SSI Schäfer modernizes distribution center for furniture retailer JYSK in Denmark

The German intralogistics specialist SSI Schäfer is expanding and modernizing the logistics center for the furniture retailer JYSK in Uldum, Denmark. The new center is now the largest dynamic distribution center in Denmark. At the same time, improvements to economic processes have also been implemented.

(Neunkirchen/DE; Uldum/DK) JYSK’s top priority is the availability of products even during peak times and the reduction of error rates. With SSI Schäfer’s holistic concept, these requirements are met with flying colors: Clearly structured, transparent goods flows and fully automated work processes ensure a smooth operation in the logistics center. WAMAS^®, SSI Schäfer’s logistics software, manages and controls all processes involved in intralogistics.

JYSK, known in Germany as “Danish Bed Warehouse,” is one of the leading retail companies for mattresses, furniture, and home accessories with more than 2,800 stores worldwide. To ensure that the diverse products arrive on time at the stores and customers around the world, logistics must function perfectly. With the modernization and expansion of the site in Denmark, JYSK and SSI Schäfer have not only realized the largest dynamic distribution center in the country but also guarantee the economic efficiency of today’s and tomorrow’s processes – with a fourth highly dynamic high-bay warehouse and the tailored logistics software WAMAS.

Long-term partnership

The successful collaboration between JYSK and SSI Schäfer began in 2007 with the first project in Denmark, followed by two more logistics centers in Poland and Sweden. All three are tailored to local requirements and are controlled by the proprietary logistics software WAMAS.

For the project in Uldum, Denmark, SSI Schäfer developed the logistics concept as the general contractor and was responsible for the turnkey construction of the large project, which impresses with its massive dimensions and state-of-the-art equipment. In the first step, three connected high-bay warehouses (each 136 m long, 54 m wide, and 39 m high) were built, along with two coupled automatic small parts warehouses, which feature 2.5 km of pallet conveyor technology and 1.8 km of carton and container conveyor technology.

More transparency, space, and efficiency through expansion and modernization

With the company’s growth and the continuous expansion of the product portfolio, the demands on storage capacities and processes also increased. Since 2019, the site has benefited from the completed modernization and expansion measures – especially from the fourth high-bay warehouse (150 m long x 100 m wide x 43 m high) with an additional 82,000 storage locations and seven more picking workstations. Part of the modernization and expansion measures, such as the expansion of the automatic small parts warehouse, was implemented by SSI Schäfer’s Customer Service & Support Team as a retrofit project during ongoing operations.

The result is one of the largest distribution centers in Denmark with a total capacity of 215,000 pallet and 45,000 shelf storage locations. But it is not only larger but also more efficient – four external warehouses could be centrally merged. The cumbersome, expensive “goods tourism” is thus a thing of the past.

“SSI Schäfer’s holistic concept meets our requirements with flying colors: The intelligent interplay of highly dynamic pallet and small parts warehouses, the ergonomic picking concept, and the logistics software WAMAS make SSI Schäfer’s solution successful,” explains Allan K. Kjærgaard, Executive Vice President Logistics at JYSK.

Intelligently managing growing product variety

A significant challenge is posed by the different sizes and types of products. Especially the oversized packages typical in the furniture trade required a sophisticated solution to handle them efficiently in the distribution center. For this purpose, JYSK uses specially developed BigBox steel pallets, on which particularly large and heavy items can be transported securely. A technical highlight is the 32 energy-efficient Exyz stacker cranes in the four high-bay warehouses, which can either handle two Euro pallets simultaneously or one BigBox pallet, safely storing and retrieving them. In combination with SSI Schäfer’s highly dynamic automatic small parts warehouses, this results in the optimal solution for JYSK. The latter were expanded by six aisles with modern Schäfer Miniload Cranes and 15,000 storage locations.

Ergonomic handling of different products

The planning also focused on the working environment and the well-being of employees. Therefore, the workstations on the picking level are designed according to strict legal requirements in Denmark regarding ergonomics and health protection. In the distribution center, ergonomic picking workstations are used according to the goods-to-person principle, supported by a pick-by-light system and utilizing modern work aids such as vacuum lifters or scissor lift tables. The pallets retrieved from the high-bay warehouse for picking can be raised or lowered at the push of a button to work in a back-friendly, body-conforming posture. With optimally adjusted gripping processes and internal workflows, above-average picking performance is achieved. Another operational feature: By using scissor lift tables, the pallet conveyor technology is located outside the picking area. This allows employees to work without increased noise exposure.

Photo: © SSI Schäfer

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