Dematic has recently completed a modernisation of an AutoStore™ ASRS system for Manutan, one of Europe’s leading specialists in the distribution of equipment and supplies for enterprises and local authorities. With 25 subsidiaries across 17 European countries, Manutan selected Dematic to be the integrator of its existing AutoStore solution at its Gonesse logistics site, just outside Paris. The system utilises 60,000 storage bins and 68 robots.
Boosting Productivity and Efficiency
Following a 9,000-square-metre extension of its logistics centre in 2021, which included the installation of an AutoStore system and increased the total surface area of its warehouses to 50,000 square metres, Manutan wanted to continue its transformation when it joined forces with Dematic to transform its AutoStore system by boosting site performance and sustainable practices at the location.
“With the revamp by Dematic, we have doubled the number of orders that can be processed daily. The use of robotics also has contributed to improving the safety of our employees, while allowing them to focus on more value-added tasks,” notes Alexis Royer, the logistics director at Manutan Group. According to both Dematic and Manutan, the project marks the first time in AutoStore™ history that a change in integrators has been made during full production with no operational downtime necessary.
“Our work with Manutan has been exceptional in many ways,” says Alain Bussod, president of Dematic France. “They wanted to modernise an existing AutoStore installation but, ideally, with no downtime, which is never an easy proposition. And then there was the challenge of transforming the overall facility into a more efficient and financially feasible one.” Bussod also pointed to the durability of the Dematic Software package and equipment within the Manutan ecosystem delivered by the automation warehouse specialists. “It is proof of our ability to deliver robust, sustainable solutions.”
The project has allowed the site to be thoroughly modernised and has seen other major improvements as well. A technology upgrade including the migration of server, interface and database changeovers as well as the deployment of warehouse control system (WCS) software, a global milestone for an AutoStore system in full production.
Dematic also installed a new conveyor system, an AutoStore CarouselPort™, a workstation that operates with three rotating arms, each carrying a bin. This has facilitated a more rapid and streamlined order picking process. A 300-square-metre mezzanine has also been added to allow for additional equipment and improve operational flow. The installation has also increased productivity as well with dispatch capacity having risen by almost 70 per cent and direct productivity having increased by 60 per cent.
Results That Align with Customer CSR Goals
The project adheres to Manutan’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) goals. With the optimisation of available warehouse space and the modernisation of its equipment, Manutan has initiated new processes and tasks to reduce any unutilised space and the use of unnecessary materials in product packaging. New settings for the carton closers and greater use of envelopes to replace parcels are helping to cut down on the overall volume of shipments. The transport optimisation, with a reduced number of trucks, directly contributes to Manutan’s FRET21 carbon neutrality objective. The storage solution now makes it possible to offer customised value-added services, such as placing a delivery note on the package’s exterior for a better customer experience.
States Bussod, “I was confident that with our experience in AutoStore installations and our overall expertise in modernising warehouses, we would meet all of these requirements. And the promising start of this initial project with Manutan is an encouraging indicator of the growth prospects for them, which we look forward to supporting both in their geographic and commercial expansion.”
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