The fence experts from the Sauerland

For this reason, the Sauerland-based manufacturer of fencing technology, hardware and sheet metal & profiles is also relying on the expertise of Linde network partner Richter Fördertechnik for its new logistics center. Every year in spring, the spectacle is repeated in a similar way when snow and ice give way in the picturesque Sauerland region. With the start of the vegetation phase, there is a lot of work to be done around the house and garden. By now at the latest, there is only one motto at GAH - Alberts: deliver, deliver, deliver! In the three to four spring months, around two thirds of the annual turnover is generated here.

However, this is also a real logistical challenge; after all, GAH - Alberts often has to react at short notice to the whims of the weather - and therefore to customers' spontaneous purchases. "Sometimes an order comes in from a DIY chain at 10 o'clock in the morning that has to be picked by the afternoon. That's why we plan a maximum of two days in advance during the peak season," explains Erik Lang, Head of Maintenance and Facility Management at GAH. What this means for warehousing and capacity is obvious - especially as the company also handles all warehousing for its retail partners. The company's warehouse has a total of 40,000 storage spaces, with a total storage volume of 6,000 items.

"The devices are perfect for our order picking purposes."

Erik Lang Head of Maintenance and Facility Management GAH - Alberts

The company therefore recently added a 7,200 square meter building complex to its existing 15 halls in the Friedlin industrial estate. "Previously, our garden range was split between two locations in Herscheid and Lüdenscheid," says Lang: "We will consolidate our entire garden range in Hall 16. That will save us having to travel twice."

A partner at eye level

To ensure that the logistics processes in the new hall run as efficiently as possible, GAH - Alberts sat down with Sven Kuhnert, Area Sales Manager at Linde sales partner Richter Fördertechnik, as early as the planning phase. "Our priority was clearly to make optimum use of the space". It quickly became clear that Richter Fördertechnik was the right partner for the job.

The flexibility with which Richter Fördertechnik employees respond to the individual requirements at GAH is also evident when it comes to battery capacity. Erik Lang explains: "Our forklift trucks and order pickers run in a kind of dynamic shift system - depending on current demand, we alternate between a one-shift system of six hours and a three-shift system of eight hours." The Linde experts' solution: they installed larger battery trays on the trucks so that more powerful lead-acid batteries could be installed. "This means that the vehicles can also be used for ten hours at a time.

Individual customer solutions

New (work) power: Since mid-2017, GAH - Alberts has been using Linde E 20 electric tractors with a load capacity of two tons.

Of course, ergonomics play an important role for a metalworking company like GAH. After all, heavy loads often have to be picked, especially in the fencing technology sector. The family-run company aims to make these work processes as simple and health-friendly as possible for its employees. GAH and Linde saw potential for optimization, particularly when loading products from the shelves onto the double order pickers used. For example, the question was how to save GAH employees from having to bend down all the time. After detailed discussions with the partners, the idea of using Linde N20 LX scissor lift order pickers finally emerged. With these machines, the fork frame can be raised to working height via a scissor construction - meaning that the warehouse worker takes the goods from the shelf compartment and loads them directly onto the order picker without having to bend down. GAH is also convinced of the user-friendliness of Linde trucks in other respects. Erik Lang: "There are over 80 Linde trucks in use here - from low lift and narrow aisle order pickers to front loaders. We also regularly test equipment from other manufacturers, but the feedback from our employees is almost always the same: Linde is simply top in terms of ergonomics."

The latest additions to GAH's electric forklift truck fleet are models with a load capacity of two tons. Both belong to the successful Linde E12 to E20 series, which recently celebrated a very special anniversary: The 111,111 unit rolled off the production line in October, making them the most-built trucks of their kind.

Looking to the future

The newly built Hall 16 at GAH - Alberts has been in operation since January 2017. Now that a little more peace and quiet has returned after an extremely busy season in the fencing and garden technology sector, the long-established company is taking time to make plans for the future. Because this much is clear: the challenges are not getting any less. One relevant market trend that is keeping GAH-Logistik busy is the topic of individualization. Of course, classic pallets will still be picked in the future, but the trend is clearly moving towards smaller units and variety.

In addition to large deliveries to DIY stores and their central warehouses, more and more of these small orders are already being produced and picked at GAH. This is why the fence experts are also keeping a very close eye on the topic of automation, for example. Among other things, they are interested in systems such as the Linde OptiPick, which can be used to guide picking devices through the racking aisle semi-automatically, thus saving employees unnecessary walking between the racking and the vehicle. "People will certainly still be working in our warehouse in ten years' time. Nevertheless, in the short to medium term, such concepts will help us to make work processes more efficient for everyone involved.

www.richter-foerdertechnik.dewww.gah.de www.linde-mh.com