Körber Supports Avnet as General Contractor in Bernburg

The international technology group Körber supports the US electronics wholesale company Avnet in the construction of its high-performance distribution center in Bernburg (Saxony-Anhalt). As the general contractor, Körber is responsible for nearly half of the total investment volume of 225 million euros to implement both the extensive, highly complex storage technology and an SAP Extended Warehouse Management.

(Konstanz/Bernburg) This is intended to ensure seamless and efficient processes in Avnet’s distribution center, enabling the delivery of up to 19,000 packages daily to over 30,000 customers worldwide starting in 2025 after a phased commissioning. Avnet announced the official start of construction for its new high-performance distribution center in Bernburg last September. In two years, semiconductor electronics and electronic components will be shipped worldwide from this facility. Alongside the existing distribution centers in Poing (Germany) and Tongeren (Belgium), Bernburg will be the company’s third logistics location in Europe.

The logistics area, which occupies 56,000 square meters of the 190,000 square meter plot, is being designed by Körber as the general contractor for technology, logistics, and IT. The common goal is to meet the agile requirements of Avnet’s national and international customers with the highly automated distribution center and to establish a future-oriented, high-performance logistics location. The new logistics center is primarily intended to avoid fossil energy sources and rely entirely on renewable energies and green electricity.

All logistical components work together

Körber recently received the contract as the general contractor. The focus is on the technical solutions as a complete project. In terms of automation, all logistical components will work perfectly together in the future. The storage areas include an automated high rack as well as two automated shuttle warehouses for small parts. A comprehensive and redundant conveyor technology is intended to meet the increased order volume. Körber’s long-standing SAP experience complements the offering. The implementation of SAP EWM, including the control of material flows with SAP EWM MFS, will also be carried out by Körber.

Andreas Ebert, CEO Automation, Körber’s Supply Chain division, expresses great satisfaction with the close collaboration so far: “The opportunity to implement such a large project allows us to bring in all of Körber’s technological and planning expertise. Avnet is a highly technical, future-driven company, and we are technologically meeting its demands. Our common goal is a distribution center that will remain state-of-the-art for decades to come.”

Roswitha Heiland, Vice President Logistics EMEA Avnet Logistics GmbH, adds: “From the very beginning, we appreciated how Körber dedicated idea and attention to our crucial issue of reliability and thus technical redundancy in both storage technology and the overall material flow networking of our approximately 700 workplaces. This has resulted in a comprehensive solution of the highest technical quality.”

Further growth potentials already secured

“The throughput and thus the technical capacity of the solution planned by Körber also allows us to anchor growth potentials above our planning horizon already now,” Ms. Heiland emphasizes in conclusion. As the general contractor, Körber is not only the point of contact for IT and plant technology during the realization but also supports Avnet for future maintenance and support (SAP EWM hotline).

Photo: © Avnet