Contact Information: For editorial questions, please contact: Mr. Brian Sherman Business Development Manager phone 847-385-6000 email: WITRON Integrated Logistics Corp. 3721 Ventura Drive Suite 140 Arlington Heights, IL, 60004
WITRON Builds a New Distribution Center for febi bilstein
| Source: WITRON Integrated Logistics Corp.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL--(Marketwire - March 28, 2008) - The Ferdinand Bilstein GmbH + Co. KG
(febi bilstein) with its headquarters in Ennepetal, Germany, is planning to
invest 32 million Euros for the expansion of its logistical infrastructure
in the coming years. The most important part of the logistics efficiency
initiative is the erection of an automated distribution center, which is
currently being realized on a surface of 325,000 sqft in Ennepetal. The
warehouse and picking system is designed by WITRON Integrated Logistics
Corp., headquartered in Parkstein, Germany, who also accepts responsibility
as general contractor for the realization of the entire logistics system,
ramp-up and the on site service. This will be the second automated
logistics project between febi and WITRON. The first project, a 4 aisle
AS/R tote picking solution that includes an Order Consolidation Buffer, was
ordered in 2004 and is currently in operation. Based on the success of the
technology and the good partnership with WITRON, febi decided to move on
with the initiative of building a new distribution center with a footprint
of 235,000 sqft that will start productive use in January 2009.
On the open automotive spare parts market, febi bilstein belongs among the
market leaders on the international level. Febi offers to the after sales
market an extensive spare parts program with more than 20,000 automobile
and utility vehicle parts in OEM quality at an attractive
cost-to-performance ratio. "The years from 2001 to 2006 indicated a
tremendous increase in demands," explains Frank Boecker, Logistics Head of
febi bilstein. "Since our existing logistics footprint could not be
expanded due to location reasons, we developed a greenfield concept
together with WITRON for building a new distribution center," says Boecker.
Ulrich Schlosser, WITRON Authorized Signatory, comments, "The warehouse and
picking system used in the new febi distribution center is based on our
sophisticated system modules OPS, Order Picking System, and MPS, Module
Picking System. In combination, both systems manage the full range of the
spare parts program within the automotive and commercial vehicle area."
Both systems work in tandem on the basis of information and process
technology so that febi bilstein benefits from an integrated transparency
of all material flows. As part of the OPS, WITRON will integrate an
automated small parts storage warehouse comprising of 10 aisles and 100,000
double-deep tote locations. A conveyor loop in front of the storage
warehouse manages the supply of the ten pick stations with storage totes.
Based on the Pick & Pack principle, goods are directly picked into customer
cartons, packed, and sealed for dispatch. Determination of the carton size
and quantity is done according to a system-generated volume calculation.
"Sequence buffers separate all AS/R crane putaway and retrieval processes
from picking and ensure high performance and proper sequencing of the
articles necessary for each order," comments Schlosser.
The MPS area will offer an additional twelve workstations that cover the
parallel loading of several order pallets during the picking operation.
"These workstations are supplied-with and cleared-of order pallets,
fully-automated," adds Schlosser. The storage pallet supply for the MPS
module workstations comes from a seven-aisle high bay warehouse with 40,000
locations -- also double-deep. "Both systems make it possible for us to
integrate additional articles and product lines into the program and to
satisfy the increasing request for febi articles," says Boecker. With the
new warehouse logistics system opening in 2009, febi bilstein will be able
to store more than 20,000 different articles, process some 30,000 daily
orderlines, and offer its customers higher product availability with
shorter delivery times.
Based on WITRON's experience in the auto production and parts industry with
companies like BMW, Audi, Porsche, Volkswagen, and A.T.U., this febi
project is another significant milestone for the Parkstein logistics
company.
WITRON Integrated Logistics Corp.
WITRON Integrated Logistics, located in Arlington Heights, IL, is a world
leading company in material handling automation. WITRON's core competence
is the design and implementation of innovative logistics systems.
Significant cost reductions from labor and footprint savings, combined with
further competitive advantages, have become the key customer advantages of
WITRON Picking Systems. With more than 35 years of experience in the
automation of distribution centers, WITRON's main focus is to realize the
most efficient methods of order picking and replenishment.
As a systems integrator, WITRON has the ability to take complete
responsibility for all phases of a project from design and implementation
through ramp-up and maintenance. Headquartered in Parkstein, Germany,
WITRON has grown to include subsidiaries in the USA, the Netherlands,
Canada and Spain.
