Frozen storage: 133 types of fresh fish 'picked up' with Still

The Dutch fish trader Schmidt Zeevis, a company with almost a century of tradition, has moved from the outskirts of Rotterdam city center to a new building in the Spaanse Polder business park between Rotterdam and Schiedam. With the new building, the company has increased its operating space from 3,000 to 8,500 square meters.

The new deep-freeze warehouse is located in the middle of the building complex, with the filleting department and sales area at the front and the loading and unloading zones at the rear.

The total area of 14,000 square meters at the rear of the site is urgently needed and is well utilized, as Schmidt Zeevis, with bases in North Limburg and Zwolle, supplies commercial and private customers daily with its total of 20 small and medium-sized refrigerated trucks. The range includes 133 different types of fish.

Fresh fish not just for cruise ships

"Schmidt Zeevis has always been a mix of wholesale and retail, and that won't change here either. Because now our customers also include the users of the business park," says Logistics Manager Kees Groenenboom. Schmidt Zeevis' most important business is wholesale: "We supply the hotel and catering industry, restaurant wholesalers in the Netherlands and border regions as well as ship traders and cruise ships in European ports," Groenenboom continues. "We also ship fish as air freight to customers in the Middle East."

The company also supplies private individuals, whereby fish ordered in the webshop before 12.00 noon is delivered on the same day within a specified time window. The new, in-house deep-freeze warehouse is of central importance for these diverse business and delivery activities. With its six aisles and five storage levels, it offers 800 pallet spaces. For Schmidt Zeevis, the new deep-freeze warehouse is a huge improvement on the previous location. At the old location, a cold storage cell was installed in every available room - with all the associated disadvantages, such as longer and longer distances.

Equipment quality and good service are crucial when choosing a forklift truck

As Groenenboom explains, Schmidt Zeevis carefully considered the optimal use of the deep-freeze warehouse in advance, "because it is an expensive space that needs to be used to the maximum." To operate the 800 pallet spaces in the deep-freeze warehouse, Schmidt Zeevis opted for an MX-X narrow-aisle forklift from Still, which is equipped with a fully insulated deep-freeze cabin for deep-freeze storage down to minus 30 °C. "We also looked at equipment from other manufacturers," says Groenenboom, "but there were a number of good reasons for choosing Still. We have had a good business relationship with Still for many years. They also have a branch near Rotterdam. The motto there is 'Just call and we'll come'. This provides security when needed, especially as the device is indispensable for daily operations.

Longer shift with one battery charge

The MX-X narrow-aisle and order picking truck is equipped with a swivel push fork and can be adapted to any warehouse thanks to its high level of modularity. The Optispeed concept, together with the three-phase AC technology, stands for high dynamics with increased handling performance, low energy consumption and low operating costs. Together with energy recovery during braking and main lift lowering, this enables longer work shifts per battery charge.

"You have to make maximum use of the expensive space in a deep-freeze warehouse." Kees Groenenboom, Logistics Manager, Schmidt Zeevis

The spacious, low-vibration driver's cab is designed according to ergonomic and occupational health standards. The equipment includes a very low entrance, soft knee pads and the driver's seat with horizontal and tilt adjustment.

Easy to operate - sitting or standing

The multifunction control panel can be adjusted in height, distance to the driver and inclination. Contactless two-hand operation for all driving and lifting movements ensures a high level of safety. The armrests with integrated operating elements can be adjusted independently of each other in height and length for standing and seated operation and can also be folded up for easy access to the side.

One bought, the rest rented

While Schmidt Zeevis purchased the narrow-aisle forklift truck, it was agreed with Still to take stock of the use of a range of other equipment after around six months. Groenenboom: "We have rented the entire fleet for six months. This allows us to find out which and how many trucks we need here" - a sure sign of customer proximity and customized service.

Ed Coenen