The new CERATIZIT central warehouse
The new logistics center in Kempten, Southern Germany, has 17,000 square meters of space and starts with a capacity of 90,000 containers, 12 picking and 26 packing stations. The next day delivery policy has a success rate of over 99.9%. Around 4,500 shipments are dispatched every day to almost every region in Europe. The innovative warehouse design was planned and implemented by io and offers CERATIZIT a future-proof solution for its growing logistics requirements.
Next day delivery
The company prides itself on its first-class service commitments and promises fast and reliable delivery. Orders received by 7 p.m. are dispatched on the same day – and customers can rely on receiving their orders the next working day. Next day delivery is not confined to Germany either as the nearby Memmingen Airport makes it possible to reach almost all regions in Europe in no time. CERATIZIT needs high-performance and flexible logistics that can take increasing order volumes and growing product ranges in their stride to continue to keep this promise.
From my point of view, working with io is defined by the exceptional expertise of their consultants. io contributes a fresh external perspective, fully bringing their broad industry experience to bear into projects.
Key Facts
Client
The CERATIZIT Group has been developing and manufacturing sophisticated hard material solutions for machining and wear protection for over 100 years. CERATIZIT has a workforce of more than 8,000 at more than 30 production sites around the world.
The challenge
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Rising demand and need for increased storage capacity and flexibility
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A modern and ergonomic working environment for warehouse employees to minimize physical strain and improve motivation
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Preparedness for future growth and the option to expand or adapt the system if required
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Exceptionally high service commitment to clients, which must be guaranteed in future and at all times during the project
Solution
- Modern and efficient logistics center that can absorb increasing demand
- System adaptation to the specific requirements of the carbide range
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Flexible and expandable warehouse layout that enables future growth and the integration of additional locations
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System simulation and testing under authentic conditions to ensure functionality and employee acceptance
The company therefore decided for a completely new building – embracing new technology that enables greater automation and efficiency
Ergonomic design of the workstations
Goods-to-person picking designed for large peaks, pick-by-light and automatic checks
The new building was designed from the outset to be easily enlarged and extended
CERATIZIT’s previous warehouse had reached its limits and could no longer be expanded. The company therefore decided for a completely new building – embracing new technology that enables greater automation and efficiency. CERATIZIT commissioned io for the planning and implementation support of the new logistics center. Their list of specifications, such as the high weight of the carbide products, the ergonomic design of the workstations, integration of additional decentralized warehouses and scalability of the plant to allow for future growth, were all fully catered for.
The result is a customized layout that combines speed and quality with state-of-the-art processes such as goods-to-person picking designed for large peaks, pick-by-light and automatic checks. A conveyor system with a total length of 2.7 kilometers ensures that individual items are transported smoothly and highly efficiently to the individual picking and packing stations.
A successful start
CERATIZIT’s new logistics center went into operation in phases from the beginning of 2022 and has since met the high expectations placed on it. io carried out a comprehensive test and commissioning phase to guarantee a smooth start. This included a logistics trial run replicating a normal working day. All functions and special cases were checked and potential weak points identified and eliminated.
This not only ensured that everything worked as planned from a technical point of view, it also established that warehouse employees were thoroughly trained and familiar with their new surroundings. The new logistics center leaves CERATIZIT well set up for many more successful years. And what’s more: the new building was designed from the outset to be easily enlarged and extended, setting the course for successful business in the future.
