Dachser Welcomes Over 600 Trainees to Start Their Apprenticeships
Sep 9, 2020 at 4:37 PMKörber Supply Chain Equips Distribution Center for Jysk in Hungary
Sep 10, 2020 at 6:15 PMWitron Logistik + Informatik AG has been commissioned by Metro Inc. to build another distribution center in Terrebonne, Canada (near Montreal). This is the third project that Witron is carrying out for Metro. The center in Terrebonne covers approximately 56,000 m2 and is set to open in 2023.
(Parkstein) All good things come in threes, and these three automation projects are definitely a respectable sign! METRO Inc. and the WITRON Group are expanding their business relationship and jointly building another automated distribution center. After already completing two projects in the Greater Toronto Area, the two companies are now focusing on the province of Quebec and starting the construction of a logistics center in Terrebonne, in the northern suburbs of Montreal. The opening of the 55,742 m² high-tech distribution center is planned for 2023.
Like the other two locations, this new logistics center is part of the METRO network initiative for fresh and frozen foods. WITRON’s OPM system (Order Picking Machinery) is already in use in numerous temperature-controlled distribution centers worldwide. The special feature of this high degree of mechanization (fully automated logistics center with storage, order picking, and palletizing) is that the technology works just as well at double-digit sub-zero temperatures as it does at normal ambient temperatures.
Order Picking Performance of Up to 285,000 Trade Units Per Day
The heart of WITRON’s OPM automation technology is the COM (Case Order Machine). A palletizing machine that forms mixed, very densely and stably packed pallets. This type of pallet formation saves transportation costs and also optimizes the handling of goods in the stores – a true end-to-end supply chain solution. The new warehouse in Terrebonne is equipped with 12 COMs in the fresh area and 9 COMs in the frozen area for an order picking performance of up to 285,000 trade units per day. The complete system can process approximately 6,800 items in the frozen and fresh areas.
“It is truly remarkable that METRO has trusted WITRON technology for the third time since the end of 2017,” says Karl Högen, CEO of WITRON North America. He adds: “We value the great relationship that our two companies have built. We are always looking for more than just a customer – we want to find true business partners and create a win-win relationship for many decades. Our market presence in Canada has grown enormously in recent years, and we are proud to have opened our first office in the Montreal area in 2020. This is another important milestone in our 25-year success story in North America.”
WITRON Logistik + Informatik GmbH
WITRON was founded in 1971 in Parkstein and is a global leader in warehouse automation. As a general contractor, the company is responsible for the complete planning and realization of all IT, control, and mechanical components. In addition, plant service and maintenance are also part of the logistics expert’s service portfolio from Parkstein, which offers service and technical support through an on-site team.
With an annual revenue of over 16 billion US dollars, METRO Inc. is a leader in the food and pharmacy business in Quebec and Ontario. As a retailer, franchisor, distributor, and manufacturer, the company operates and manages a network of approximately 950 grocery stores under various brand names, including Metro, Metro Plus, Super C, and Food Basics, as well as about 650 pharmacies, primarily under the brand names Jean Coutu, Brunet, Metro Pharmacy, and Food Basics Pharmacy, employing nearly 90,000 people. For more information, visit corpo.metro.ca.
Photo: © Witron
