The intralogistics solution automatically stores the items with the help of 85 shuttles, buffers and sequences them and transports them to the initially eight picking stations. An increase in the number of shuttles to 105 units is already planned. Dematic is also installing 440 meters of its Modular Conveyor System (MCS), which links the individual logistics areas within the multi-storey building. Automatic carton erectors also supply the picking stations via connected conveyor lines based on fill level. Intelligent packing pattern software calculates the most efficient packing pattern for each individual order. The system is scheduled to go into operation in September 2022.

"In order to meet the requirements of our customers and our constant growth across all channels, it was necessary to expand the existing structures at the Nortmoor site. With its high degree of automation and compact design, the Dematic Multishuttle system meets our requirements exactly," says Helge-Christian Eilers, Managing Director of Bünting SCM / Logistik GmbH & Co KG and Bünting E-Commerce GmbH & Co KG. Among other things, the company operates a warehouse in Nortmoor to supply its own branches and trading partners with food retail products. "By installing automation technology from Dematic, we expect to optimize productivity, capacity and handling," says Eilers. Dematic cooperated with the consulting company viaLog Logistik Beratung GmbH, a specialist in processes and automation, commissioned by Bünting to design the system.

The warehouse is to be expanded in several stages. The centerpiece is the Dematic Multishuttle with 75,000 bin storage locations, which handles the automatic buffering, storage and sequencing of bins and trays. Thanks to the telescopic load handling device with an eight-finger design, the solution offers flexibility. "The Dematic Multishuttle enables us to sequence goods precisely at high capacity. This makes it ideal for supplying our picking workstations for store-specific goods picking - image documentation and weighing functions reduce the risk of mixed-up or missing items in the goods picking process," adds Eilers. In the next construction phase, the capacity of the warehouse and the number of workstations will be at least doubled. In addition, an increase in the current number of shuttles from 85 to 105 units is planned.

Dematic has installed its in-house conveyor technology, the Modular Conveyor System, to ensure the safe handling of goods across the individual logistics areas within the multi-storey building. Unit loads are transported across floors using a vertical conveyor with a space-saving design. "For us, this project is just the first step towards automation. We are concentrating all our efforts on the opportunities that technology and digitalization offer us, in particular the networking of all systems and the presentation of automated processes," emphasizes Eilers.

Warehouse management and material flow control are mapped using a Dematic software solution. This allows order processing in the supply chain to be adapted to requirements in real time and significantly improved. The Win CC process visualization system developed by Siemens is integrated into the solution to monitor and control the technical processes of the system. The logistics system is operated using programmable logic controllers from the S7 family from Siemens.