national borders. With this event, which will be held annually from now on, we want to foster cooperation between the global divisions, sharpen common goals and expectations, and discuss key aspects of our software strategy,” explains Martin Frischenschlager. “We have a unique team of employees from the areas of software development, consulting, product management and project implementation with an enormous amount of know-how. You can feel the positive spirit and the drive - and that is exactly what we need to offer our customers the best solutions. Today and in the future.”

Cross-divisional thinking and acting as a driver for innovation

For customers to achieve their return on investment in the shortest possible time, it is SSI SCHAEFER’s task to provide and implement future-oriented software technology that, in addition to the required performance and efficiency, also ensures the longevity of a chosen warehouse logistics solution. Regular WAMAS product releases contribute to this, incorporating the results of a constant exchange among experts - from product development to sales and implementation.

The focus is on two main topics:

• Increased modularization and standardization of the software - enhanced by maximum flexibility and the possibility of  customized adaptation to individual business processes.

• Increased digitization and connectivity along the supply chain to be able to control complex automated processes optimally using real-time analysis, smart data processing and optimization algorithms, and to ensure seamless transparency.

Consequently, WAMAS is much more than a warehouse software. WAMAS links all performance modules of an intralogistics system to a process-safe and at any time scalable overall solution without media discontinuity. At the same time, WAMAS offers numerous options for flexible, tailor-made customizing. Furthermore, the end-to-end transparency gained is more important today than ever to make companies' intralogistics more resilient and agile, also thanks to intelligent features.  

The Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics (IML) has successfully validated SSI SCHAEFER software in the validation of Warehouse Management System (WMS) solutions. With the help of the manufacturer-independent "WMS Online Selection", Fraunhofer IML supports companies in selecting the optimal suitable WMS and provider. The validation signet once again confirms the quality of SSI SCHAEFER software solutions.

The platform warehouse-logistics.com, operated by Fraunhofer IML, has been one of the best-known portals for Warehouse Management Systems worldwide for more than 20 years. Since 2020, the original "WMS Database" has become a cross-system "Logistics IT Database" by adding further logistics IT systems. The functional comparison of more than 90 logistics IT systems, free market studies and publications as well as the full range of consulting services in the field of logistics IT make warehouse-logistics.com a holistic information platform about software for logistics.

WAMAS WMS in the top field

In the run-up to the validation, the experts of "Warehouse Logistics" checked more than 3,700 requirement criteria. The success certifies that the standardized logistics software WAMAS, developed in-house by SSI SCHAEFER, has the highest breadth and depth of functionality as well as proven stability and performance as the cornerstone for seamlessly interlocking processes and highest throughputs in modern, efficiently organized warehouses. The results of the qualification round published in August 2021 can be found online at https://www.warehouse-logistics.com/57/3/11917/news.html.

"The provision of the validation signet and the presence in the logistics IT database of the portal is the confirmation of a renowned and globally recognized authority that our WMS solutions for modern warehouse management demonstrably meet the highest requirements," says Notker Steigerwald, Head of Business Unit Logistics Solutions at SSI SCHAEFER.

SSI SCHAEFER believes, after being recognized in the Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Warehouse Management Systems[1] by Gartner, Inc., in July 2021, the validation of WAMAS by the experts of "Warehouse Logistics" is once again an official seal of approval for SSI SCHAEFER's high-performance logistics software.

With more than 1,100 employees in the Software Solutions division, the SSI SCHAEFER Group with a total of 10,500 employees is a market partner that knows the requirements of modern material handling from hardware to software and translates them into sustainable solutions for its cross-industry customers.

[1] Gartner, Magic Quadrant for Warehouse Management Systems, Simon Tunstall, Dwight Klappich, 30 June 2021.

Gartner disclaimer:

Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with high ratings or other attributes. Gartner publications reflect the views only of the Gartner research organization and should not be relied upon as factual. Gartner disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to this research including fitness or suitability for a particular purpose.

GARTNER and MAGIC QUADRANT are registered trademark and service mark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and are used herein with permission. All rights reserved.

• 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

Dangerous substances are in all kinds of products and used across many different industries. Transporting hazardous goods in a warehouse, either for further processing or to the customer, poses challenges for logistics. Reusable packaging must protect stored goods and facilitate optimum material flow handling while in compliance and following all regulation and guidelines. The new dangerous goods container by SSI SCHAEFER meets these requirements, combining safety with efficient handling. It receives 1st place in the election for "materialfluss Product of the Year 2021" in the category Containers, Boxes and Pallets.

Hazardous goods refer to substances that pose risks of fire or explosion. For example, in the automotive industry they are found in airbag systems, belt reels, retractors and anchor pretensioners. Such products can be found in every car, truck, and the increasingly popular electric vehicles and must be handled with special care during transportation.

Strict regulations are in place to prevent risks when transporting dangerous goods. Special containers made for this task feature increased stability and a locking mechanism. This feature greatly reduces risks during transportation. This type of packaging is subject to strict regulations and, after thorough and successful testing, are officially approved as suitable containers and marked with a UN label.

The new dangerous goods container, RL-KLT GGV by SSI SCHAEFER, meets the special safety requirements for transporting solid dangerous substances. The dangerous goods container corresponds to the regulations for international transport of hazardous goods on roads according to ADR 6.1.3.1. As a type-tested and approved container for the transport of hazardous goods of packaging groups class II and III, it corresponds among other things to the UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, GHS (Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals). Furthermore, SSI SCHAEFER commissions an additional safety regulation for the approval of the 6(c) Bonfire Test.

The SSI SCHAEFER dangerous goods container is featured with stable walls, flat base, and a removable lid. The main benefit of the lid is the locking mechanism, which features a 4-fold lock with spring. Closing the container is intuitive and saves time, since the attachment of straps or other closures is not required. Furthermore, seals on the lock prevent unauthorized access and manipulation of the transported goods. Stowing of hazardous goods in the container can be easily integrated into an existing manual or automatic processes and does not require any additional effort. “The usability of the lid is quite flexible, with the locking mechanism either in the front or the rear, it makes it truly versatile and particularly easy,” explains Jörg Vicktorius, project manager for dangerous goods packaging at SSI SCHAEFER. “This ensures that hazardous goods don’t fall out of the container or are damaged during transport. Moreover, access to the dangerous goods is restricted due to the locking mechanism.”

The dangerous goods container is available in different heights manufactured with polypropylene, come in an ESD version, and are customizable by attaching labels such as QR or barcodes to the container. It corresponds to standardized European dimensions, which is why it is suitable for stacking on pallets and ensures optimal use of space in the truck. Using individual inserts, such as thermoformed load carriers, the dangerous goods can be centered and fixed in the container to avoid shifting of transported goods. Since the RL-KLT GGV is made of polypropylene, it is reusable and designed for multiple use. Once the container has reached its lifecycle potential, the container is 100% recyclable and is reused to produce new containers.

In the readers' poll for the "materialfluss Product of the Year 2021", the RL-KLT GGV dangerous goods container takes 1st place in the category Containers, Boxes and Pallets. Readers of the logistics magazine materialfluss voted for the products of the year 2021 in eight categories and from 79 nominees by mid-February.

“The new dangerous goods container by SSI SCHAEFER combines safety with optimized and sustainable handling. The RL-KLT GGV was developed to meet the requirements of hazardous goods transportation, and fits smoothly into existing logistics processes,” summarizes Jörg Vicktorius.

Dangerous goods container, RL-KLT GGV by SSI SCHAEFER, meets the special safety requirements for transporting solid dangerous substances.

Individual inserts, such as thermoformed load carriers, center and fix the dangerous goods in the container.

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

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

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

Directly integrated, suitable for varying packaging

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

High-performance automatic picking system for order fulfillment

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

Safety, speed, and efficiency as success factors

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

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

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

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

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

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.

For the first time, the readers of the German trade magazine INDUSTRIAL Production selected the Products of the Year 2023. In the category 'Handling, Assembly and Production', the semi-automated workstation Advanced Pick Station one-level from SSI SCHAEFER convinced and took the 2nd place. With this system, heavy and fragile items can be picked ergonomically. During the award ceremony on March 30, 2023 at Weka Business Medien in Haar, the winners were announced.

From December 2022 to February 2023, the readers of the magazine INDUSTRIAL Production voted for their favorites and decided which innovations would receive the prestigious industry award. A total of 40 products and solutions were selected in six categories. The award-winning products are characterized either by technical features, market success in 2022, or the fact that the solution has influenced the industry to a significant degree.

The winners were announced on March 30, 2023, during the award ceremony at Weka Business Medien in Haar. "We are very pleased to receive the award 'Product of the Year 2023' in the category 'Handling, Assembly and Production' and would like to thank the readers of INDUSTRIAL Production for their votes and trust," said Peter Lambrecht, Global Head of Sales Logistics Solutions at SSI SCHAEFER. "With our semi-automatic workstation Advanced Pick Station one-level, we offer the ideal solution for ergonomic handling of non-throwable, heavy or fragile items in containers or cartons according to the goods-to-person principle. With parallel picking in four order totes, this can achieve a picking performance of 800 picks per hour."

With the Advanced Pick Station, SSI SCHAEFER pursues the goal of creating 'feel-good workplaces' so that employees can pick extremely efficiently and with high quality. "To meet this goal, we are implementing a special picking station as part of the ergonomics@work!^® program that enables employees to perform at their best and significantly improves ergonomics at the workplace. Motion processes such as lifting and carrying are supported by ergonomic pulling and pushing, and workflows and heights are optimized," explains Michael Steingruber, Global Head of Product Line Automation at SSI SCHAEFER. "The Institute for Ergonomics & Work Science at the Technical University of Darmstadt (IAD) has examined the ergonomic design of the workstation and confirmed its health-friendly mode of operation."

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.”

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

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

• Optimized processes using ergonomic work stations and connected conveying systems

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

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

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

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

© Rossmann Magyarország Kft.

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

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. 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.

• 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.

Focus on customized packaging for the safe transport of dangerous goods and Li-ion batteries

• Transport solutions for the entire process chain from a single source

• Customized packaging – individual, efficient, safe

• Extended digitalization options and sustainable value

Experts estimate that the demand for lithium-ion batteries will increase from the current 200 gigawatt hours (GWh) per year to more than 2,000 GWh by 2030.¹⁾ Parallel to this development, the need for solutions for the safe handling and transport of the sensitive energy storage devices is growing. Against this backdrop, SSI SCHAEFER Plastics, an independent SSI SCHAEFER Group company, is presenting reusable individual packaging solutions – also known as customized packaging (SP) – for the entire process chain that offers maximum product protection (and is also available with an optional digital lock) at the BATTERY SHOW from May 23 to 25, 2023 in Stuttgart, Germany.

Changing technology demands fast solutions for the supply chain

You can find them everywhere – lithium-ion batteries are used in electric cars and e-bikes, laptops, tablets and smartphones, among other things, but also in power tools. If handled incorrectly, however, the risk potential is high. "The trend towards electric mobility is forcing companies to make rapid changes at the technology level," says Thomas Jettkant, sales manager for customized packaging at SSI SCHAEFER Plastics. "One knock-on effect is the need for quick decisions and forward-looking, efficient solutions that also aim to ensure a high level of safety in battery pack logistics."

Customized load carriers according to GGV (Ordinance on the Transport of Dangerous Goods) and ADR (Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road) 6.1

SSI SCHAEFER Plastics supports this development with specially designed customized packaging that can be adapted to individual conditions and meets the highest requirements for safe handling of rechargeable batteries and their components. This starts with the production of the battery cells and continues to include all handling and transport processes along the supply chain. This packaging is also available in smaller quantities and can therefore undergo initial practical testing. At BATTERY SHOW 2023, the major focus will be on the enhanced KMB series and the RL-KLT GGV dangerous goods container, of which several versions are also available. The volume-reduced KMB small load carriers are certified in line with dangerous goods specifications and make an ideal choice for the safe transport of products and components weighing up to 20 kilograms. Parallel to this, the RL-KLT GGV dangerous goods container is being showcased; it meets the safety requirements for transporting dangerous solids in packaging groups II and III. As a type-tested and approved container for the transport of dangerous goods by road, it also complies with ADR 6.1. and GGVSEB (Ordinance on the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road, Rail and Inland Waterways) regulations.

New opportunities thanks to digitalization and multiple-use system design

Solutions equipped with a digital lock for enhanced protection against tampering and theft are also being presented. Access to these containers is only available to authorized persons who can release the lock via an app on their smartphone. "At the same time, we will be demonstrating in Stuttgart that load carriers made of plastic definitely also meet sustainability criteria," Thomas Jettkant continues. SSI SCHAEFER Plastics manufactures these, for example, from regrind or virgin, recyclable materials. Products such as the reduced-volume KMB container are designed as a multiple-use system, and can be recycled at the end of their service life. "We have always valued an open dialog with experts. In the best case, this results in the joint development of new, constructive approaches to solutions," Thomas Jettkant points out. "There will certainly also be many opportunities at the BATTERY SHOW to discuss, and take an in-depth look at, the entire spectrum of the topic of dangerous materials, taking both the status quo and the future outlook into account. We look forward to welcoming interested parties to our booth, 6-F36, in Stuttgart."

1) https://www.bmwk.de/Redaktion/DE/Dossier/batteriezellfertigung.html

Reduced-volume KMB small load carriers save space during transport and storage and are equipped with highly stable, tear-resistant webbing that prevents accidental opening of the lid.

Designed as a multiple-use system, the KMB container series has been optimized for transporting dangerous goods up to 20 kg and certified as a holistic solution with tear-resistant webbing in line with dangerous goods specifications.

The RL-KLT GGV dangerous goods container, featuring a protective insert for holding batteries, also meets the highest safety requirements. It meets the criteria of packing groups II and III, as well as ADR 6.1 and GGVSEB regulations.

Highly stable, tear-resistant webbing additionally secures the dangerous goods in the RL-KLT GGV container. This ensures that neither the battery nor the textile bag, designed as a fire protection blanket, slip by even a few millimeters.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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