The successful collaboration between JYSK and SSI SCHAEFER began with the first project in Denmark in 2007. This was followed by two additional logistics centres in Poland and Sweden. All are custom-designed to local specifications and controlled by the proprietary WAMAS® logistics software.
SSI SCHAEFER worked as the general contractor in preparing the logistics concept for the project in Uldum, Denmark, and was responsible for the turnkey creation of the major project, providing an innovative solution of significant size and with state-of-the-art equipment. In the first step, three combined high-bay warehouses (each 136 m in length, 54 m in width and 39 m high) were constructed with two connected miniloads, which used a 2.5 km pallet conveying system and a 1.8 km bin and carton conveying system.
With the company growth and the continuous expansion of the product portfolio, demands on warehouse capacities and processes have increased. The location has benefited from the completed modernisation and expansion measures introduced in 2019 – especially from the fourth high-bay warehouse (150 m long by 100 m wide by 43 m high) which added another 82,000 storage locations and seven additional picking work stations. Some of the modernisation and expansion measures such as the expansion of the miniload, were implemented by the SSI SCHAEFER Customer Service & Support team as a retrofit, performed without interrupting operations.
The result is one of the largest distribution centres in Denmark with an overall capacity of 215,000 storage locations for pallets, plus 45,000 storage locations for trays. Yet, what is impressive is not just its size, but also its efficiency – four external warehouses were centrally consolidated. This makes cumbersome, expensive product tourism a thing of the past.
The greatest challenge is the various sizes and types of items offered. The oversized packages that are typical in furniture retail required a clever solution for efficient processing in the distribution centre. JYSK uses custom big box steel pallets which allow safe transportation of particularly large and heavy items. The key feature is the 32 energy-efficient Exyz storage-retrieval machines in the four high-bay warehouses. These machines can either take up two Euro pallets simultaneously or one big box pallet, and can then safely store and retrieve them. Combined with the highly dynamic miniloads, this is the perfect solution for JYSK. The miniloads, were expanded to include six additional aisles with state-of-the-art Schäfer Miniload Cranes and 15,000 storage locations.
The working environment and the well-being of the employees played an important role in the planning. This is why ergonomic picking work stations based on the goods-to-person principle are used at the distribution centre in Uldum with the support of a Pick by Light system. This is especially important for large and heavy pieces of furniture. Thanks to optimally adjusted gripping sequences and internal processes, an above-average picking performance is achieved.
WAMAS®, the logistics software from SSI SCHAEFER, comprehensively manages and controls all of the processes integrated in the intralogistics.
JYSK’s main focus lies on the availability of products during peak times and the reduction of error rates. The integrated concept offered by SSI SCHAEFER passes these requirements with flying colours; clearly structured, transparent product flows and consistently automated work processes ensure a smooth workflow within the logistics centre.
Reference JYSK, Denmark
Highly Dynamic Distribution Center to Control the Growing Variety of Items in the Furniture Business
