As general contractor for intralogistics, SSI SCHAEFER provides a new logistics building for Work in Progress Textilhandels GmbH (Carhartt WIP), including a Cuby shuttle system, a compact bin and carton conveying system as well as picking locations with sequencing tower. Furthermore, the existing automated shipping buffer will be extended and connected to the new system technology.

Carhartt WIP supplies 70 of its own retail stores and eleven outlet stores worldwide through an omni-channel strategy from their central logistics center at the company headquarters in Weil am Rhein, Germany. The rapidly growing B2C demand is met by an online shop. In the course of this project, SSI SCHAEFER extends the storage capacity of the Carhartt WIP logistics center and increases the process efficiency of made-to-order production for various distribution channels, thanks to optimized material flows and modern system technology.

SSI SCHAEFER will implement a fully automated 5-aisle Cuby shuttle system with about 35,000 carton storage locations, a pre-zone and a high-speed loop in the add-on building, which exceeds 4,000 m². The dynamic and completely scalable storage system is operated by ten lifts to ensure high performance with a compact design. A potential expansion by three aisles is already considered in the installation layout. To guarantee successful sequencing of source cartons and consistent material supply of the eight connected picking locations, SSI SCHAEFER will install eight sequencing towers with 2 x 23 transfer locations each. An optional expansion by up to four towers for this automation area is already included in the installation layout. The picking locations are equipped with Put to Light technology and integrated into the system concept and material flows.

The new 1.6 km conveying system is set to supply 20 new packing work stations, a semi-automated returns work station and eleven special handling work stations for value-added services (VAS). Additionally, it is connected to the material flows of the already existing system. The existing system will be modified as well: SSI SCHAEFER will extend the 8-aisle miniload by two aisles with 9,800 storage locations. For further process support, SSI SCHAEFER also integrates a wide range of handling systems into the new conveying system, such as automatic carton openers and erectors, tape carton sealers, scanners and label applicators. SSI SCHAEFER implements the warehouse management system WAMAS^® in the WIP logistics center for warehouse management and process control. Material flow structures for B2B shipping remain intact, while SSI SCHAEFER will restructure the material flow for B2C shipping, returns handling and the special handling area (VAS). In doing so, the system technology of B2B shipping is considered and incorporated to a large extent. The go-live date for the entire system is planned for the first quarter of 2020.

• SSI SCHAEFER headquarters in Neunkirchen awarded

• Further milestone within the sustainability strategy

Protecting the environment and climate, reducing operating costs, and optimally preparing one's company for the challenges of the future - this is the basic idea of ÖKOPROFIT, a cooperation project between municipalities, local business and local partners. After a year of intensive testing and consulting by the expert network, the participating companies, including SSI SCHAEFER / Fritz Schäfer GmbH at the Neunkirchen site, received their awards in June.

The intralogistics expert is consistently pushing ahead with its sustainability strategy. Its focus is on the expansion of sustainable intralogistics for customers as well as its own sustainability. Steffen Bersch, CEO of the SSI SCHAEFER Group: "Sustainability, as we understand it, is an interlocking of social commitment, ecology and economic viability. Sustainable management and ecological action ensure the future viability of our company. This holistic approach defines SSI SCHAEFER's sustainability strategy."

The award as an ÖKOPROFIT company now confirms that the company has a practicable and efficient environmental management system at its headquarters in Neunkirchen. The environmental program set up by SSI SCHAEFER includes measures such as reinvesting in an energy-efficient compressor station, replacing diesel-powered forklifts with electric forklifts and switching the energy supply to green electricity.

The SSI SCHAEFER Group's sustainability report will be published shortly, which will provide an overview of the international measures within the sustainability strategy.

On the 24^th of June SSI SCHAEFER’s new Benelux central office in Oosterhout, Netherlands, officially opened its doors to the public. The SSI SCHAEFER Group is the world’s leading provider of modular warehousing and logistics solutions. The new office accommodates employees from multiple departments from both, Belgium and Netherlands, and is the new Hub of SSI SCHAEFER Benelux.

SSI SCHAEFER has been on the Dutch and Belgian market for more than thirty-five years. The next strategic move for the company's development was to open a new modern facility that would serve the needs of the employees and customers of the local branch.

During the official opening, Peter Pompen, Managing Director of Benelux, stated: “We are happy to welcome you all to the new Benelux central office. SSI SCHAEFER has had a long but rewarding journey from a small local branch that opened in 1987 with only a hand full of people to being a home for more than seventy professionals.”

Steffen Bersch, CEO of the SSI SCHAEFER Group, along with senior executives from the global organization and regional offices attended the event to join the celebration and congratulate their colleagues on the new milestone. Steffen Bersch stated: “Creative teamwork is needed to develop modern Intralogistics 4.0 solutions for our customers. With the new offices and the Training & Experience centre, the prerequisites for agile working in a modern corporate culture have been created here in Oosterhout.”

The opening was followed by a tour around the new office and the new customer Training & Experience centre. During this festive ceremony, the audience had a chance to get acquainted with the in-house equipment exhibition and SSI SCHAEFER’s remarkable history facts. The purpose of the experience centre is to enable customers of small and medium-sized enterprises to see, evaluate and even try out SSI SCHAEFER’s products. The test room features smart and conventional storage solutions: PR 600 for pallet storage, R 3000 shelving for cartons and totes and cantilever racking for long or heavy goods. The exhibition also included SSI LOGIMAT® Vertical Lift Module and Automated Guided Vehicle WEASEL®.

SSI SCHAEFER Benelux also thanks the strategic partners who were able to attend the opening.

Daan van Iersel, Warehouse Manager, NSK Europe: "Our company is continuously working on optimising our logistics processes. We have been a customer of SSI SCHAEFER for many years and know the people and the possibilities. It's really great to be able to meet in this setting. With the new office building and the in-house Training & Experience Center, they are showing what they can do and why we are working with them. It's great to see these developments and definitely worth a visit."

In the future, the new Training & Experience centre will be available to interested companies who would like to experience SSI SCHAEFER's products and systems live in a tour.

SSI SCHAEFER will present the storage lift SSI LOGIMAT at the Intertool in Wels, in booth 21-0901, from April 23rd to 26th, 2024. Intertool, Austrias biggest B2B-trade fair of the manufacturing industry, offers a unique platform for the presentation of innovative solutions and technologies alongside the entire supply chain.

The future of production is characterized by innovation and sustainability to strengthen the business location Austria and Europe. Following the trend of "Biological transformation", crucial topics such as globalization, energy efficiency and resource-saving production will be dealt with. Intertool serves as a central network platform for key players of the sector to exchange knowledge and present future-oriented technologies.

The highlight at the booth 21-0901 is the storage lift SSI LOGIMAT, a space-saving and efficient picking solution, which facilitates a scalable way towards automation thanks to simple integration possibilities. This solution by SSI SCHAEFER masters the challenges of small parts storage and offers companies the possibility to save space, to increase the efficiency, to improve ergonomics and to pursue their way towards digitalization successfully.

"The storage lift SSI LOGIMAT is an ideal warehouse solution for small parts regarding most diverse purposes. Our innovative technology enables companies to confront the challenges of modern production and to optimize their warehouse processes sustainably", comments Alfred Spicker, head of the division for dynamic systems at SSI SCHAEFER.

Visitors of the Intertool Wels are invited to stop by at the booth 21-0901 for a live experience of the storage lift SSI LOGIMAT and to learn more about the benefits of this solution.

The storage lift SSI LOGIMAT for an efficient storage of small parts and picking.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Path to Semi-Automation

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

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

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

A Practical Combination of an MRS, AGVs and Software

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

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

Improved Workflow and Continuous Material Flow in 24/7 Operation

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

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

Additional Benefits for Ostendorf

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

Continuing a Successful Project Partnership

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

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

Increasing Efficiency & Saving Space in the Warehouse

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

• Learn all details

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.

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

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

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

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

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

Why did you opt for a central warehouse?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• eCommerce

• Healthcare & cosmetics

• Retail & wholesale

• Industry

• Automotive

Modular vertical lift systems have many different applications:

• Small parts storage

• Item management

• Buffer storage for production

• Order preparation

• Storage and picking of service parts and spare parts

• Storage of unfinished/semi-finished products

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

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

• 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.  

• Mauro Lunardelli takes over from Notker Steigerwald

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

• Climate strategy with reduction goals developed

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

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

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

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.

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

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

Tailored Piece by Piece to the Next Process Steps

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

Use Across Industries

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

Highest Quality Standards Through Patented Technology

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

AI Robotics as a Driver of the Digital Transformation

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

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

• SSI SCHAEFER 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.

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

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

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

Time-saving big bang instead of multi-stage changeover

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

Longstanding partnership allows for an atypical approach

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

Clearly structured quality assurance measures

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

WAMAS at LANDI: Quick, reliable, and uninterrupted

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

• First-time investment by VOG AG in a fully automated pallet high bay warehouse

• More efficient, quicker, and safer fulfillment processes in wholesale logistics

• Ideal solution for combating labor shortages and rising energy costs

• Parallel expansion of conventional warehouse system capacity by SSI SCHAEFER

Facing a crisis in the supply of sugar during the First World War, 21 Upper Austrian food wholesalers decided in 1916 to found VOG AG in Linz as a buying association. Further expansion has been and continues to be driven by the fact that the food industry and its regulation is constantly changing. A willingness to evolve and adapt to new market and customer requirements has therefore been an important factor in the company’s success. VOG is respected for its quality control, product safety, and variety, both for own brand and private label goods as well as items in the non-food sector.

Objective: Performance and efficiency in harmony

As a service company for the retail sector, the traditional Austrian company operates a broad logistical infrastructure network with 12 subsidiaries. Central distribution warehouses for customers throughout central Europe can be found in countries such as Austria, Poland, Czech Republic, and Hungary. All logistics activities throughout the entire group are coordinated by the in-house service provider VOGTRANS Speditions- und Verpackungsgesellschaft mbH. “Having full transparency over all items in stock is becoming increasingly important as the requirements for product traceability continue to grow,” says Matthias Ritzberger, CEO and board member of VOG. Rising operating costs are also forcing a rethink in how resources are used, while stock security – especially during seasonal peaks – is another critical aspect. “In the face of these challenges and in light of the impressive solution concept from SSI SCHAEFER, which was superior to those from other suppliers, we decided in early 2021 to set a course for the future together with SSI SCHAEFER,” explains Matthias Ritzberger.

Impressive needs-based, holistic solution concept

The solution proposed by SSI SCHAEFER included the construction of a new manual warehouse as well as a fully automated pallet high bay warehouse. Both were to be incorporated into and linked up with the existing infrastructure at VOG’s site in Linz as effectively as possible. “The high bay warehouse is our first-ever fully automated system,” says Matthias Ritzberger. The goal was for goods to be staged more quickly and with a minimized error rate, while at the same time having greater resource independence. Other objectives included optimized processes and a higher storage density. “The concept presented by SSI SCHAEFER impressed right from the start,” adds Matthias Ritzberger. “The facts were laid out clearly and the quoted solution was tailored exactly to our needs.”

Flexibility for today and tomorrow guaranteed

“In order to ensure continuous and efficient workflows while also establishing the right basis for future growth, a cautious but steady rollout of automated solutions is advisable,” says Jürgen Ringelmann, project manager at SSI SCHAEFER. “Companies can follow VOG’s example and begin by automating just a few areas to begin with, allowing them to gain initial experiences with the technology before defining their own priorities for the future.” After a construction and installation phase of just two years, the new systems were commissioned on time and as planned at the start of 2023. The pre-zone of the pallet high bay warehouse is connected to an existing hall by a newly integrated, bidirectional conveying system via which goods can be flexibly carried into and out of the warehouse. It is also connected to a dispatch building. The high bay warehouse is primarily used for storing rapeseed oil carrying the “Rapso” own brand label, as well as canned food and wine produced by VOG itself. It has capacity for up to 11,000 pallets in double-deep storage thanks to four energy-efficient SSI Exyz storage-retrieval machines by SSI SCHAEFER. “VOG intentionally opted for an in-house design,” says Jürgen Ringelmann. “This allows the customer to keep all their options open regarding how they will potentially want to use the system in 20 or 30 years’ time.” An extra 11,000 storage locations for pallets have been created in a newly built manual warehouse containing 15 aisles. The rack lines needed were also supplied and installed by SSI SCHAEFER.

WAMAS – Performance targets greatly exceeded with software support

Another first for VOG came in the form of the logistics software WAMAS by SSI SCHAEFER. The WAMAS MFS material flow system continuously controls and optimizes processes in the fully automated pallet high bay warehouse from goods-in to goods-out. Real-time comparison between the WAMAS WCS (warehouse control system) and MFS ensures that orders are always assigned on the basis of where capacity is available in the conveying system and picking areas, allowing last-minute priority orders and peak situations to be effectively managed. “The performance of automated systems is always dependent on the underlying software,” explains Jürgen Ringelmann. With VOG AG in particular, the contractually agreed benchmarks could even be exceeded thanks to the WAMAS WCS. Depending on the order structure, the system is able to handle up to 180 pallets per hour.

Preventive maintenance and short response times in service cases guarantee optimal system protection and continuous performance

Maximum availability over the entire lifetime of the system was a priority of utmost importance for VOG. Thanks to preventive maintenance performed by SSI SCHAEFER service technicians, the system can be operated at a constant high level of performance. If a fault does nevertheless occur, quick and efficient remote support is provided via the hotline. Alternatively assistance can be sought through the SSI Augmented Support solution. SSI Augmented Support is a mobile video communication system through which events can be reported in real time, allowing the technician at VOG AG to begin identifying the problem immediately. If the fault cannot be rectified remotely, trained and certified SSI SCHAEFER service technicians assist on-site to resolve the issue quickly and thus ensure smooth operation of the system.

Greater performance and lower costs achieved as planned

“Our experiences with the automated system in Linz have been overwhelmingly positive ever since it went live,” emphasizes Matthias Ritzberger from VOG. “The system does not have to be run at full capacity round the clock, which saves energy. But thanks to the scalable buffering function created by SSI SCHAEFER, it can be ramped up again in no time to significantly increase its technical performance. This has the advantage that the system is not only capable of handling seasonal peaks, but has the capacity to accommodate future growth as well.” VOG is also operating on a sound basis when it comes to stock management thanks to the software-based continuous inventory, which ensures that replenishment can be ordered in good time. At the same time, it is apparent that the high bay warehouse as a self-contained, high-density storage system can be operated much more energy-efficiently in the medium to long-term than manual warehouse areas with people and forklifts. Part of this is down to the SSI Exyz storage-retrieval machines, which save energy during the lifting movement thanks to a counterweight integrated into the mast. If further investments into logistics systems are being considered at a later time in the VOG Group, the experiences gained with the automated system installed by SSI SCHAEFER will certainly influence the final decision.

VOG AG, an Austrian company rich in tradition, operates a large logistical infrastructure network with 12 subsidiaries.

The high bay warehouse has capacity for up to 11,000 pallets in double-deep storage thanks to four energy-efficient SSI Exyz storage-retrieval machines by SSI SCHAEFER.

The pre-zone of the pallet high bay warehouse is connected to an existing hall by a newly integrated, bidirectional conveying system via which goods can be flexibly carried into and out of the warehouse.

The WAMAS logistics software continuously controls and optimizes processes in the fully automated pallet high bay warehouse from goods-in to goods-out.

Depending on the order structure, the system is able to handle up to 180 pallets per hour.

Matthias Ritzberger, CEO and board member of VOG.

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

• Olaf Hedden takes over from Bruno Krauss as CFO

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

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

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

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

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

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

• SSI SCHAEFER agrees cooperation with Singapore Polytechnic

• Collaborate to promote Advanced Manufacturing Learning Journey (AMLJ)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

Constant Change is the New Stability

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

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

Mats Tornard

Project Manager of Strategic Supply Chain at Coop

Mats Tornard

Project Manager of Strategic Supply Chain at Coop

What has Been Done so far: Installation of the System

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

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

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

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

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

The Large Automation Project is Hard to Miss

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

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

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

Coop and SSI SCHAEFER are Creating More Jobs

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

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

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

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

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

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.”

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.”

• 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.

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

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

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."

• 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

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

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

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

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

How will buying behavior fare in challenging times?

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

Efficient intralogistics for standard and peak times

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

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

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

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

Electrical engineering supplier Fust invests in omnichannel solution

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

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

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

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

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

Conclusion

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

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

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

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

Improved Performance, Even With Space Restrictions

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

A Powerful Combination Keeping Costs and Processes Under Control

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

A Smooth, Software-Supported Interplay

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

WCS for Even Greater Flexibility and Performance

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

One Partner for Planning, Implementation and Support

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Project details:

• Number of RackBots: 24

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

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

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

• Incoming via RackBot Port

Performance:

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

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

Desigual relies on SSI Mobile Robots at Viladecans distribution center.

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

In October 2020, Coop, one of the leading food retailers in Sweden, and SSI SCHAEFER, one of the world’s leading providers of intralogistics products and systems, announced the starting point of their long-term collaboration. In a conversation with Mats Tornard, Project Manager of Strategic Supply Chain at Coop, he talks about the project, its current state, and Coop’s goals for the future. Mats Tornard recapped the story of how and why Coop decided to go from a fully manual warehouse to one of the largest automated distribution centers in the world.

“We have seen many shifts to automation within our industry. The productivity rates reached with the automated operations are impossible to get with the manual goods handling,” shares Mats Tornard, Project Manager of Strategic Supply Chain at Coop.

Thinking about the working environment for the employees, long-term future and continuous efficiency, Coop made the strategic decision to invest in a new highly automated logistics center.

Everything in stock: How the system installed on 77,000 sq.m. will work

Coop's values were clearly communicated at the beginning of the project so that no compromises had to be made. Keeping the main focus on employees and sustainability the retailer considered them in every decision it had to make regarding the new facility. For starters, goods delivery will be linked with the nationwide train network to reduce car use and, as a result, the CO₂ footprint.

Most of the inbound goods will arrive at the new distribution center by train and will be unloaded just outside of the infeed area. The goods receiving zone will be equipped with a conveying system including a NOK station and also a pallet check station to see whether wrapping, positioning and load handling were done correctly. Then the goods will be delivered to the high bay warehouse for storage until they are requested for an order. The pallets then will arrive at the depalletizing station to be divided into individual cases for storing and preparing for later-on commissioning to customer orders.

The 3D-Matrix Solution® by SSI SCHAEFER, which the client calls “picking storage”, is intended to serve as a buffer for cases. The storage locations will be operated by SSI Flexi shuttles, which are responsible for storage loading and retrieval. The needed sequence for palletizing will be automatically pre-determined and controlled via SSI SCHAEFER’s own logistics software WAMAS® depending on the contents of orders, guaranteeing both pallet stability and minimal transport volume. SSI Flexi will then deliver cases to the palletizing station where a palletizing robot will take care of putting the orders together for shipping.

Ready pallets will be delivered to the shipping buffer where all the loads coming to one customer or location will be consolidated awaiting departure. Finally, the trucks will arrive and pallets will be retrieved in loading sequence to the shipping doors.

“Sometimes it is complicated to make things easy, but I believe we managed to create an amazing solution together,” says Mats Tornard.

Where we are now

“Despite all the challenges the pandemic brought to the market, we are happy that we are on schedule with the project realization and have not experienced any delays so far,” comments Mats Tornard. “We have just completed construction of the distribution center. SSI SCHAEFER is now building up the high bay warehouse and the SSI Flexi shuttle racks. At the same time, we are also focused on redesigning our internal processes to benefit the most from the new system.”

Benefits and no doubts

“It is great that both companies see this cooperation as a long-term partnership. We are happy to see that SSI SCHAEFER is always committed to bringing forward their new solutions that were not available earlier at the layouting and designing stages. This proactive and innovative thinking will definitely help us to realize the maximum potential of our distribution center,” says Mats Tornard.

The new facility will help Coop to boost its supply chain performance. Coop will get a great increase in the number of daily shipped orders and more accessible and perfectly scheduled transportation owned to the better railroad connection.

Coop aims at reducing unloading time at the stores by providing customer friendly pallets, delegating palletizing to palletizing robots as part of the SSI Case Picking system. It will add up to the current effort and ensure faster and more solid build-up of the pallets.

One of the key advantages the solution is expected to deliver is a safer and more ergonomic work environment. At the currently operating site, all the processes are done manually, which includes lifting and carrying heavy weights, stretching etc. When the new solution is launched, most of the challenging jobs will be performed by automated equipment that mainly requires monitoring and controlling functions from people. This will enable Coop and its employees to shift the focus from potential health-related concerns to the strategic thinking of what else can be done to improve the outcome.

Sustainable future around the corner

“Sustainability is one of Coop’s core values,” explains Mats Tornard.

And it has been this way for years. For example, 30 years ago the company was the first food chain in Sweden to launch its organic brand, Änglamark. The brand is well-known across Sweden and preserves its initial value - an eco-friendly approach. Thus, in 2020 Änglamark was named Sweden's most sustainable brand by Sustainable Brand Index. This year the award again went to Coop.

Mats Tornard continues: “We always consider environmental and ecological aspects before starting a new project.”

The new solution will also bring more sustainable benefits to the company. By moving cold and ambient storage zones into one facility, Coop will require less transportation and, therefore, will create a less CO₂ footprint.

Coop is already using trains to receive goods because it is more environmentally friendly. For the new distribution center, the train capacity will be twice more than today. Two sets of railroads will run right next to the warehouse to ensure smooth and fast unloading. The trains will be enlarged to the maximum approved length. With this solution, Coop will be able to support the upcoming growing demand without the need of utilizing other vehicles, e.g. trucks.

“Coop is a company of great individuality, sustainable approach and deep care for its employees. SSI SCHAEFER shares the same values. This is one of the reasons behind the prosperous and seamless cooperation between our companies. We are delighted to be a part of such an exciting project,” – concluded Michael Hillström, General Manager of SSI SCHAEFER in Sweden.

• 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

• 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.