Varner is expanding its AutoStore with Swisslog
Varner, one of northern Europe's largest fashion groups, has chosen Swisslog as its partner to expand its European warehouse in Vänersborg, Sweden. The automated warehouse was built in cooperation with Swisslog and was put into operation in 2016. Three years later, the warehouse will be expanded with additional automation.
“When the central warehouse in Vänersborg was built, it was already designed to be further expanded within the warehouse's four walls. Our rapid growth in e-commerce now makes it necessary to basically double our AutoStore® facility,” says Anders Eriksson, Supply Chain Director at Varner.
The expansion means that the existing AutoStore® facility - an automated robotic solution for bins - is growing from today's 60,000 bins to 116,000 bins and will be equipped with a total of 224 robots. As part of the collaboration with Swisslog, a new design of workstations for pick and pack, storage, returns and hanging garment handling has been developed. The warehouse is also supplemented with another eight new workstations for pick and pack, four stations for return handling, 24 sorting stations and additional conveyors.
“The warehouse was designed and built with the highest possible ambitions. We have an extremely close and trusting cooperation with Swisslog, where they take continuous responsibility for the technical operation of the warehouse. With this in mind, it was obvious to make the current expansion together with Swisslog's competent staff,” explains Anders Eriksson.
Varner's automated warehouse includes, in addition to the AutoStore® solution, two high-bay warehouses for pallets and light goods, conveyor systems for palletized and light goods, workstations for pick and pack, internal delivery, return handling, a solution for hanging garments and a cross-belt sorter. The entire process is data-driven and operated by Swisslog's SynQ - "Synchronized Intelligence" WMS in combination with Varner's own WMS.
About Varner
Varner is one of Northern Europe's largest fashion groups with nearly 11,000 employees and 1,500 stores in eight countries: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Poland, Germany and Austria. The group includes the eleven fashion chains Bik Bok, Carlings, Cubus, Days Like This, Dressmann, Dressmann XL, Urban, Volt, Wow, Levi's Store and Nike Store.
About Swisslog Logistics Automation
We shape the future of intralogistics with robotic, data-driven and flexible automated solutions that achieve exceptional value for our customers. Swisslog helps forward-thinking companies optimize the performance of their warehouses and distribution centers with future-ready automation systems and software. Our integrated offering includes consulting, system design and implementation, and lifetime customer support in more than 50 countries.
Swisslog is a member of the KUKA Group, a leading global supplier of intelligent automation solutions with more than 14,000 employees worldwide.
