groninger: Clever combination for growing logistics

Kardex Mlog was commissioned by groninger, the filling and sealing machine manufacturer, to construct a pallet and small -parts storage facility for their production and spare-parts logistics at groninger’s new storage logistics center. The fully automated high-bay warehouse, with more than 3,000 pallet storage spaces, is integrated with a bin shuttle storage facility. The sustainably planned solution allows for considerable extension in the future.

Insulin, heparin, vaccinations of all types, or generic drugs: Anybody using these or similar pharmaceutical products will most likely come into contact – directly or indirectly – with the family-owned company from Crailsheim. The engineering company supplies the pharmaceutical, consumer healthcare, and cosmetics sectors with highly efficient solutions for the filling and sealing of sensitive and delicate products. A strong engineering spirit, a sustainable business policy, and numerous patents ensure continuous growth in many markets worldwide.

Expectations confirmed

groninger’s area storage, which up to then was primarily manually operated, had reached its limits by 2021 and was to be replaced by a new highly automated logistics center. “In the search for the right material flow concept and a suitable supplier, the decision was made to go with Kardex Mlog,” says authorized signatory and member of the management team, Gerhard Brenner. In the bin shuttle storage plant, the solution selected was that of technology start-up, Rocket Solution. Rocket Solution is a part of the Kardex organization, and it develops and distributes bin shuttle systems for automated logistics solutions.

“In opting for the overall solution proposed by Kardex Mlog, we went for sustainability, efficiency, and experience. The high availability of the solution in practice has confirmed our expectations,” adds Brenner.

The Kardex Mlog overall solution provides spare parts storage, component replenishment, and assemblies for the fitting and manufacturing of the filling and sealing machines. Articles ranging from small screws, valves and switches, right up to large-scale stainless-steel components, are stored here. The core of the warehousing logistics center consists of a three-aisle, fully automated high-bay warehouse with over 3,000 pallet storage spaces, automated pallet conveying technology, and a bin shuttle storage plant with associated bin conveying technology. Commissioning of the overall plant took place in two stages: The high-bay warehouse was completed in September 2022, and the small parts storage facility was commissioned one year later.

20-meter-tall racking

The pallet racking storage plant constructed by Kardex Mlog is 20 meters tall and features fully automated operation with three stacker cranes. The pallets stored here each weigh up to 800 kg. The upstream and downstream pallet conveying technology, also supplied by Kardex Mlog, has been designed to handle this weight. Picking orders are processed in the automated bin shuttle storage plant. At a height of 18 m, the bin shuttle system powered by ROCKETSOLUTION has 34 levels and offers around 17,900 bin storage spaces.. At the picking stations, the employees receive clear, graphically visualized work instructions via a large display, ensuring minimal error rates with optimal ergonomics. The entire material flow of the warehousing logistics center is controlled by the Kardex MFlow module in the Kardex Control Center.

Ready for further growth

Summary: The intelligently managed combination of a pallet high-bay warehouse and a bin shuttle storage facility enables groninger to store many spare parts and assemblies on minimum floor space, and also make these parts rapidly available. The sustainable and expertly designed storage concept is already prepared for further growth. The high-bay warehouse can be extended to include two additional aisles, and the picking area in the small-parts storage area can be extended to include two additional workstations.

About groninger

groninger is a leading international manufacturer of filling and sealing machines for the pharmaceutical, consumer healthcare, and cosmetics industries. The portfolio covers the entire spectrum from customer-specific individual solutions right up to modular-design line concepts. Since its foundation by Horst Groninger in 1980, the company has introduced numerous patented solutions to the market. As a family-owned company in the second generation, groninger employs more than 1,600 people at locations in Crailsheim, Schnelldorf, and Charlotte (USA), and it generates annual revenues of approximately 300 million euros. The company’s headquarters is located in Crailsheim, Baden-Württemberg. For more information, see www.groninger-group.com

About Kardex Mlog

Kardex Mlog (www.kardex.com), with its head office in Neuenstadt am Kocher, is one of the leading integrators for material flow systems with bins and pallets. The company has more than 50 years of experience in planning, implementing, and maintaining fully automated intralogistics solutions.

Kardex Mlog operates in three business sectors: Greenfield installations, Refurbishment, and Customer Service. The company has its manufacturing facility in Neuenstadt – it offers a comprehensive range of services across the entire product lifecycle, alongside in-depth, manufacturer-independent knowledge about refurbishment during ongoing operations.

The company was founded back in 1922. As part of the Kardex Group, Kardex Mlog operates in various countries, with the know-how of a global corporate group and the flexibility of a medium-sized company. Kardex Mlog employs 375 people. In 2024, the company achieved revenues of €104 million.

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