New central external warehouse for the Würth Group
Together with Würth, io realizes an economical and future-proof concept of its logistics
2015 – Highly automated distribution center
“Every customer has their own Würth” is the corporate philosophy, underlining the focus on customized delivery services while maintaining high productivity rates.
Würth approached io with high expectations. They needed a highly automated distribution center to be planned and implemented, from order entry through to picking and shipping.
io was extensively involved in the newbuild project, supporting Würth through all the project phases, from concept and detailed planning up to implementation and go-live.
The realization of Würth’s Sales Center West in Künzelsau, Gaisbach, which went live in 2015, laid a strong foundation for the company’s targeted growth.
2020 – Multifunctional transfer warehouse
In May 2020, Würth’s new transfer warehouse at the Hohenlohe Industrial Park in Kupferzell went into operation. It is the Würth Group’s largest warehouse in terms of area, covering more than 50,000 m².
The new transfer warehouse can be used for a variety of purposes and has been the hub for European goods transshipment since the start of productive operations.
In order to improve service quality and supply clients even faster, several shipping points and external warehouses previously located within an 80 km radius of Künzelsau were consolidated into the transfer center’s storage space.
Acting as planning partner for logistics and IT, io mastered the challenges of all project phases together with Würth, from concept design through to implementation and go-live.
Key Facts
Client
The Würth Group is the world market leader in its core business, the sale of assembly and fastening materials. It currently consists of over 400 companies in more than 80 countries, with a total workforce of around 77,000. Würth is a family business founded by Adolf Würth in 1945.
The challenge
- Customize delivery service while maintaining high productivity
- Enormous range of products in the portfolio must reach the customer within 24 hours
Solution
- Development of efficient processes with high flexibility
- Use of automated guided vehicles (AGV) to move the picking carts between zones and to supply the packing area
- Multi-level transport of tugger trains using scissor lift tables
- Consolidation of multiple shipping points and external warehouses
Our new transfer warehouse benefits our clients and us in equal measure. The project also further cements the history of cooperation between Würth and io.
Considering the magnitude of the project, there was remarkably little disruption. This was down to the exceptional performance of the entire team.
Pallet rack storage system across two building sections
A manual pallet rack storage system is at the heart of the warehouse. It measures approx. 180 x 90 meters and is divided into eight picking zones extending over two building sections. Automated guided vehicles are used to transfer the picking carts from one zone to another and to supply the packing area.
io introduced SAP EWM as the warehouse management and control system as part of the logistics project.
The transfer warehouse has 12,800 pallet spaces as well as 72 docking stations for loading and unloading trucks. The total investment in the warehouse and conversion of the shipping department amounted to around €73 million. Upon full completion in 2024, 300 employees are expected to work there.
Automated Guided Vehicles (AGV)
Transport of the picking carts
Individualized delivery service
Efficient and flexible processes
