Harting Significantly Improves Delivery Capability with Körber

With software and automation solutions from Körber, Harting is taking a big step towards the future and significantly improving delivery performance. Among other things, the picking process in the 6,500 square meter picking area has been optimized to handle up to 20,000 orders per day, including meeting customer-specific requirements.

(Bad Nauheim/Minden) Körber, a global leader in supply chain software and automation technologies, is taking a significant step towards the future with the Harting Technology Group, a world-leading provider of industrial connection technology. The new European Distribution Center (EDC), opened in 2019 in Espelkamp, North Rhine-Westphalia, is operating at full capacity and setting new benchmarks: up to 10,000 packages and 200 pallets are dispatched daily on around 110 trucks and vans.

More than 40 million euros invested

Harting has invested more than 40 million euros in the new EDC, which is the largest single investment in the company’s history. Construction began in 2017 on the 7.6-hectare site, followed by the first commissioning phase the following year. Harting relies on a highly integrated logistics system of modern automation solutions and the SAP EWM (Extended Warehouse Management) warehouse management system along with SAP EWM MFS (Material Flow System). A large part of the goods movements are handled by driverless transport systems. The state-of-the-art facility features a total of 19 programmable logic controllers (PLC) – an integrative masterpiece. The storage capacities are considerable: highlights include a storage system in the form of a 20-meter high high-bay warehouse with 6,900 pallet spaces, a ten-aisle automated small parts warehouse (AKL) with 120,000 container spaces, and a downstream two-aisle shuttle AKL that serves as a sequencing buffer. Thanks to years of experience in system integration, Körber brought in the consulting expertise, software, and automation solutions to significantly increase flexibility in critical areas. The picking process in the 6,500 square meter picking area has been optimized to handle up to 20,000 orders per day, including meeting customer-specific requirements. Overall, Harting has been able to significantly improve its delivery performance.

Industry challenges demand efficiency

“The new EDC came at the absolutely right time,” emphasizes Achim Meyer, Managing Director at Harting Logistics. “Because the growing challenges of the industry demand the highest level of efficiency. But that’s not all. Körber’s expert team has not only provided powerful software and automation solutions but also the necessary process experience in integrating this entire system.” “In the supply chain, the challenges are growing daily. Our customers are facing more products, an increasing number of suppliers, and additional sales channels,” adds Dirk Hejnal, CEO of Körber Supply Chain. “Technology should help tackle these challenges. However, with each technical component, complexity increases. Therefore, Körber was able to score points with a comprehensive range of services and holistic consulting and implementation expertise. The result is impressive and significantly reduces complexity in the face of volatile markets.”
Photo: © Körber
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