Sanistål is expanding its robot warehouse and preparing for more growth

“We have a clear growth strategy at Sanistål, and therefore we are strategically investing in technologies and processes that enable us to scale our business. The expansion of our AutoStore facility is a crucial prerequisite for us to implement our ambitious growth plans and help even more customers in the future,” says Stephan Schuler, who is the supply chain director at Sanistål.

It’s only a little over a year since the current AutoStore facility was inaugurated.

“Our AutoStore facility has been a huge success. It significantly increases our level of automation and makes us more cost-effective. Until now, the robots have primarily handled the product items that are sold the most, but now we are ready to expand to all inventory items that fit the boxes in terms of weight and size,” says Stephan Schuler.

The robotic facility contains just over 48,000 boxes with inventory items. Once the expansion is completed, the facility will hold nearly 80,000 boxes. After that, 58 robots will move around the facility and bring the boxes to special picking stations, where warehouse staff are ready to pack and ship the goods to customers. The picking of items takes place two to three times faster than before the robotic facility.

The AutoStore system uses significantly less energy compared to previous systems and provides better opportunities for consolidating goods. This substantially reduces Sanistål's packaging consumption.

“The green agenda is important in our strategy, and therefore it is positive that the robotic system saves resources and helps reduce our climate footprint,” says Stephan Schuler.

The current robotic system manages almost 50 percent of the goods flow at Sanistål's central warehouse. When the expanded AutoStore system is fully operational as planned by summer, it will be able to handle up to 70 percent of the total goods flow in the warehouse.

In connection with the expansion of the robot warehouse, Sanistål bids farewell to a total of 45 Megameters, which are large automated storage machines that, prior to AutoStore, were the most automated part of the central warehouse.

Even though the Megameters have completed their service in Sanistål, they can still be used by other companies. The first 16 storage machines have already been dismantled and sold to companies in Sweden, the Netherlands, and Denmark through a wholesaler.

The expansion of Sanistål's AutoStore system is taking place in two phases. The first part is set to be operational by April 1, while the entire system is expected to be operational after the summer vacation of 2023.

• Sanistål's AutoStore system is being expanded from 48,000 bins to 80,000 bins.
• The number of robots will increase from 52 to 58.
• The number of picking stations will rise from 6 to 10.
• The robotic system will increase its capacity from handling 50% of the goods flow at Sanistål's central warehouse to handling 70%.

Stephan Schuler, Supply Chain Director, phone: 40 97 49 46

December 12, 2022