Flexible storage solutions for all items

Around 12,000 take-away and storage items for plumbing, heating, electrical and industrial companies are now stocked at the new location of the specialist wholesaler for building services. Lievertz realized the new storage facility with the Arnsberg storage specialist META-Regalbau. The aim was to create an appealing and clearly arranged presentation and flexible storage of the various product groups. Lievertz stocks everyday items from the heating, plumbing, air conditioning, lighting, installation supplies, household appliances and alternative energy sectors in the new 2,500 square meter warehouse. In addition to the warehouse space, there is also an office area of around 1,000 square meters, which is located directly next to the warehouse on the 10,000 square meter site on Siemensstrasse.

The move within the city was necessary as capacities at the old location on Thaerstraße were limited. "Logistically, this is a big step forward," says division manager and authorized signatory Thomas Schmidt about the new location. With the proximity to the A3 and better accessibility, goods can be delivered more quickly. The new specialist store and warehouse facility contributes enormously to a better flow of goods. "The reactions to the new warehouse concept have been very positive. Our customers and employees are always talking about the easier routes and the more pleasant working environment," explains Thomas Schmidt.

The sanitary/heating specialist store area was set up as a so-called self-service store (SE store). Customers can pick up items here and scan them using a hand scanner. A delivery bill is automatically printed from this data at the newly designed sales counter. In the background, the merchandise management system checks stock levels and triggers the appropriate replenishment process if necessary.

In the larger electrical area, items are issued in the traditional way by Lievertz employees via the new service counter. In addition to the collection business, the specialist wholesaler for domestic technology also offers a fast delivery service for the entire Lower Rhine region from its new regional warehouse in Kleve.

Coherent storage concept

META has many years of expertise in equipping specialist stores and the associated storage areas: The company has been equipping Zander Group stores with product-related storage technology for almost three decades.

Basically, the precise planning and positioning of all product groups was carried out according to the rotation speed (ABC analysis). The detailed planning was carried out in collaboration between Thomas Schmidt from Lievertz together with Sven Gaertig and Franz-Josef Wulf from META. "In addition to the price/performance ratio, it was important to us that we received the right product range from META. The overall package was just right. Another outstanding point is the flexibility and rapid design and implementation," explains Thomas Schmidt. It took just five weeks from the planning stage to completion of the entire storage system - the pallet racks were installed after just four weeks.

Different shelving systems in use

The META CLIP boltless shelving system with a total of over 2,570 shelves was installed for (small) parts storage in the order picking and specialist store area, ensuring clear and flexible storage of a wide variety of products.

"The overall package was just right. Another outstanding point is the flexibility and rapid conception and implementation."

Thomas Schmidt Division Manager and authorized signatory at Lievertz

A warehouse has been created in Kleve that is already geared towards the future growth in articles and turnover. The plans have already been prepared to such an extent that the META CLIP shelving racks in the heating/plumbing area (SE warehouse) can be extended, thus doubling the storage space in the future. In the electrical area, a two-storey META CLIP shelving system has already been installed on an area of 180 square meters, thus making full use of the available space due to the multi-storey design.

The counter area also comes from META

In the rear area of the SE warehouse, special cleated racking was installed for storing long goods. These special shelving racks based on the META CLIP system are suitable for horizontal storage of pipe insulation, among other things. The new counter area in the sales area is also based on META CLIP shelving and is part of META's specialist store equipment. In the SE store, the META Multipal system is also used for storing heavy and sensitive items such as bathtubs, shower trays and cubicles, washbasins and toilets with a corresponding chipboard support. The META Multipal pallet racking system was also used as a replenishment or seasonal buffer store and for the storage of other diverse goods, with which approx. 1,500 pallet spaces could be created in the additional storage area.

A special version of the META Multipal system is also used to store the heavy cable drums. On the lower levels, the drums weighing up to 900 kg hang on cable drum axles in the racking, so that precise order picking is possible. The upper levels serve as buffer storage for additional cable drums on pallets. Finally, the storage solutions META Multipal profile storage rack, the META Multistrong M cantilever racking for horizontal storage of heavy long goods and the META Speed-Rack packing table contribute to the storage and processing of picking orders.

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