Dematic Automates Globalpesca’s Cold Storage

Dematic, a specialist in warehouse automation and software, has been commissioned by Globalpesca – a leading Italian provider of frozen products and gastronomy services for the hotel, restaurant, and catering industry – to automate a new cold storage facility. The goal of the project is to optimize operational efficiency in the new low-temperature warehouse for frozen goods.

Heusenstimm/Milan) “A crucial factor in our decision-making was the trust in Dematic’s long-standing experience in developing automation solutions for the gastronomy sector, as well as the extensive expertise in the storage of food at low temperatures,” explains Andrea Ruffoni, Supply Chain Director at Globalpesca, adding: “Especially in the area of pallet handling systems, we were convinced that Dematic was the right partner for this project.” The headquarters of Globalpesca S.p.A. is located in Gravellona Toce, northwest of Milan in the Piedmont region. The family-owned company has a history spanning almost 125 years.

Given the rapid growth of the Italian gastronomy and catering sector, food service companies must manage increasing order volumes and continuously improve their service levels. Globalpesca recognized that automation can play a crucial role in optimizing processes, particularly in two key areas: better planning and control of incoming goods, as well as more efficient storage and restocking of picking areas.

New 24-Meter High Storage Building

The new 24-meter high storage building, which is directly adjacent to Globalpesca’s distribution center in Gravellona Toce, northwest of Milan, covers an area of approximately 1,400 square meters. The Dematic solution includes two RapidStore^®-UL1200 pallet handling systems, with space reserved for an additional unit for future expansion. The system is complemented by a pallet transport system with BK25 conveyor technology and two Ergopal picking workstations, which can be expanded to include a third workstation if needed. The system features a self-supporting structure that meets the special load and temperature requirements of the warehouse. This is already the second temperature-controlled warehouse connected to the distribution center. Installation and commissioning are planned for early 2026.

The Italian frozen food specialist aims to automate its operations and increase the efficiency of its processes by enabling more accurate inventory tracking. At the same time, working conditions for employees are improved, as they no longer need to enter the -25 °C cold areas and can instead prepare pallets at ergonomically designed workstations.

During the project design phase, an Italian Dematic team worked closely with the project team from Globalpesca, led by Andrea Ruffoni. Together, various scenarios were examined to determine the optimal solution, with particular attention paid to future scalability.

Excellent Example of Successful Collaboration

According to Mauro Corona, Sales Director of Dematic Italy, the project represents an excellent example of successful collaboration: “Dematic’s extensive automation expertise and Globalpesca’s long-standing industry experience came together in a strong partnership to develop an efficient solution that provides Globalpesca with a strategic advantage in a challenging business environment.”

Photo: © Dematic