Vanderlande Equips Fressnapf’s Fulfillment Center

Fressnapf expands its network with an automated warehouse for e-commerce processing. To further develop its booming e-commerce business, the company recognized a pressing need and decided to build a new fulfillment center in Nörvenich (NRW, District of Düren). The logistics system for the new location is provided by the general contractor Vanderlande.

(Mönchengladbach) The Fressnapf Group is a German retail and franchise company for pet supplies based in Krefeld (DE). With over 2,100 Fressnapf and Maxi Zoo stores in fourteen countries (Germany, Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, Romania, France, Hungary, Poland, Luxembourg, Ireland, Denmark, Belgium, Italy, and Croatia), it is the largest specialty retail chain for pet food and accessories in Europe.

The purpose of the facility is to process e-commerce orders from the pet food and pet accessories segment. This segment consists of a very extensive range of small and large items, the order processing of which makes it sensible to automate. Goods receipt takes place in a narrow aisle pallet rack. From there, pallets are transported to the areas for large and small item picking.

The centerpiece of the automated picking of small items is an AutoStore® system, which has been complemented by a Vanderlande system solution for the combined handling of large and small items.

Through the clever combination of Vanderlande conveyor technology and the integration of a highly dynamic QUICKSTORE HDS shuttle system, a novel automated consolidation process for large and small items is realized, which has previously only been solved manually in similar facilities.

The system solution is based on strict process separation. For example, there are different packing areas for the various product groups, as well as automatic sealing lines with volume reduction and labeling. All cartons are automatically erected and routed to the corresponding area via the conveyor technology. The core element is the proven Vanderlande DOT.M conveyor technology. An energy-efficient Vanderlande POSISORTER is used as a high-performance unit for both package distribution to the sealing lines and in the outgoing goods area.

Furthermore, Vanderlande will supply a WMS based on SAP EWM. The implementation of SAP EWM is thus the final building block in a unified, end-to-end SAP architecture from master data management to material flow control.

Future-proof Automated System

Vanderlande has mapped the most sensible process for Fressnapf and, in collaboration with the Logistics Solutions Integration department of its sister company Toyota Material Handling Germany, developed a future-proof automated system that makes the company more independent and even more efficient due to the reduced personnel requirements and optimized repacking process.

Photo: © Vanderlande