Kardex doubles efficiency with flexible automated solutions tailored for third-party logistics

Kardex used a combination of Vertical Carousel Module Kardex Megamats, Vertical Lift Module Kardex Shuttles, and a Kardex Color Pick System, to enable Nowaste Logistics to double their efficiency, minimize the footprint, and achieve a high throughput which has delivered a fast ROI.

 

Nowaste Logistics, a 3PL provider based in Helsingborg, Sweden, is a subsidiary of Everfresh AB, which is a part of Dole Plc, the world’s largest player in fresh fruit and vegetables, with a turnover of over EUR 10 billion. Nowaste Logistics has continuously invested in developing innovative solutions and has achieved global success in several segments including manufacturing, retail, e-commerce, fashion and food & beverage. 

Nowaste Logistics faced a common challenge for 3PL providers: managing different customer portfolios while providing efficient solutions to meet specific needs.The company was looking for a high-quality automation solution for a new customer, a Nordic market leader in hobby materials. Nowaste needed to store approximately 20,000 SKUs in various sizes, reduce the footprint to a minimum, ensure high performance and create flexible operations. 

 

 

After analyzing the needs carefully, the Kardex team created a tailor-made solution providing high performance, minimum footprint, flexibility, scalability, and a fast ROI.

The initial solution was a mix of six Kardex Megamats and three Kardex Shuttles together with the software solution Kardex Power Pick System, which included the picking strategy Kardex Color Pick System. Nine months after the initial implementation, Nowaste Logistics added four additional Kardex Megamats due to increased order volume. The scalable and modular solution was easily extended during operations.

Nowaste Logistics manages daily operations, including inbound orders and picking, in the automated Kardex zone, located next to the packing station. The Kardex Megamats are used for small and mid-size items in similar heights, whilst the Kardex Shuttles are used for flexible storage of very small to large items as fabric rolls. Both solutions provide high-density storage and reduced floor space while increasing throughput.

The Kardex Color Pick System is at the heart of the system and seamlessly integrated into Nowaste Logistics` WMS system. The Kardex Color Pick System is flexible and combines inbound orders, outbound orders, batch picking and one-line orders simultaneously. The system enables Nowaste to have fast and accurate order picking with inbound processes which doubled the number of order lines compared to working with regular static racking. It allows up to 2,000 picks per hour during peak times. Nowaste Logistics can now scale the number of operators based on volume changes. Furthermore, the solution also reduces walking distances and offers an ergonomic working environment.

Bilal Charif, Nowaste Logistics, Business Architect shares, “When we compare the efficiency in the automated Kardex zone, and the manual zone, we can see that the Kardex zone has doubled the efficiency. Thanks to the Kardex solutions, we have reduced the footprint significantly and increased our throughput.” Overall, the Kardex solution helped the 3PL company reach its goal to achieve maximum customer satisfaction with an efficient automated solution. 

Watch the video case study Nowaste Logistics.

Kardex is a leading intralogistics solution provider of automated storage, retrieval and material handling systems. With two entrepreneurially managed divisions, Kardex Remstar and Kardex Mlog, the Kardex mission is to provide solutions and services to increase the efficiency in storing and handling of goods and materials on a global scale.

The two divisions serve as partners over the entire life cycle of a customer's product or solution. From project analysis to realization and service, Kardex helps improve a customer’s performance every step of the way. With three own production plants in Germany and one in North America Kardex ensures high quality solutions. To maintain and strengthen its competitive position within technological innovation and outstanding customer loyalty, Kardex is investing in research and development, its supply chain, the expansion of its service organization as well as in new technology via acquisitions. Kardex actively partners with global leaders who share the same values and complement the Kardex solutions including AutoStore, Rocket Solution, Robomotive, Intertex and Sumobox.

Kardex employs 2,000 team members across 30 countries and has installed over 140,000 industry-specific solutions worldwide.

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