New automated storage and order picking system for technical wholesaler Theo Förch
The FÖRCH Group has been supplying installation products, fasteners and workshop equipment for the automotive and construction industries for more than 40 years. The company markets some 30,000 products and has subsidiaries in many European countries. FÖRCH is a market leader in its business and employs approximately 1,300 staff.
FÖRCH has built a new logistics centre in Neuenstadt (Germany). This has prepared them for further, mainly international growth. Vanderlande Industries is responsible for the entire automated storage and order picking system including the warehouse management and material flow software and computer systems. The logistics centre contains an automated small parts warehouse based on QUICKSTORE miniloads with 62,000 storage locations, enabling 2,000 tote movements an hour. The automated storage area for half Euro pallets with 12,000 storage locations enables 750 movements an hour. FÖRCH's high service and delivery reliability is supported by reliable logistic partners who ensure that all orders are delivered to customers within 24- 48 hours. FÖRCH achieves a service level of over 98 percent.
The work processes - from goods receiving via high-bay storage and order picking to inspection and shipping – have been optimally tuned to each other. This has resulted in considerably shortened walking distances and times compared to manual handling. The highly automated warehouse can handle 5,000 orders and 20,000 order lines per seven-hour workday. Pick performance is 500 order lines per operator per hour. To be ready for the future, the distribution centre has already been designed for future expansions.
