At the right place at the right time

The new European Logistics Centre currently stores around 7 million pieces like spark plugs, brake disks, V-belts, batteries, but also more bulky parts, like exhausts and hoods. The complex is comprised of four buildings, the largest one with 40,000 square metres, ten metres in height. It is equipped with a four-story shelving rack. The other warehouses have a surface of 5,000 square metres each. They store tyres and hazardous material, such as oils and varnishes, that must be kept separate for reasons of fire safety.

The products are divided into different clusters, similar to clothing sizes into S, M, XL and XXL, depending on dimension and weight. The totes filled with S and M parts are placed on a roller conveyor which forwards them automatically to the packing sorter, the BEUMER BS7 Belt Tray Sorter. “This system achieves a throughput of approximately 14,000 parts per hour”.

Clear overview of all processes

Besides the modules which control the material flow, our own BG Fusion tool is also in use. This visual display system offers the user a web-enabled user interface for configuration, control and reporting. It displays system data as alarms in a uniform and centralised way and shows status messages, fault messages and all relevant data. “The entire system status can be supervised via the interface to the machine control”, describes Lückmann. “BG Fusion combines machine and system data, enabling the responsible employee to trace the order status in real time.”

In addition, to be able to concentrate fully on its core business, ILS has also transferred the maintenance and servicing of the system to us. Our employees are on site around the clock. As part of the residential service they take over responsibility for availability of machines and systems. Our employees also perform preventive maintenance work. The team carries out maintenance and inspection work on the systems at defined intervals, checks the safety devices, electrical and control components as well as automation technology. And they can perform repairs that might be necessary in case of an unscheduled failure of components.