Varner inaugurates new warehouse with AutoStore as planned
23 februari 2023
Varner AS, one of the largest fashion groups in the Nordic region with the chains Dressmann, Cubus, Carlings, Bik Bok, Volt and Junkyard, decided in 2021 to invest in an additional AutoStore facility from Swisslog. The inauguration of the new warehouse building took place at the end of January, and the installation of the warehouse automation system started in August 2022.
“We are following our ambitious timetable, and everything is going very well. Tests are currently underway on Swisslog's installations and on the SynQ software, which will be integrated with our own ERP system. We are also about to store in the first 120,000 bins in to the AutoStore solution, which takes time,” says Anders Eriksson, Supply Chain Director at Varner AS.
The new AutoStore solution will initially consist of 425 robots, 230,000 bins, and 62 ports but has the capacity for further expansion up to a total of 330,000 bins. The order to Swisslog also includes SynQ software to control and manage the automation as well as conveyor systems, packing machines, and five additional Tornado mini-load cranes. With the new automation solution, Varner will be able to handle 7,500 order lines per hour, making the AutoStore facility one of the most high-performing in the world.
The investment is driven by the rapid growth of e-commerce and Varner's own ambition to expand its e-commerce business.
“With the new AutoStore solution, we will have a new facility dedicated to our growing e-commerce business, while the existing one will only serve our 1,200 stores. The result will be that both e-commerce customers and stores will receive a better and faster service," says Anders, explaining that stores have sometimes been downgraded in favour of consumer deliveries, something that will not happen once the new facility is in operation.
The new AutoStore solution will be deployed in phases, starting in June 2023, and everything will be ready by March 2024, with the automation fully operational.
“In January next year, e-commerce of all our brands will be managed in the new automated warehouse. By then, we will have even faster, more efficient, and better e-commerce logistics and more precise delivery to the stores," says Anders.
About Varner
Varner AS is a Norwegian, family-owned group and one of the largest fashion retailers in the Nordic region with nearly 8,500 employees, 6 e-commerce stores and approximately 1,200 physical stores in Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland and Denmark.
About Swisslog
Swisslog delivers data-driven & robotic solutions for your logistics automation alongside reliable, modular service concepts. Collaborating with forward-thinking companies, we are committed to setting new standards in warehouse automation to provide future-proof products and solutions. As part of the KUKA Group, our customers trust the competence of our passionate employees – more than 14,000 people working across the globe.
Contact
Swisslog AB
Evalena Fasth
Marketing Executive
Mobil: +46 70 320 57 11
E-mail: evalena.fasth@swisslog.com
www.swisslog.com