Ribbon-cutting ceremony marks the beginning of a new era for warehouse automation in South Africa - go-live set for Q4 2026.
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - Kardex, a global leader in automated storage and retrieval solutions, has announced the upcoming installation of South Africa's first ever AutoStore system. Goldwagen, a leading supplier of quality vehicle parts across Southern Africa, will utilise this solution at its Centurion Distribution Centre. The announcement follows a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by key stakeholders from both organisations, with the system set to go live in 2026.
The installation represents a landmark achievement, not only for Kardex and Goldwagen, but for the South African warehousing and logistics sector. AutoStore is a cube-based robotic storage technology trusted by leading companies globally, and when it goes live in Q4 2026, Goldwagen's Distribution Centre will become home to its very first implementation on South African soil. Speaking at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Mathew de Smidt, Regional Sales Director at Kardex reflected on the journey: "In our first engagement with Goldwagen the leadership told us they didn't want to lose any staff, didn't want to move and needed to cater for current and future growth with a world class solution. That is a forward-looking leadership team - clear, positive, and caring. We are extremely proud to be helping Goldwagen achieve these goals."
Goldwagen, one of South Africa's leading automotive parts distributors, is experiencing positive growth, requiring the delivery of a suitable solution before their Distribution Centre reaches full capacity. The company needed a solution that would reduce its storage footprint while improving capacity, enhance service levels to customers, and provide scalable infrastructure for long-term growth, all without requiring relocation, reduction in headcount or any disruption of service delivery to their retail network and clients. Kardex made the commitment to meet these objectives and is on track to fulfill this mandate.
Kardex designed an innovative solution that utilises the available height of Goldwagen's existing warehouse, maximising cubic storage without sacrificing floor space. Phase 1 will cover high value items and small car parts storage in approximately 13,000 bins, supported by 20 AutoStore robots, multiple picking ports, and a full conveyor solution. The Kardex Warehouse Execution System (WES) will be fully integrated into Goldwagen's existing SaaS WMS, ensuring seamless operations from go-live.
A standout feature of the implementation is zero operational downtime. Goldwagen's warehouse will remain fully functional throughout the entire build and go-live process. The infrastructure has also been purpose-built to accommodate a future Phase 2 expansion, giving Goldwagen a scalable foundation for continued growth.
"The Kardex team went out of their way to demonstrate why this would be the best solution. It was clear that the approach was focused on the correct solution for our business, considering least impact for implementation as well as taking a longer-term view."
— Tim Langdon, Chief Operating Officer, Goldwagen
Kardex's approach went beyond technology. Understanding Goldwagen's desire for a world-class solution within a local South African context, Kardex incorporated dedicated Change Management into their offering, ensuring that Goldwagen's people, processes, and culture are supported throughout the transformation journey. This people-first approach has been integral to the project from the outset. Kardex, one of several specialist companies in this arena bidding for the solution, submitted a detailed proposal and was selected as the preferred service provider to Goldwagen on this project. Within less than a year, the project had progressed from initial conversation to ribbon-cutting, with go-live on the horizon in this exciting partnership.
Phase 1 is the foundation of a broader automation roadmap. The phased approach allows capital expenditure to align with Goldwagen's business growth — a smart, strategic investment model that enables ambitious expansion to allow for growth. "Today you will see these ambitious plans start to unfold, and we look forward to growing Goldwagen with you and preparing you for the future," said de Smidt at the ceremony.
Goldwagen is one of South Africa's leading automotive parts distributors, with a national Distribution Centre serving the country's growing automotive aftermarket through a growing network of retail sites. Known for their commitment to quality, service, and innovation, Goldwagen is setting a new benchmark for warehouse automation in the South African market.
Kardex is a leading global partner for intralogistics solutions in an attractive and growing market. The Group offers premium automated products, standardized systems, and life cycle services that guarantee high availability and low total cost of ownership. Kardex provides an intelligent entry into automation with its dynamic storage and retrieval systems, offers integrated material handling systems, small parts storage systems including multi-shuttle technology, and automated high-bay warehouses. Additionally, Kardex acts as a global AutoStore™ partner, offering flexible and modular storage and order fulfillment solutions. The Group employs around 2,900 people in over 30 countries. Kardex Holding AG has been listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange since 1989.
For more information, please visit kardex.com.
For media enquiries, interviews, or high-resolution images, please contact Carly Smit – Marketing Manager at Kardex South Africa on carly.smit@kardex.com