As part of a strategic effort to modernise its supply chain, the Spanish division of electrical goods retailer Sonepar Group is working with leading intralogistics supplier Kardex to implement AutoStore™ systems at its sites in Valencia and Galicia.
Sonepar is under the process of completely reinventing their supply chain processes, and chose Kardex for their intralogistics solutions, from small goods logistics to cable handling and cutting. The site in Valencia went live in February 2024 and is now equipped with 8 AutoStore Carousel ports, 30 AutoStore robots and 30,000 bins, as well as an ASRS system for cable drum handling and cutting. The successful deployment was swiftly followed by a twin project at Sonepar’s site in Arteixo, Galicia, which started operating in October 2024 and features 6 ports, 26 robots and 23,000 bins, as well as the cable handling system.
Better space utilisation, faster picking and reduced downtime for Sonepar
The AutoStore Cube Storage Retrieval System maximises space by stacking totes vertically in a compact, cube-shaped grid, greatly increasing storage density. Totes are accessed by robots on top of the “grid” (the aluminium structure that forms the cube) and each AutoStore system is customised for the client by Kardex’s dedicated team using proprietary software and products.
Kardex has worked closely with Sonepar to ensure an end-to-end solution at both Sonepar’s facilities that includes Kardex’s newest innovation, the Intuitive Picking Assistant (IPA). The IPA enhances the performance of AutoStore systems by improving ergonomics for the picker, picking accuracy and reducing order processing times. The IPA projects relevant information at the workstation to guide operators. The system recognises hand movements to prevent errors and offers several features, such as fill level control and error notification for wrong picks, and can enable big data analysis powered by AI.
As well as speeding up picking with the IPA, Kardex has also supplied Sonepar with its Automatic Cleaning System, reducing downtime and enhancing the performance of the AutoStore robots.
The relationship between Sonepar and Kardex is growing strongly. Sonepar has a network of 80 brands and 2,400 branches in 40 countries worldwide and the company has embraced Kardex empowering AutoStore solutions in distribution centers located in Switzerland, Germany and the United States, in addition to Spain.
Commenting on the successful projects in Valencia and Galicia, Francisco Velez, Supply Chain Engineer at Sonepar Spain, said, “The AutoStore solution allows Sonepar to make better use of the space we have in the logistics centre and increase capacity. Thanks to Kardex, we no longer need to expand the warehouse, as small materials are now handled in a dedicated area. And Kardex’s Intuitive Picking Assistant helps us to be even more efficient.”
Fernando López Martín, AutoStore Sales Manager at Kardex AS Solutions, added: “The close partnership between Kardex and AutoStore provides the very best in high throughput automation. With our extensive intralogistics experience, innovation and local service, we develop the best possible tailored solution for each customer.
“The IPA enhances the capabilities of AutoStore systems even further, making the picking process more accurate, faster and easier. The system can even be ergonomically adjusted to suit the needs of individuals, improving the experience of picking as well as increasing efficiency.”
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