Vanderlande implements automated ECom warehouse for Fressnapf

Mönchengladbach, 19.02.2024 - Fressnapf is expanding its network with an automated warehouse for e-commerce fulfilment. The company saw an urgent need to further expand its booming e-commerce business and decided to build a new fulfilment centre in Nörvenich (NRW, Düren district). The logistics system for the new site is being supplied by general contractor Vanderlande.

The Fressnapf Group is a German retail and franchise company for pet supplies based in Krefeld (DE). With over 2,100 Fressnapf and Maxi Zoo stores in fourteen countries (Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, Romania, France, Hungary, Poland, Luxembourg, Ireland, Denmark, Belgium, Italy and Croatia), it is the largest chain of specialised pet food and accessories stores in Europe.

Challenges of the project

The purpose of the system is to process e-commerce orders from the pet food and pet accessories segment. This segment consists of a very extensive range of small and large articles whose order processing needs to be automated in a sensible way. Goods are received in a narrow-aisle pallet rack. From there, pallets are transferred to the large parts and small parts picking areas.

The centrepiece of the automated picking of small parts is an AutoStore® system, which has been supplemented by a Vanderlande system solution for the combined handling of large and small parts.

Through the skilful combination of Vanderlande conveyor technology and the integration of a highly dynamic QUICKSTORE HDS shuttle system, a new type of automated consolidation process for large and small parts has been realised, which was previously only achieved manually in similar systems.

The system solution is based on strict process separation. For example, there are different packing areas for the different article groups as well as automatic closing lines with volume reduction and labelling. All cartons are automatically erected and routed to the appropriate area via the conveyor system. The core element is the proven Vanderlande DOT.M conveyor technology. An energy-efficient Vanderlande POSISORTER will be used as a high-performance unit both for parcel distribution to the seamer lines and in the outgoing goods area.

Vanderlande will also supply a WMS based on SAP EWM. The introduction of SAP EWM is therefore the final building block in a standardised, integrated SAP architecture from master data management to material flow control.

Conclusion

Vanderlande has mapped the most sensible process for Fressnapf and, in cooperation with the Logistics Solutions Integration department of its sister company Toyota Material Handling Germany, has developed a future-proof automated system that makes the company both more independent and even more efficient thanks to the reduced personnel requirements and the optimised repacking process.