Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Press releases are provided by companies as is and have not been edited or checked for accuracy. Any queries should be directed to the company issuing the release.

Germany’s Largest Supermarket Chain Edeka to Automate Distribution With Cimcorp

The Rhein-Ruhr-based business of the German supermarket group is installing a robotic order picking system from Cimcorp in its new distribution center

GRIMSBY, Ontario—Jan. 26, 2021—Cimcorp, a manufacturer and integrator of turnkey robotic order fulfillment and tire-handling solutions, announces Edeka Rhein-Ruhr is equipping its new distribution center, located in Oberhausen-Waldteich, Germany, with a modern food storage and order picking system from Cimcorp. As part of Germany’s largest supermarket chain, Edeka's regional Rhein-Ruhr business is investing in the construction project, which will be the largest in the company’s history. The ultra-modern distribution center, with a total floor area of 90,000 square meters, will go into operation in 2021. With this new facility, Edeka is creating around 1,000 jobs in the region.

The Oberhausen-Waldteich distribution center will supply 400 Edeka branches and 400 stores operating under other group brands in North Rhine-Westphalia. In the future, it will offer space for around 16,000 different dry, frozen and fresh product lines, most of which require different temperature zones. The warehousing solution from Cimcorp will ensure the reliable distribution of Edeka’s fresh food products, including fruit, vegetables and dairy foods.


The new facility, which is about the size of 13 soccer pitches, will be served by over 400 trucks every working day. It will supply food for 14 million people across North Rhine-Westphalia. Order fulfillment from the facility must be error-free and punctual, as every mistake can lead to delays. “For us efficiency, costs and ergonomics were decisive when we decided on Cimcorp as an experienced automation provider for our fruit and vegetable distribution,” explained Peter Bayer, Project Manager for Logistics and Organization at Edeka Oberhausen. “Since millions of people rely on the safety of their food, everything from the field to the table has to be perfect. We expect an extremely high availability of fresh products from Cimcorp, as these are extremely time-critical and sensitive.”

Kai Tuomisaari, Cimcorp’s Vice President, Sales, added, “When dealing with food, and especially with perishable products, accuracy and reliability are essential. The simplest rules of first-in-first-out methods add up in securing consumer safety. Automation also secures employee safety, because robots do all the heavy lifting and repetitive tasks that often lead to debilitating injuries.”

The facility has different temperature zones for fresh, frozen and dry foods. Cimcorp’s fresh food solution has two climate zones: +7 degrees Celsius (approximately 45 degrees Fahrenheit) for cheese and +12 degrees Celsius (approximately 54 degrees Fahrenheit) for fruit and vegetables. “The order includes several independent automation modules controlled by Cimcorp software, which integrates various technologies into a seamless system,” said Tuomisaari. “If one module is out of service for a while—for example, when cleaning is performed—the other modules run independently to ensure a reliable material flow.”

Overhead gantry robots handle food crates that are stacked on the floor—eliminating the need for an expensive shelving system. This is also essential for food safety. “Even with the most modern and safest handling of fresh food, you cannot avoid some perishable parts like stems, leaves or individual grapes from leaking out of the crates," explained Tuomisaari. “With Cimcorp's solution, all of this is noticeable on the floor and is easy to see—therefore easy to clean. During cleaning, crates can be moved to another module or stacked under the gantry robot to clear the floor.”

About Edeka Rhein-Ruhr
EDEKA-Handelsgesellschaft Rhein-Ruhr is one of seven regional companies of the Edeka Group, which was founded in 1898. Edeka is Germany’s largest supermarket corporation with around 11,500 stores and 336,100 employees. EDEKA Rhein-Ruhr supplies around 1,000 stores daily.

About Cimcorp
Cimcorp Group—part of Murata Machinery, Ltd. (Muratec)—is a leading global supplier of turnkey automation for intralogistics, using advanced robotics, material handling and software technologies. As well as being a manufacturer and integrator of pioneering material handling systems for the tire industry, Cimcorp has developed unique robotic solutions for order fulfillment and storage for the food & beverage, retail, e-commerce, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) and postal services sectors. Together with its parent company, Cimcorp boasts a worldwide network of service locations. Designed to reduce operating costs, ensure traceability and improve efficiency, these systems are used within manufacturing and distribution centers in over 40 countries across six continents. For more information, visit https://www.cimcorp.com.

 

The Latest

More Stories

VARGO® announces several vendor partnerships and client expansions in Q3 2024

Dublin, Ohio (November 19, 2024) — VARGO®, a leading provider of material-handling systems integration, warehouse execution software and equipment solutions, has announced several new vendor partnerships and customer advancements that are helping them to create efficiencies and empower fulfillment.

VARGO® and Tompkins Robotics have signed a mutual partnership, designating VARGO® as an authorized integrator of the technology. “Tompkins is an obvious choice in partner for us,” said Bart Cera, CEO. “Their robotics solutions are conducive to a weightless, continuous flow as well as being modular and quickly deployable. Their solutions have the ability to shrink or grow with the size of our customer’s operation which will allow us to utilize it often and in many different merchandise categories.”

Keep ReadingShow less

Featured

Seegrid joins Open Source Robotics Alliance

Seegrid RS1 AMR utilizing ROS 2 to perform manipulation task in industrial facility.

Photo courtesy of Seegrid

Seegrid joins Open Source Robotics Alliance

November 19, 2024 - Seegrid Corporation, a leading manufacturer of autonomous mobile robot (AMR) solutions for palletized material handling in the US, today announced its membership in the Open Source Robotics Alliance (OSRA), an initiative of the Open Source Robotics Foundation (OSRF). Through this partnership, Seegrid will contribute its industry-leading expertise through its active involvement in the open-source robotics community. The company joins a vibrant network of innovators, collectively driving open-source development for the betterment of the global robotics landscape.

As part of the OSRA, Seegrid will actively support initiatives that foster collaboration and shared knowledge across the robotics field. The company aims to participate in key OSRF activities, including the renowned ROSCon event, as well as on-line communities such as GitHub and ROS Discourse.

Keep ReadingShow less
Rich Egan headshot

Rich Egan, Averitt's vice president of international solutions

Averitt

Averitt names Rich Egan vice president of international solutions

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Averitt has appointed Rich Egan as the company’s new vice president of international solutions. Egan, who brings over 40 years of experience in the transportation industry and has specialized in international logistics since 1990, will assume the position held by the retiring Charlie McGee.

Since joining Averitt in 2019 as director of international solutions, Egan has played a pivotal role in shaping the company’s global logistics strategy. His expertise and commitment to service excellence have contributed significantly to Averitt’s growth in this sector. In his new role, Egan will lead the international solutions team and drive strategic initiatives to enhance Averitt's global logistics offerings.

Keep ReadingShow less

Conveyor Solutions, KVK, Electrical Services Group, SIM Aftermarket Services, and SIM Software, combine

Elgin, Il. - October 21, 2024 – Systems in Motion today announced that its new name and brand will be effective immediately. This name change is part of a rebranding initiative, but is also the culmination of the companies’ close working relationship for the past five years and represents their unified strength. Systems in Motion will continue to provide material handling services as a tier-one, turnkey material handling integrator.

The Systems in Motion name creates a single and powerful platform – one that embodies client and industry goals of moving forward – while understanding the complexities and unique objectives of every system. The new brand also signifies the culmination of investment in internal processes that streamline procedures, and deliver a seamless customer experience.

Keep ReadingShow less
HTL Freight Acquires CTS Logistics, Expanding into Managed Transportation

HTL Freight Acquires CTS Logistics, Expanding into Managed Transportation


September 24th, Charlotte, NC - HTL Freight, a rising leader in the third-party logistics (3PL), is pleased to announce the acquisition of CTS Logistics, a full-service managed transportation company (4PL) headquartered in Windham, NH. This acquisition, HTL Freight’s fourth major transaction since 2021, reinforces its commitment to delivering exceptional freight solutions across North America.

Keep ReadingShow less