Swisslog looks back on a successful 2020 despite the Corona crisis

The Swiss intralogistics provider Swisslog, a leading Swiss company specializing in data- and robot-driven logistics solutions for warehouses and distribution centers, looks back on a satisfactory business year 2020 despite the Covid crisis.

(Buchs AG/Switzerland) The focus was on securing critical supply chains in the areas of food, pharmaceuticals, and online trade through the optimization of automation. Additionally, significant investments were made in product, software, and organizational development to enable further growth and to advance future topics such as micro fulfillment and vertical farming.

In the pandemic year 2020, the logistics of many companies worldwide were put to the test. Swisslog is a reliable partner for the high-performance automated logistics of global companies such as IKEA, Walmart, Pfizer, Coca-Cola, and regional leaders like BRACK.CH, dm-Drogerie Markt, or Roche. Especially during the first wave of the pandemic, the service teams were heavily challenged locally. They ensured the smooth operation of the supply chain. At the same time, project realization had to continue despite lockdowns and travel restrictions.

Despite difficult circumstances, the distribution center of dm-Drogerie Markt near Berlin, which was awarded the German Logistics Prize 2020, was put into operation. The fully automated robotic picking solution for mixed pallets from Swisslog is the heart of this facility, one of the largest intralogistics projects in Central Europe in recent years. Another project win for Swisslog was IKEA in Asia. This facility was completely put into operation via remote support.

With Micro Fulfillment Centers closer to the end customer

The US retail chain H-E-B awarded Swisslog the contract for the realization of several micro fulfillment centers. Peapod Digital Labs is starting a partnership with Swisslog for micro fulfillment centers. Peapod Digital Labs, which is the digital and e-commerce division of Ahold Delhaize USA, is one of the largest grocery retailers in the USA.

Dr. Christian Baur, CEO of Swisslog reflects on a balanced 2020

“Such logistical micro-hubs belong to the future, as performance is significantly achieved through the proximity of distribution logistics to the end customer,” explains Dr. Christian Baur, CEO of Swisslog. “This is about lower transportation costs, fully automated warehouses, and relieving the goods carriers (Post, DHL, etc.). In the USA and Asia, this development is already part of everyday life and enables a turnover of goods in new dimensions that overshadows European standards with the growing shipping volume,” says Baur.

More sustainability through automation in Vertical Farming

Another important trend for Swisslog is vertical farming. The tiered cultivation of plants offers enormous societal opportunities for the long-term security of food production without global transactions. Due to space savings, food can be sustainably grown in urban centers.

Initial pilots show that vertical farming can produce more food with less water than traditional cultivation methods. Additionally, the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides can be drastically reduced. The plants are not exposed to external environmental influences such as temperature fluctuations, pest infestations, or climatic influences from the seasons,” explains Baur. “With the help of technologies from logistics automation, vertical farming thus enables the production of organic food to be even more environmentally friendly and measurably more sustainable.”

“Swisslog is now one of the global leaders in future-oriented projects such as micro fulfillment with a focus on e-grocery, vertical farming, and the digitalization of intralogistics, which are gaining global relevance and are being led by Swisslog,” emphasizes Dr. Christian Baur.

Photos: © Swisslog