SSI Schäfer installs intralogistics at Peterstaler Mineral Springs

The successful traditional company Peterstaler Mineral Springs from the Black Forest is building a new logistics hall at its location in Bad Rippoldsau starting in autumn 2024. To efficiently store and load the goods produced there, SSI Schäfer is implementing an integrated intralogistics solution. The commissioning is planned for the end of 2025.

(Neunkirchen/Bad Rippoldsau) With over 200 million bottles sold, Peterstaler Mineral Springs achieved a new sales record last year. The strong growth of the medium-sized company from Bad Peterstal in the Black Forest is primarily due to the successful development of its Black Forest brand, which has risen to third place among the most popular still mineral waters in Germany within a few years.

To continue meeting the increasing demand, Peterstaler is currently reactivating its plant in Bad Rippoldsau. In January 2025, the installation of a new bottling plant with a capacity of 35,000 PET bottles per hour began there. SSI Schäfer is designing and constructing a channel storage system that will automatically receive and store the production goods. In addition to storage, the processes for retrieval and loading will also be fully automated.

Full utilization of available space

Due to building regulations, the height of the storage area is limited to 9 meters. The use of a compact channel storage system allows for optimal use of the available space: More than 2,200 pallet spaces will be created on a storage area of 1,400 m², which will be accommodated in two opposing hall blocks. A conveyor line runs through the hall floor between the blocks, which will deliver the pallets from production.

The efficient inbound and outbound storage will be carried out in both channel warehouses by the SSI Lift & Run shuttle system. The system is designed for a low construction height and high performance. The handling of the pallets in the storage channels is done by the autonomous load handling device SSI Orbiter LHD (Load Handling Device). The channel vehicle services all storage locations, ensuring highly dynamic processes. The layout of the facility allows for over 60 double cycles per hour. The retrieval of pallets to the truck gates also takes place via the conveyor line in the center of the hall. A further system takes care of the fully automated loading.

Seamless integration into the existing system landscape

A central component of the solution is the seamless integration of the WAMAS material flow system (MFS) into the existing system landscape of Peterstaler – including the existing ERP and WMS systems. The WAMAS Control Center serves as a central information platform that visualizes, monitors, and provides relevant key figures for all intralogistics processes in the warehouse. This close IT integration creates the conditions for a stable material flow with high goods throughput and enables Peterstaler to efficiently and market-appropriately utilize the expanded capacities of the Bad Rippoldsau location.

Photo: © SSI Schäfer/Peterstaler