25 April 2025, Company News
Dutch Prince Constantijn and Princess Eloise attended the opening of Bleckmann’s newly automated warehouse in Almelo, where Otrium distributes its fashion items across Europe. The facility features an AutoStore solution supplied by Kardex, supporting greater efficiency and sustainability in fashion logistics.
Almelo, Netherlands - Dutch Prince Constantijn and Princess Eloise paid a special visit to the newly automated warehouse in Almelo, where logistics provider Bleckmann and digital fashion platform Otrium unveiled their new AutoStore solution—implemented by Kardex. The visit highlighted the fusion of technological innovation and sustainable logistics.
In line with their growth strategy, Bleckmann was looking for an automated warehouse solution to increase storage capacity while mitigating risks due to labor scarcity at their site in Grobbendonk, Belgium. AutoStore proved to be the ideal solution to meet their customers' growing demand. Not only because of the system's unbeaten flexibility and scalability, but also due to a significant increase in storage capacity due to improved warehouse space utilization. The intralogistics solution provider Kardex has been commissioned to plan and implement the AutoStore solution.
A Royal Visit with a Technological Highlight
During the grand opening, Prince Constantijn revealed a specially branded AutoStore robot featuring the Techleap logo, underscoring his commitment to promoting Dutch innovation as Special Envoy of the national startup initiative.
The royal visit served as a symbolic endorsement of the warehouse’s transformation into a high-tech, sustainable logistics hub—one that supports Otrium’s mission to reduce fashion waste and Bleckmann’s drive for operational excellence.
Advanced AutoStore System Powers Logistics Innovation
At the heart of this transformation is the AutoStore solution delivered by Kardex. To meet increasing demand and scale its European operations, Bleckmann partnered with Kardex to automate the warehouse, which serves as a central distribution point for Otrium. Otrium, based in Amsterdam, collaborates with over 300 fashion brands to sell surplus and end-of-season items online—aiming to ensure that every item of clothing produced is worn.
The AutoStore system includes:
- 140,000 bins for ultra-dense, space-saving storage
- 96 R5 robots traveling across a grid to retrieve and deliver items
- 19 ports (workstations) for streamlined order fulfillment
- Integrated Warehouse Control System (WCS) to ensure seamless orchestration of automation, inventory, and order flow
About Kardex
Kardex is a leading global partner for intralogistics solutions in an attractive and growing market. The Group offers premium automated products, standardized systems, and life cycle services that guarantee high availability and low total cost of ownership. Kardex provides an intelligent entry into automation with its dynamic storage and retrieval systems, offers integrated material handling systems, small parts storage systems, and automated high-bay warehouses, and acts as a global AutoStore™ partner, offering flexible and modular storage and order fulfillment solutions. The Group employs around 2,500 people in over 30 countries. Kardex Holding AG has been listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange since 1989.
For more information visit: https://www.kardex.com/en/