Distribution of the future: automated logistics for Netto in Coswig

Netto’s Coswig logistics center supplies 228 stores with food and non-food products. The retailer turned to Cimcorp’s automation expertise to ensure fresh produce would reach the stores within 24 hours of arrival in the logistics center, in order to guarantee freshness and quality.

Netto Marken-Discount, a German discount supermarket chain, operates over 4,200 stores and offers affordable food and household items, catering to budget-conscious shoppers with its wide product range.

The challenge

The challenge for Netto has been to optimize the logistics processes at Coswig to meet growing demand while ensuring the highest standards of efficiency and customer satisfaction.

Crates of fresh produce can weigh up to 20 kilos. Lorries are packed 2 meters high, and loading 20 kg crates to that height often presents a challenge for human workers; logistics technology helps to make their jobs easier.

The solution

Cimcorp implemented a comprehensive solution for handling crates. Incoming stacks of crates are placed on the warehouse floor below the robot for handling.

Everything is controlled by Cimcorp’s modular Warehouse Control System (WCS), which has been specially developed for the food retail industry.

Working closely with Netto, Cimcorp developed a customized automated solution that would integrate seamlessly into the existing processes. The jointly implemented storage and picking system enables the efficient storage and retrieval of crates, optimizes the use of available space and reduces manual handling.

Robotic picking systems enable exact and efficient product retrieval, therefore ensuring product integrity and quality.

Netto also wanted to reduce the physical demands for the workforce in its distribution center, especially the lifting of heavy crates.

With automation, robots take over the heavy lifting and moving. This eases the workload for logistics employees, who can then concentrate on controlling the machines.

The result

Netto’s partnership with Cimcorp has helped the discount supermarket to achieve new standards in efficiency and reliability, and make the distribution center in Coswig fit for the future.

The introduction of Cimcorp’s state-of-the-art automation system has allowed Netto to position itself as a local discount supermarket with optimum retail logistics, offering its customers outstanding service while optimizing its supply chain processes for future success.

With automation of our processes, we’re investing in the company’s continued competitiveness and responding to the current situation in the labor market. Automation will not replace our local employees – it assists them and makes their work easier. Their jobs are safe.

Christina Stylianou, Head of Corporate Communications at Netto