VCM_092025_LR

PARTNERINFORMATIE

The new logistics center provides more than 700,000 storage locations for wooden and plastic pallets, roll containers, totes, and deep-freeze containers. It is also equipped with more than 200 stacker cranes and 30+ km conveyor technology – all controlled by a multi-functional warehouse management system with open interfaces extending from the WMS to the customer’s supplier systems, route scheduling and sales systems. A WITRON OnSite service team with more than 200 staff members ensures a permanently high availa bility of all components and processes in mul ti-shift operation around the clock – 365 days a year. Recent advancements in tote technology for the deep-freeze sector The numerous different load carriers presen ted a significant challenge, particularly within the frozen food sector. “We also developed a new load carrier along the way,” Raymond Lundmark laughs. A novel tote system for the purpose of cooling frozen goods in e-com merce orders has been developed in colla boration with WITRON. This system utilizes specially insulated totes and frozen lids that serve as cold packs, replacing the conven tional use of dry ice. These lids are pre-coo led in the warehouse for two or three days in special freezing zones and then automa tically placed onto the totes. After delivery, the lids and totes are returned, refrozen, and re-used. “Many e-commerce companies avoid the handling of frozen goods as they do not

goals – high cost-efficiency, high delivery relia bility, best delivery quality, and assortment expansion – can be implemented “end-to end” across the group.” Closely interlinked module mix Back to the logistics center: WITRON implemented a module mix that is closely interlinked: the OPM for classic store deli very, the CPS for large-volume and bulky goods, and the AIO in the small parts warehouse. In addition, a fully automa ted shipping buffer optimizes the entire shipping process in the store on a just in-time basis. A sophisticated solution was also found for preparing e-commerce orders for dispatch. Here, the totes are sor ted and stacked fully automatically by a route sequence buffer immediately after picking, allowing a shipping employee to load them into the respective trailer in a route- and sequence-friendly manner. Depending on the respective distribution channel, deliveries are made using a vari ety of load carriers including store-friendly packed pallets and roll containers, frozen food containers, totes, specially develo ped freezer-compatible delivery boxes, and environmentally friendly paper bags. Innovative algorithms ensure efficient consolidation from the various product and temperature zones for each store or online order, as well as space-saving stac king onto or into the optimal shipping container.

Holger Weiß, WITRON Project Manager: “We have shown what is possible with passion and outstan ding teamwork.”

Same technology and inventory for store and online business The online business has access to the same inventory as the store business. Processes that would have to be handled in two sepa rate sectors and subsequently consolidated with conventional warehouse logistics at great expense are now managed in a single inte grated warehouse logistics system. The result is significant efficiency, performance, and quality increases of the picking and packing processes as well as considerable investment savings. At WITRON, this is referred to as OCM. “OCM stands for the integration of all horizon tal and vertical players in an omni-channel network – encompassing suppliers, logistics centers, transportation, and the various distri bution channels such as stores, home delivery, click+collect, and drives,” explains WITRON CEO Helmut Prieschenk. The objective is to create a high-performance, end-to-end retail logistics network where all nodes communi cate with each other continuously and opti mize each other. “The decisive factor here is that this project was not a pure automation or supply chain project, but a corporate transfor mation project. Consequently, the concepts of parallel worlds and self-sufficient silos are no longer viable options. The current focus is on achieving comprehensive cross-company optimization. Based on this, Axfood’s project

The central element in the dry, fresh, and frozen food sector is the OPM system.

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VALUE CHAIN MANAGEMENT - AUGUSTUS-SEPTEMBER 2025