Aiming to achieve a “best in class” logistics operation, Fenix Outdoor Logistics invested in building a new distribution center in Ludwigslust, Germany. At the center of the new system, one will find the SSI Carrier — a highly dynamic pouch sorter for hanging and flat goods. The automated system reduces handling and provides quick delivery of items at packing stations in the desired sequence.
If you are looking for suitable equipment for your next outdoor adventure, Fenix provides a wide range of premium goods – including brands Fjällräven, Hanwag, Brunton, Primus, and Tierra. The subsidiary Frilufts Retail Europa AG includes stores Naturkompaniet (Sweden) and Partioaitta (Finland), as well as the German retailer Globetrotter. To meet the growing operational challenges of the omnichannel business, Fenix Outdoor International AG recently founded a logistics company within the group. The goal of Fenix Outdoor Logistics GmbH is to supply stores in Germany and Scandinavia as well as e-commerce customers who cannot wait to gather exciting outdoor experiences with suitable equipment.
A new distribution center for flexible omnichannel fulfillment
The major challenge is to ensure efficient handling of deliveries to brick and mortar retail stores and a growing number of e-commerce customers from a single warehouse.
In order to provide an optimal shopping experience, high availability of goods and efficiency despite daily and seasonal order fluctuations, as well as optimum handling of different characteristics of sales channels are decisive. Store deliveries are all about precise pre-sorting and sequencing of goods, while e-commerce fulfillment stresses fast order processing of numerous small orders and highly efficient processing of returns.
The core element for coping with these requirements is the SSI Carrier. The SSI Schaefer pouch conveyor is modular in design and is able to transport, accumulate, buffer, sort and sequence up to 4,500 different items per hour. The daily shipping volume comprises of approximately 25,000 store items and 5,000 packages, which are sent to customers. “We installed a “best in class” logistics solution for the future,” says Felix Köhler, Warehouse Manager at Fenix Outdoor Logistics. “The pouch sorter is an important component of the design. It serves to process 90 percent of orders using goods we have in stock. This results in very short throughput times with significantly reduced costs and a 100 percent reliable processing,” Felix Köhler continued. The pouch sorter impresses by both its scalability and flexibility. The system meets the desired performance rates and the requirements regarding the item structure in the warehouse.
Sophisticated intralogistics solution from a single source
“Our decision to use SSI Schaefer was due to the company’s ability to jointly develop a customized and individual solution for our requirements. Also, SSI Schaefer was able to deliver this solution as a single source as the general contractor,” explains Felix Köhler. The scope of delivery includes the SSI Carrier with 25,000 pouches, six ergonomic loading stations, and eleven ergonomic unloading stations as well as two vertical lift conveyors. There is a three-storey static R 3000 rack system with approximately 92,600 storage locations, and a pallet rack system with more than 1,500 storage locations. Also, there are three telescopic conveyors and 1,500 order bins. Furthermore, there are in-feed and take-away conveyors for flat goods, used cartons and empty bins. The processes of the conveying system are managed and controlled by the SSI Schaefer logistics software WAMAS®.
A well-rounded system for supplying different sales channels
A majority of the goods pass through the SSI Carrier system. At the loading station, each pouch is filled with an item. By scanning the item, the product barcode is married to the respective carrier ID and the software knows which pouch contains which product. The loaded pouches pass different buffer areas where batches containing up to 216 pouches are formed. Afterwards, they arrive at the matrix sorter, the main element of the SSI Carrier. The matrix sorter sorts pouches and creates customer orders out of the batches in sequence. At Fenix, a matrix sorter with three sorter stages of six lines each was installed. After sorting the pouches according to orders, items continue in the correct sequence to a packing buffer to the unloading stations. The entire process is controlled by the logistics software WAMAS, which communicates with the customer’s superordinate warehouse management system.
Further expansion at new location planned
On the way to a “best in class” logistics to strengthen e-commerce business and stationary retail stores alike, Fenix Outdoor Logistics plans the construction of a third building to be equipped with SSI Carrier technology, probably in 2021. “SSI Schaefer is a reliable and long-term partner, we are more than satisfied with the custom solution. Due to the great success of our business model, we plan on extending our intralogistics solution and look ahead with a positive outlook,” summarizes Felix Köhler.
SSI Schaefer
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