The Fressnapf Group is a German retail and franchise company for pet supplies based in Krefeld. With over 2,100 Fressnapf and Maxi Zoo stores in fourteen countries, it is the largest specialist retail chain for pet-related products in Europe.

The purpose of the system is to process e-commerce orders from the pet food and pet accessories segment. This segment consists of a very extensive range of small and large items whose order processing needs to be automated in a sensible way. The goods are received in a narrow-aisle pallet rack. From there, pallets are transferred to the large parts and small parts picking areas.

Automated small parts warehouse

At the heart of the automated picking of small parts is an AutoStore system, which has been supplemented by a Vanderlande system solution for the combined handling of large and small parts.

Thanks to the clever combination of Vanderlande conveyor technology and the integration of a highly dynamic Quickstore HDS shuttle system, a new type of automated consolidation process for large and small parts has been realized, which could previously only be achieved manually in similar systems.

The system solution is based on strict process separation. For example, there are different packing areas for the different article groups as well as automatic closing lines with volume reduction and labeling. All cartons are automatically erected and routed to the appropriate area via the conveyor system. The core element is the proven Vanderlande Dot-M conveyor technology. An energy-efficient Vanderlande Posisorter is used as a high-performance unit both for package distribution to the seamer lines and in the outgoing goods area.

Connection to SAP

Vanderlande will also supply a WMS based on SAP EWM. The introduction of SAP EWM is therefore the final building block in a uniform, end-to-end SAP architecture from master data management to material flow control.

Vanderlande has mapped the most sensible process for Fressnapf and, in cooperation with the Logistics Solutions Integration department of its sister company Toyota Material Handling Germany, has developed a future-proof automated system that makes the company both more independent and even more efficient thanks to the reduced personnel requirements and the optimized repacking process.