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Jun 12, 2020 at 6:50 AMProactive Visibility in Supply Chain is Becoming More Important
Jun 12, 2020 at 9:15 AMShop Apotheke Europe, one of the leading online pharmacies in Europe, has commissioned SSI Schäfer to equip its new logistics center in Sevenum, Netherlands. The highly automated solution can increase the shipping volume to more than 35 million packages per year. The investment volume is in the mid double-digit million range.
(Neunkirchen/Sevenum) From the existing warehouse in Venlo, SHOP APOTHEKE EUROPE currently supplies over 5 million active customers in Germany, Austria, France, Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. The product range includes more than 100,000 over-the-counter and prescription medications, dietary supplements, as well as beauty and personal care products. The new logistics center is intended to create the conditions to meet the continuously growing demand. “Our customers can expect an even larger selection of products while simultaneously accelerating the supply of medications,” says Theresa Holler, Chief Pharmacist and COO at Shop Apotheke Europe.
Challenges tackled cooperatively
In the course of the intralogistics project planning, SSI SCHÄFER worked closely with the responsible parties of the online pharmacy and Miebach Consulting. The experts from Miebach Consulting have been supporting SHOP APOTHEKE EUROPE since 2018 and were already tasked with the concept/detail planning and tendering, and are now also overseeing the implementation.
“For SSI Schäfer, this project is another important step in expanding our business in healthcare e-commerce,” emphasizes Klaus Murko, Vice President Healthcare & Cosmetics at SSI SCHÄFER. “And with Shop Apotheke Europe, we have a top partner to embark on a successful future together.”
A maximum degree of flexibility, sufficient options for future expansions, and a throughput performance tailored to needs were requirements that the new logistics facility had to meet. “In terms of patient safety, maximum process reliability is, of course, primarily relevant to us,” adds Theresa Holler. The focus was also on ergonomics, which was particularly taken into account in the design of the workplaces in the goods receiving area, where delivered goods need to be repacked into special containers.
High performance density under one roof
In the automatic small parts warehouse (AKL), SSI Miniload 1-mast devices designed for double-deep storage and SSI Miniload 2-mast devices for single-deep storage will be operated. Additionally, a shuttle system SSI Cuby will be introduced, which functions as an order buffer. Shuttle vehicles service the storage locations and will complete 800 double cycles per aisle per hour. The high-performance shuttle system occupies relatively little space and can be flexibly expanded at any time if needed. Modularity combined with efficient space utilization and high piece performance also characterizes the A-Frames. The picking machines enable rapid processing of complex orders, even during peak loads.
Furthermore, put-to-light workstations and workplaces for single-order sorting and assembling large-volume orders will be set up. The delivery and service scope from SSI Schäfer also includes around 10 km of carton and container conveyor technology, including cross-belt sorters, a stage extending over 11,000 m², shelf and pallet racks, as well as various handling systems that effectively support shipping preparation. SSI Schäfer also supplies the necessary containers from a single source. The logistics software WAMAS® ensures the coordination of material flow movements.
The installation of the intralogistics components began in spring 2020. The go-live of the overall system is planned for early 2021.
Photo: © SSI Schäfer
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