Würth Opens Massive Distribution Center
5/7/2013 9:26:00 AM
FEATURE
Adolf Würth GmbH und Co. KG inaugurated its new Distribution Center West in Künzelsau.
“Our new building stands for high environmental standards, ergonomic workplaces and an even better service for our customers,” stated Norbert Heckmann, Chairman of Adolf Würth GmbH & Co. KG.
The opening ceremony was attended by EU Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger.
Begun on December 6, 2011, the new Euro 70 million ($91.8 million) distribution center expands Würth’s picking and storage capacities, adding 60,000 order lines per day. The building, with a storage space of 17,000 square meters (183,000 sq ft), is linked to the existing distribution facilities by a connection bridge, enabling as many as 40,000 orders to be picked daily.
The new facility is equipped with the latest technology, including mobile data terminals for the entire warehouse process and fully automated palleting. The staff work with two systems called pick-by-voice (voice-controlled picking; pick orders are voice-transmitted via headset) and pick-by-light (light-controlled picking; picking done without any paper where both the quantity to be picked and the retrieval location are displayed).
Würth also emphasized an ergonomic design of the workplaces, which have been developed together with Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering (IAO), Stuttgart. In the shuttle warehouse, for instance, the principle of “goods to person” is used. A container warehouse with over 96,000 containers supplies goods to ergonomically designed retrieval places in the warehouse feed area.
The construction plans also included environmental aspects. For instance, 80% of heating demands are provided by a biomass heating system run by wood chips. A heat recovery system in the ventilation system also contributes to energy efficiency, as does a cooling system that does not use traditional air conditioning.
The logistics infrastructure of the site was improved by building a truck waiting area in the front area of the distribution center.
The building was designed by the Munich-based architects office Allmann Sattler Wappner. Heidelberg-based planning office io-consultants GmbH & Co. KG was in charge of the conceptual planning and process design. ©2013 GlobalFastenerNews.com
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