What does an intralogistics solution look like years after commissioning, once it has become part of day-to-day operations? Some of our trainees had the opportunity to experience exactly that during a visit to Adelholzener Alpenquellen GmbH in Siegsdorf, accompanied by their trainers.
In addition to gaining insights into the filling and labelling systems, the visit included a tour of the high-bay warehouse system implemented by System Logistics. For our young professionals, it was a valuable opportunity to experience first-hand how their day-to-day work at System Logistics translates into real-world applications at the customer’s site.
From Decentralized Warehouses to an Automated High-Bay Warehouse
The facility visited is the result of a comprehensive intralogistics project. In 2015, Adelholzener decided to centralize its logistics operations at its production site in Siegsdorf, which had previously been distributed across several external warehouses within a 25-kilometre radius. At the same time, the company aimed to create additional storage capacity and automate the material flow within the factory. Due to the site’s topographical conditions, only limited space was available. The solution: a fully automated, 42-metre-high high-bay warehouse.
23,000 Pallet Storage Positions and Eight Connected Filling Lines
In June 2017, System Logistics was commissioned to implement the project. The result is a six-aisle, double-deep high-bay warehouse with around 23,000 pallet storage positions.
Eight filling lines were connected fully automatically. Conveyor technology, transfer cars and an electric monorail system connect production, the high-bay warehouse, block storage and dispatch, creating a seamless material flow throughout the facility.
One particular challenge was that a new returnable-glass filling line was being built at the same time, requiring the processes to be converted while operations continued. The critical system changeover was successfully completed within a single weekend. The project was finally accepted in December 2019.
Intralogistics You Can Experience in Everyday Operations
Today, the facility demonstrates how automated intralogistics can create additional storage capacity even where space is limited, while seamlessly connecting production, storage and dispatch.
For our trainees, the visit made this tangible: behind planning, technology and their day-to-day tasks are solutions that ultimately have to perform reliably in real-world customer operations.
“Our goal was to automate the entire material flow within the factory.”
– Erwin Hächl, Head of Plant Planning and Optimization
Many thanks to Adelholzener Alpenquellen for the insights and for giving our trainees the opportunity to take a look behind the scenes.
Adelholzener Alpenquellen: Demanding Intralogistics for the Beverage Industry
As one of Germany’s leading mineral water producers, Adelholzener Alpenquellen has high demands when it comes to storage and material flow. Different packaging formats, seasonal fluctuations in demand and high daily volumes require a reliable, highly automated intralogistics solution.
System Logistics translated these specific requirements into a tailored, fully automated system – with a clear focus on throughput, process reliability and availability during ongoing operations.
Why Reference Visits Matter
Reference visits are more than a marketing tool. They demonstrate that an implemented solution works in real-world operations – under genuine conditions, with real requirements and tangible results. When making an investment decision, customers do not need presentations. They need proof.
Your Partner for Beverage Logistics in Germany
System Logistics Germany has extensive experience in automated intralogistics for mineral water producers, breweries and soft drink manufacturers.
Get in touch with us – we would be happy to show you what we can do for your industry.