First PowerCube from Jungheinrich goes to M. Schönenberger AG

Jungheinrich’s first PowerCube is heading to Switzerland. M. Schönenberger AG has ordered the highly innovative and particularly space-efficient container compact storage system for its location in Mellingen, preparing itself for further growth.

(Hamburg/Mellingen) M. Schönenberger AG, based in Mellingen in the Swiss canton of Aargau, sees itself as a source of inspiration for the market. Now, the company is also proving to be particularly innovative in expanding its intralogistics: The family-owned business will be the first customer for Jungheinrich’s new container compact storage system PowerCube. The automated storage system, which Jungheinrich first presented at LogiMAT 2022, impresses with its unique space utilization, maximum flexibility, strong performance, and easy physical and digital integration into existing warehouses. The Jungheinrich innovation thus sets new standards in the field of vertical storage of small parts and general cargo.

For Schönenberger, the PowerCube is the ideal solution. With the previously manually organized order picking, the company cannot manage its anticipated growth in the coming years. The currently used warehouse has reached its capacity limits and is not expandable, while renting an external warehouse is too costly. The space-efficient Jungheinrich PowerCube with its modular shelving system is therefore exactly the right solution for the Swiss: Thanks to unique space utilization and high storage density, the compact storage system offers space for more than 18,000 containers on just about 400 m².

Highest container compact storage system in its class

Energy-efficient PowerCube shuttles, which move beneath the shelving system, store and retrieve the vertically stacked containers. With a system height of up to 12 m, the PowerCube is the highest container compact storage system in its class. M. Schönenberger AG has ordered its automated container compact storage system with a storage height of 10.4 m. Containers are stacked on 25 storage levels, with each one capable of holding up to 50 kg of load.

The PowerCube shuttles move at a maximum speed of 4 m/s and an acceleration of up to 2 m/s². Each shuttle can simultaneously hold and transport two containers. At Schönenberger’s workstations, up to 130 retrievals for goods-to-person order picking and 20 insertions for stock replenishment can be performed per hour. The outgoing goods for packed cartons are additionally supplemented by a buffer section. Thanks to the scalable number of shuttles, the throughput of the PowerCube can be flexibly increased in response to rising demand or an expansion of the product range. The shuttles are equipped with high-performance lithium-ion batteries, which are charged during operation at the workstations. This ensures that the shuttles are ready for use 24 hours a day without downtime.

Innovative hardware with state-of-the-art software

Jungheinrich combines efficient processes and innovative hardware in the PowerCube using state-of-the-art software. The container compact storage system is connected to the existing IT infrastructure, particularly the ERP system of Schönenberger, and is equipped with the Jungheinrich Warehouse Management System for PowerCube. This system manages the goods receipt, sectoring, and storage of containers in the incoming goods area and controls the picking orders in the outgoing goods area. At the same time, the system organizes inventory corrections, stock holds and releases, as well as inventory process support. With the PowerCube from Jungheinrich, M. Schönenberger AG is adopting an integrated and holistic approach to ultra-compact storage of containers, unlocking new dimensions of efficiency.

Photo: © Jungheinrich