Intralogistics provider Swisslog builds deep-freeze warehouse for TKL in Vienna

Austria’s market leader in temperature-controlled food logistics is expanding and relies on the experience and technologies of the Swiss intralogistics provider Swisslog. The installation of automatic and semi-automatic systems, including software control, is planned by autumn 2023.

(Buchs/Vienna/Dortmund) New order for Swisslog: The Swiss intralogistics provider is realizing a new deep-freeze warehouse for TKL Lebensmittel Logistik GmbH in Vienna, Austria. It is an expansion project with a targeted go-live date in autumn 2023. By then, an automated pallet high-bay warehouse and an electric overhead conveyor system, which also serves as the semi-automatic picking system, will be operational at an ambient temperature of minus 22 degrees Celsius. Additionally, Swisslog’s own warehouse management software SynQ will be implemented.

“Our frozen food segment has been steadily growing in recent years,” explains Wilhelm Leithner, managing partner of TKL, regarding his company’s investment decision, “this sector received another boost since the outbreak of the Corona pandemic.” Here, the consumption of frozen food in private households has continuously increased, resulting in greater demand from TKL’s customers in the food retail sector.

Austria’s market leader in temperature-controlled logistics awarded the project to Swisslog because, as Leithner states, “the company has a wealth of experience in food and frozen logistics and presented us with a convincing concept featuring powerful technologies.”

Proven CaddyPick System

Swisslog’s delivery includes four stacker cranes (RBG) of the Vectura type, a fully automatic RBG for handling Euro or industrial pallets, as well as a CaddyPick system. CaddyPick is a picking solution that combines the person-to-goods principle with the zone-to-zone method. Electric overhead conveyor vehicles are used, which travel through the picking aisles of a warehouse and are stocked by the accompanying pickers onto pallets or in mesh boxes. CaddyPick is a proven system for store-compliant transport units with mixed assortments and has also been installed by Swisslog in Germany at retail companies such as dm drogerie-markt and Gries Deco Company. The software control of all technologies is to be managed via Swisslog’s Warehouse Management System SynQ.

Planning process a challenge in these times

“We are very pleased that TKL trusts us,” says Christopher Herweg, Head of Sales Germany & Austria at Swisslog, explaining that the planning process was a particular challenge due to Corona: “We did everything ‘remotely’, which was a new experience for both TKL and us.” However, the iterative and collaborative concept process, which began in February 2020, reportedly worked very well.

Photo: © Swisslog