Arvato has deployed a rack-to-person robotics system at its logistics centre in Poznań, Poland, using technology from Chinese warehouse robotics firm Geek+.

Logistics service provider Arvato specialises in supply chain management and ecommerce. The rack-to-person robotics have been implemented to boost picking efficiency, support rapid volume growth and ensure consistently high service levels.

Arvato has taken the next step in its automation roadmap with the introduction of this at its 48,000-square-metre logistics centre. Powered by a fleet of Geek+’s P800 picking robots (www.geekplus.com/technology/p-series-robots), it brings entire racks directly to ergonomically designed workstations, accelerating order picking while reducing walking distances for employees. In addition, the system enables the optimisation of storage space by supporting a higher density arrangement of racks.

“With this new system in Poznań, we’re strengthening our ability to respond quickly to our clients’ growth while giving our teams modern tools that make daily operations faster, safer and more reliable,” said Lidia Ratajczak-Kluck, managing director of Arvato (arvato.com) in Poland. “Flexible automation is central to our strategy as a 3PL; it allows us to scale for peaks, onboard new product ranges quickly and consistently deliver high service levels.”

This system delivers flexibility and scalability, which are critical in light of the rapid growth of ecommerce in Poland. Driven by one of Europe’s fastest-growing online markets, the country’s logistics sector is racing to modernise, and third-party logistics providers (3PLs) are rapidly adopting mobile robotics to stay competitive and manage fluctuating demand.

“Arvato’s Poznań site is a great example of how mobile robotics can unlock new levels of performance for 3PLs,” said Rafal Sek, sales manager for Poland at Geek+ (www.geekplus.com). “Our rack-to-person technology gives logistics providers the flexibility to expand robot fleets and workstations step by step, so they can adapt quickly to changing customer demands without rebuilding their warehouses.”

With the implementation of this project, Geek+ says it is reinforcing its long-term strategy in Poland, which has rapidly become one of the company’s most important markets in Europe.