Dematic Automates New Logistics Center of IVF HARTMANN

Dematic has automated the new logistics center of the Swiss healthcare specialist IVF HARTMANN at its location in Neuhausen am Rheinfall. The intralogistics specialist developed a space-saving solution for the provider of medical consumables, consisting of a three-aisle high-speed multi-shuttle system and an underlying picking area with a put-to-light system.

(Heusenstamm/Nuhausen am Rheinfall) The Dematic solutions enable complete automation of the previously manual inbound and outbound storage as well as the picking of goods and the entire material flow. This allows the manufacturer of medical consumables to supply its customers even faster while simultaneously optimizing supply security.

“The solution developed by Dematic has proven to be optimal for us. The storage and picking areas are now directly above each other, so no time is lost due to elaborate internal transport routes,” says Thomas Mayer, Head of Logistics at IVF HARTMANN AG. By building on two levels, the company not only increases the efficiency of its logistics processes but also makes optimal use of the local conditions. At the same time, the healthcare specialist continues to drive the modernization and digitization of its processes.

Latest Technologies Combined with Proven Processes

The recently opened logistics center combines the latest technologies with proven processes. In implementing the fully automated solutions, IVF HARTMANN relied on Dematic’s concept. On the upper floor, the intralogistics specialist installed a three-aisle high-speed multi-shuttle warehouse, which includes around 10,000 container storage locations. The automatic inbound and outbound storage of the goods on trays is handled by 60 Dematic shuttles. The containers are then transported to the picking area on the ground floor via three pairs of lifts. With speeds of up to four meters per second, the shuttles achieve fast and efficient material movements.

Upon arrival in the picking area, the goods are distributed to one of three pick stations. A put-to-light system indicates to the picker the container in which the requested item should be placed. “This significantly reduces the error rate in order picking,” says Mayer. In addition to the two picking areas, the picking area also features four packing stations and two workstations for incoming goods and pallet deconsolidation. To connect the individual areas, only 290 meters of conveyor technology have been installed. Extensive manual storage areas have also been integrated.

System Landscape and Maintenance Simplified

The previous manual warehouse was managed using an outdated SAP WM solution. Together with HARTMANN employees, Dematic consultants revised the existing processes and defined a template system for future rollouts. The warehouse is now managed via the SAP Extended Warehouse Management (SAP EWM) software in conjunction with the Dematic SAP material flow system. This also allows for the direct connection of the control level (PLC) – utilizing Dematic communication standards, thus completely avoiding project-specific implementations. “By using proven standards, we have significantly simplified the system landscape as well as maintenance and service,” explains Mayer.

Photo: © Dematic