mfl: What changes did you make with the new building - and why?
Wanner: We had to expand our warehouse space in order to be able to react to the rapid developments in the automotive sector. With the new building, we are now within our own four walls. The total area of more than 41,000 m² is divided into two warehouses, eight units and an office building. With this independence, we can now expand our customer portfolio and initiate new collaborations.

mfl: How did you come across AR Racking and what were the main reasons for your decision?
Wanner: In cooperation with our head office in Ulm, we received a list of the TOP suppliers of industrial storage systems and got in touch with AR Racking. Each provider on this list was evaluated in terms of cost, delivery time and quality. In the end, we opted for AR Racking. AR Racking offered a very fast delivery and installation time and also accommodated us in terms of cost when the order was finalized.

mfl: Mr. Fischer, you designed the racking solution and installed it on site in less than four weeks. What special aspects would you highlight for AR Racking?
Roland Fischer: You mentioned the short time frame for implementation. Thanks to the fully automated manufacturing processes in AR Racking's production plant, we were once again able to demonstrate our excellent delivery capability with the shortest delivery times in this project. In addition, the extraordinarily good, constructive cooperation with the project managers on site and the Seifert headquarters in Ulm should certainly be mentioned as a special aspect.

mfl: Were there any special technical features or challenges that had to be taken into account?
Fischer: Racking systems , even large ones like Seifert's, are our daily business. Of course, we plan the optimum solution for the individual requirements in each project together with the customer. For Hambach, this resulted in the pallet racking solution with the integrated flow levels for small parts storage in the picking area.

mfl: It's not uncommon for stumbling blocks to occur in the course of such projects. Were there any - if so, how did you solve them?
Fischer: Right at the start of assembly, it turned out that the free dimensions provided to us were not suitable for tugger train picking in the racking system. We had to reschedule the system at short notice and, among other things, manufacture, supply and install different beam lengths. Here too, AR Racking was able to prove that we can implement changes and supply the corresponding components ourselves at short notice. There was no delay to the installation in Hambach compared to the original schedule.

mfl: Mr. Wanner, what specific requirements did you have when you awarded the project to AR Racking?
Wanner: It is fundamentally important to us to remain flexible and to be able to react quickly to customer requirements. That's why, when awarding the contract for the entire storage system, we made sure that the racking system could be easily dismantled and reassembled if necessary.

mfl: What advantages do you gain from the AR Racking solution?
Wanner: AR Racking is a contact partner that responds competently to all our questions and needs and reacts extremely quickly. At the beginning of July, for example, it was announced that our main customer Mercedes would be selling its plant in Hambach. There is already a potential buyer. For us, this means that we will have to adapt our processes and the equipment in our logistics center to a new customer. With AR Racking, we have a great partner at our side who supports us in reacting quickly and with quality. Especially in such difficult times as these, it is a great advantage to have competent partners who are trustworthy and support us during major changes.

mfl: The project is divided into two phases. For phase two, with an additional 4,000 pallet spaces, the pandemic got in the way. What are your plans now?
Wanner: Unfortunately, the site had to remain closed for 2.5 months due to the pandemic. This disrupted our original schedule. Nevertheless, we will tackle the planned disassembly and reassembly for phase 2 over the course of next year and complete the project.

mfl: Mr. Wanner, Mr. Fischer, thank you very much for the interview.