Those who supplement their diet with vitamins, minerals, and trace elements often turn to Nutrilo nutritional supplements. The Cuxhaven-based company, in turn, relied on the expertise of Kardex Mlog for an automated small parts warehouse with 3,124 container storage locations.
The company's production and logistics site in Cuxhaven has been expanded with a single-aisle automated small parts warehouse (AS/RS) for storing raw materials and finished goods. The new area is connected to goods receiving, production, order picking, and shipping via an automated conveyor system. As general contractor, Kardex Mlog also coordinated the project with the other trades involved and has already planned a potential next expansion phase at the same location: a four-aisle automated high-bay warehouse (HBW) with over 5,000 pallet spaces.
Nutrilo, a globally operating contract manufacturer, supplies drugstores, pharmaceutical companies, and the food retail sector. The automated warehouse ensures that the company can continue to meet growing demand in the future.
Photo: Nutrilo
“Kardex Mlog impressed us with its years of experience, excellent references, and comprehensive portfolio,” explains Logistics Manager Peter Daniel. In fact, the majority of the system was manufactured in-house by Kardex Mlog at its German site. Only three floor demounting units, two high-speed doors, and five conveyor system end caps were supplied by other vendors.
Kardex Mlog solutions are also used for plant control: Order and storage location management is handled by the Kardex MFlow material flow computer, while plant visualization is ensured by the Kardex MVisu software. Kardex MFlow has interfaces to the subordinate control systems of the conveyors, vertical transfer units, scales, and the stacker crane. The software also communicates with the on-site warehouse management system, SAP EWM. SAP serves as the central host system.
The concept comprises a single-aisle, fully automated small parts warehouse (AS/RS) with the necessary conveyor technology for storage and retrieval, as well as integration with production via pallet and container conveyor technology. The entire system operates five days a week in three shifts. The ambient temperature in both storage areas is between +15°C and +30°C.
The automated small parts warehouse (AS/RS), approximately 37.5 m long with 3,124 storage locations, can handle up to 120 containers per hour. The plastic containers (600 x 400 x 420 mm and 600 x 400 x 200 mm) weigh up to 25 kg. They are moved by a Kardex MDynamic 25/11 stacker crane with a height of 10.2 m. The AS/RS is complemented by a container conveyor system with automatic control and system visualization. This conveyor system connects the AS/RS to goods receiving, production, a narrow-aisle warehouse, and order picking.
Location in Cuxhaven
The entire system, including automated small parts warehouse (AS/RS), conveyor and control technology, was handed over to Nutrilo after just twelve months. "A perfect landing," emphasizes Deputy Logistics Manager Ralf Schröder.
Beyond the construction of the automated small parts warehouse (AS/RS), Kardex Mlog has already developed an expansion concept for Nutrilo to accommodate future growth. A five-aisle high-bay pallet warehouse (HBW) for storing raw materials and finished goods could also be built at the same location. It would offer space for more than 5,000 pallets in four aisles, including EURO, CP1, and two types of plastic pallets weighing up to 1,000 kg. Four Kardex MSingle A 1000/18-ZT stacker cranes with telescopic forks would handle double-deep storage and retrieval of up to 80 pallets per hour. The HBW, almost 18 m high, would be nearly 52 m long and 30 m wide.
Nutrilo, a subsidiary of the PHW Group, was founded in 1984 and now employs around 350 people and operates in more than 65 countries.
