The new system expands the existing distribution center and the existing automation system. In future, the store pallets and the new Kaufland folding pallet will be picked fully automatically by robots.

With the signing of the contract in June, Kaufland has decided to take the next step with Vanderlande to increase the level of automation in its distribution centers. As general contractor, Vanderlande will build the entire system, an automated small parts warehouse (AKL) and an automated picking system (AKA) for fast-moving items. The facility will be built in several phases and is scheduled for completion in 2023. Over 100 Kaufland stores in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg will be supplied from the Geisenfeld site.

Construction work has already begun at the Geisenfeld site to lay the foundations for the new halls to be built. Once completed, articles from Kaufland's dry goods range will be stored and picked on more than 16,000 square meters, spread over several levels. Among other things, a high-bay warehouse will be built for the replenishment control of AKL and AKA. The slow-moving items will be stored and picked semi-automatically by employees at ergonomic workstations in the small parts warehouse. Shuttle systems are used here. In total, over 200 shuttle vehicles from Vanderlande are used at the site for storage and robot technology at the AKA for order picking.

The actual centerpiece of this system is the Storepick system newly developed by Vanderlande, which Kaufland will be using for the first time at one of its locations. Storepick is an end-to-end, robot-supported warehouse solution for automated package picking that enables process optimization along the entire value chain.

Despite the difficult circumstances caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, Kaufland and Vanderlande were able to work together as partners without any disruption and as usual. "We initially feared that a project of this size would be delayed due to the unexpected circumstances. I am therefore all the more pleased that we were able to continue working closely, trustingly and purposefully with the Kaufland project team during this phase despite the physical separation," explains Vanderlande Germany Managing Director Dr. Markus Ehrmann.