Feature, Freight News, Logistics

Arvato opens high tech medical site

[ March 3, 2022   //   Chris ]

Arvato Supply Chain Solutions is expanding its Harsewinkel site in north-central Germany into its leading healthcare location in Europe. A new multi-client-capable warehouse with picking system has been put into operation, which in the future will handle up to 25 customers from the pharmaceutical and medical technology industry.

Managing director healthcare, Dr Thorsten Winkelmann, said: “The healthcare market is currently being shaped by the trend toward more and more direct deliveries from pharmaceutical and medical technology manufacturers to their customers.”

This trend is also driving automation in healthcare logistics allowing Arvato to respond more flexibly and efficiently to changing market needs

Arvato has its own Logistics Engineering department, which has clustered different automation technologies. Modules for each project are then put together individually on the basis of the respective requirements.

As space at Harsewinkel was limited, Arvato opted for a state-of-the-art shuttle system with stacked bins, gaining around 4,300sq m of additional storage space. The shuttle warehouse extends over three floors and  has a total capacity of 55,000 storage locations for 44,000 totes and 11,000 shipping cartons, with 84 shuttles moving in five aisles and able to switch between levels via six elevators.

While the Healthcare division was able to draw on the experience and  expertise of other successful Arvato automations, implementation in an existing facility during ongoing operations was  nevertheless one of the most complex projects in the history of Arvato Healthcare.

Products are conveyed directly to six picking stations while additional work areas for order picking and goods issue are connected to the system by conveyors and sorters.

The system can achieve an output per aisle is 400 to 650 movements per hour.

Tags: Arvato