Jungheinrich Expands Warehouse Capacity of GSR in Vlotho

GSR Ventiltechnik stands for 50 years of experience in the development, production, and worldwide distribution of magnetic and pressure-controlled standard and special valves. At its headquarters in Vlotho, North Rhine-Westphalia, the valve technology company has now expanded its automated small parts warehouse (AKL) from 2002 with the help of Jungheinrich to significantly increase its capacity.

(Hamburg/Vlotho) Jungheinrich has enlarged the single-aisle AKL by adding a second aisle in a newly constructed hall. “This project is a very special success for us, as the first AKL solution from 2002 also came from us,” reports Christian Hopf, project manager at Jungheinrich. “Thus, GSR Ventiltechnik has been our automation customer for about 20 years, and we were able to convince them once again.”

Specifically, Jungheinrich delivered an additional aisle including a steel rack structure as part of the redesign of the 26.5 m long, 4.2 m wide, and 8 m high warehouse. The conveyor technology, which can be operated via four goods receiving and picking workstations, as well as two stacker cranes (RBG), is included in the delivery, along with an option for four additional workstations. The control technology in the form of a new Warehouse Management System (WMS) also comes from Jungheinrich.

The AKL enables GSR Ventiltechnik, after the retrofit and through the 4,740 additional storage locations with double-deep storage, to achieve an output of 160 containers per hour. “An additional aisle with RBG and a new, more powerful RBG for the existing aisle – this has more than doubled the performance of the system,” summarizes Hopf the remarkable performance increase for GSR Ventiltechnik.

Installation During Ongoing Operations

Particularly challenging in Vlotho was the connection of the new aisle in the new, directly adjacent building to the existing system next door – all while operations were ongoing. The conveyor technology was designed so that, thanks to a breakthrough in the wall, the existing warehouse can also be accessed. Only after the commissioning of the new aisle was the old system shut down and integrated. The existing picking stations were taken out of operation in the process.

Satisfied with the Collaboration

“The transition from the AKL from 2002 to the new system went smoothly,” assesses Michael Beer, head of technology at GSR Ventiltechnik. “Overall, we are very satisfied with the always cooperative and constructive collaboration with Jungheinrich. Then as now.”

Photo: © Jungheinrich