Two years ago, the Inther Group was awarded the contract to plan, build and maintain the intralogistics systems for the DHL distribution center. The new logistics center with a storage capacity of 25,000 square meters and several temperature zones stores medicines and pharmaceutical supplies and delivers to more than 45 Belgian hospitals, doctors, pharmacists and wholesalers. The intelligently designed building, including the coordinated process sequences, has now been named Logistics Building of the Year 2022.

The system at the site in Laekebeek was able to be built completely from scratch. This had a positive effect on the speed of construction and the end result. DHL was looking for greater efficiency through more automation in order to process the order profile quickly and error-free within 24 hours, including the delivery of larger quantities per order line. From a sustainability perspective, DHL also wanted to be able to combine different orders from an end customer in one box. Among other things, a shuttle corridor with 27 levels was installed for this purpose. In an initial start-up phase, 17 levels with around 6,500 storage containers went into operation. The individual shuttles are equipped with Inther's own DTS software to ensure even better coupling and integration with all other hardware components.

Inther has also installed 635 meters of conveyor technology. Among other things, it serves four goods-to-person workstations with illuminated displays for up to eight compartments per container and pick-to-light solutions. An Automated Document Inserter (ADI) from Inther ensures that the correct documents are inserted for each consignment. Carton erectors and sealers, three print-and-apply machines and an integrated scale complete the overall system for DHL - which is painted in DHL's corporate colors throughout.

Goods come to the employee

Various extensive test phases with many test scenarios and almost 1,000 actions were carried out to ensure the successful handover of the system. These included a system integration test to optimally link the system components and processes with the DHL Gaels system. DHL successfully put the system into operation in November 2021. In the after-sales phase, Inther will continue to support and analyze the system in practice in order to optimally adapt it to the changing intralogistics requirements of DHL and its customers in the future.

The new system is a source of satisfaction on all sides. The employees have enthusiastically accepted the new picking processes. Storage is more compact than before. And the overall system offers several expansion options in order to be able to grow together with the pharmaceutical customers. In addition, the processes are transparent, which ensures greater accuracy and traceability of all goods.