WITRON is extending automated facility in Spain

WITRON Logistik + Informatik GmbH starts the second construction phase of a state of the art distribution center for MERCADONA S.A., leading supermarket chain in Spain.

As logistics general contractor, WITRON Logistik + Informatik GmbH with headquarters in Germany, starts south of Madrid, Spain, the second construction phase of a state of the art distribution center for MERCADONA S.A., leading supermarket chain in Spain. The first project phase, the dry goods distribution center, has been already concluded successfully, whereas the fresh and frozen goods distribution center is presently being put into productive operation.

WITRON and MERCADONA have been working together for three years now to establish one of Spains most modern distribution centers. The complex of buildings is composed of two connected distribution centers one for the dry goods assortment and one for the fresh and frozen goods. Most important part of both distribution centres is the Order Picking Machinery (OPM) developed by WITRON. Core element of this turnkey system solution is the fully automated Case Order Machines (COM). Using the OPM, both products from the dry goods range and in future also frozen goods, fresh products, fruits and vegetable are received, separated, store-friendly picked by the COM machines, consolidated to customer orders and allocated according to shipping routes completely fully automated.

The fresh goods distribution centre will then provide storage capacities with room for more than 285,000 trays and almost 17,000 pallets composed of three temperature zones. 44 COM machines, 88 tray cranes and 23 pallet cranes will then operate in this area. The future dry goods distribution centre will contain around 400,000 tray locations and more than 40,000 pallet locations to be stored and retrieved through 66 tray cranes and 40 pallet cranes. At its final stage, 32 COM machines will operate in the dry goods distribution centre.

In Ciempozuelos, WITRON is working successfully on one of its most innovative and most efficient automation projects. In the meantime, WITRONs OPM system technology is also being used by the EDEKA Handelsgesellschaft Rhein-Ruhr, Germany; and by leading supermarket chains in the US. At present, WITRON has been awarded OPM contracts representing a total of more than 200 Case Order Machines worldwide.