"We are delighted to be working with Witron to deliver the most exciting project in AWG's history," said David Smith, CEO of AWG. "The new automated facility will be a critical component in growing our product line and expanding and optimizing our distribution and logistics services. It will enable AWG and its more than 1,100 cooperative partners to continue to grow for many, many years to come."

55,000 different articles - 460,000 pick units / day

Almost 55,000 different items are stored and picked using the OPM (Order Picking Machinery), AIO (All-in-One-Order Fulfillment) and CPS (Car Picking System) solutions. Witron technology is used in all temperature zones - dry goods, fresh produce and frozen goods. The 81,000^m2 facility with a total of 738,000 pallet, bin and tray storage locations, 92 storage and retrieval machines and 11 kilometers of conveyor technology is designed for a picking capacity of over 460,000 units per day.

18 fully-automated COM machines layer retail units onto pallets in a temperature range from plus 20 to minus 26 degrees Celsius in line with store requirements. Large-volume items are also picked in a wide range of temperature zones in a route-optimized manner using pick-by-voice support from the semi-automated CPS logistics module. An intelligent Witron WMS platform controls both the internal and external supply chain processes "end-to-end". A Witron on-site team is responsible for service, maintenance and system operation, keeping all mechanical elements, components and material flows at a high level of availability around the clock, 365 days a year.

AIO solution makes the piece picking process more flexible

Due to its wide range of small-volume items, AWG opted for Witron's AIO system for its dry goods range - a further development of the DPS (Dynamic Picking System) bin picking system, which has been successful in food retail logistics for many years.

With AIO, both fast-moving and slow-moving items can be compactly stored and picked in the same logistics module. Order consolidation is automated and system-controlled in AIO. The Witron WMS continuously checks the classification of the articles depending on the order structure. If the classification changes (e.g. promotional or seasonal goods), this is recognized by the AIO and automatically adjusted in real time. The use of the same infrastructure (stocks, manpower, mechanics, IT, master data, etc...) is reflected in maximum flexibility and high efficiency for AWG.

"Our industry is constantly changing. It is therefore our job to provide retailers - our cooperative partners - with all the products, services and tools they need to be competitive in all the markets we serve. And at the best possible cost," explains David Smith. "We are delighted that we will be able to make logistics processes even more economical, efficient and sustainable in the future."

"Witron is an established and strong partner that has the necessary expertise and global references to successfully implement a project of this scale. Witron also has a corporate culture that fits in very well with the culture of AWG and its cooperative members," explains David Smith. "Witron convinced us: with innovative ideas, the technology and the people and values behind the company and the project."