Automatic small parts store to speed up processes
Space for 1.4 million pairs of shoes: Elten, a manufacturer of safety and work footware, is expanding and modernising its central warehouse in Uedem on the Lower Rhine in Germany.
With more than 5,000 order lines daily, it had long been clear that logistics would have to change. To expand and upgrade order processing and improve throughput times, Elten already started building an automated small parts warehouse (AS/RS) on the property directly adjacent to the existing building in 2020.
Once in operation, the new hub will be able to centralise all processes. The project has been assigned to automation and software company Fortna. The new mini-load warehouse has a height of 22 m, eight aisles, a floor space of 5,250 sqm and a storage capacity of 143,840 boxes of shoes, inlay soles and laces.
In addition to the enlargement, the warehouse is to be further automated. A new warehouse management system (WMS) was implemented before the actual building began. The automatic small parts storage was connected to the goods entry area as an interface between production and external supply of shoes and shoe components such as shafts.
However, in order to ensure a seamless transition during ongoing operations, the interface will only be connected to the goods issue in the second building stage. The family-owned company Elten, founded in 1910, employs more than 400 people. Its headquarters in Uedem houses includes the office area and logistics, but also the final production of safety and work shoes, which are sold via the online shop ordering system to B2B and B2C customers worldwide. (ben)