ICA is Sweden’s largest grocery retailer and one of the country’s largest companies, which also has operations within pharmacy, banking and real estate activities. The core of the ICA Group’s operation is the retail grocery trade, which is carried out in the Group’s 2,300 stores in Sweden and the Baltic countries. ICA has set high targets for continued strong growth, profitability and sustainability. In view of this, effective logistics and warehousing operations are prioritized activities in conjunction with the ongoing work to modernize and streamline ICA’s logistics network.
“Over the years, we have engaged Swisslog for a variety of automated warehouse functions. Our latest cooperation involved replacing the six worn-out stacker cranes in our central warehouse for all items in the nonfood and produce categories,” says Johan Rösler, Logistics Developer at ICA’s central logistics department and project manager for the modernization of the warehouse facilities.
FAST AND WITH AN UNCHANGED DELIVERY SERVICE
The old cranes were 25 years old and of a different brand than Swisslog’s Vectura stacker cranes. To secure the operation of the High Bay Warehouse, the old cranes needed to be replaced quickly during the industry’s off-peak season in July- August. The challenge was to replace the old cranes and put the new cranes in operation in seven weeks without affecting delivery service to stores.
“We sent an inquiry to four players. The fact that the choice made was Swisslog is partly due to our good relations with Swisslog and that they gave us assurances that they would perform the work within the offered timetable, but mainly because Swisslog has a proven track record involving several large retrofit projects in the Nordic region,” says Johan Rösler. The project was planned, designed and procured about a year before the actual replacement took place. A team of five to six people has worked on the project full-time and another 25 people were involved in different aspects of the work.
“WE ARE VERY PLEASED WITH SWISSLOG’S WORK”
The project was carried out totally according to plan. The replacement of the cranes started at the end of June and by early July the first cranes were in place. All six cranes were in operation before the end date of the stringent time plan.
“We are very pleased with Swisslog’s work. The project ran smoothly and completely according to our timetable, which was a very clear demand from our side. When problems arose during the work, we solved these problems constructively and in a result-oriented manner,” says Johan Rösler. The new six High Bay cranes are of the type, Vectura S32. The replacement was more or less an emergency measure whose aim was to primarily ensure the operation of the facility and to avoid shutdowns. The facility’s track system is also 25 years old and will eventually need to be replaced.
“With a new track system in place, we will obtain conditions for greatly increased productivity and efficiency in the automated High Bay Warehouse. That is when we will be able to reap the benefits of our investment,” notes Johan Rösler with a smile.
BENEFITS
• Fast and smooth replacement of old stacker cranes
• Replacement did not affect the normal operation and service
• The project was carried out totally according to plan
• A result-oriented and positive cooperation
• Created the foundation for increased productivity and efficiency
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