More than 30 robots are handling storage and retrieval at a just-opened Kuehne+Nagel contract logistics centre in Germany.

The Rhineland-Palatinate facility has around 55,000 square metres of logistics space to ensure the worldwide supply of spare parts for the Wacker Neuson Group from Mülheim-Kärlich. The manufacturer of light and compact equipment has been using Kuehne+Nagel’s spare parts logistics services for nine years.

The distribution centre will create 120 jobs. Employees will be supported in their work by goods-to-person assistants: A fleet of over 30 robots will take over the storage and retrieval as well as the transport of the containers and bring the items from the shelves directly to the employees at the picking stations.

Thanks to sensors, cameras and algorithms, the autonomous mobile robots are able to work in three dimensions and move independently in dynamic environments by recognising obstacles and adapting their route automatically.

More than 100,000 different spare parts components for light and compact equipment are stocked and dispatched in this way. The equipment and processes at the site allow the flexible expansion of activities to access further volume potential in spare parts distribution in the coming years.

“Kuehne+Nagel and Wacker Neuson represent two iconic brands in the market with a combined history of more than 300 years,” said Gianfranco Sgro, executive vice president at Kuehne+Nagel. “We have taken up our customer’s strategic challenge for the coming years and have built the basis for tailored aftermarket services to support increasing market penetration.”

Andrew Voigt, managing director of Wacker Neuson (www.wackerneuson.com), added: “With our state-of-the-art distribution centre and the operation of our trusted partner Kühne+Nagel, we are setting up our spare parts and service business for the future. We are the partner at our customers’ side for the entire service life of the machines and create sustainable relationships, beyond the sale of the machines and light equipment.”

With approximately 81,000 employees at almost 1300 sites in close to 100 countries, Kuehne+Nagel (home.kuehne-nagel.com) is a logistics provider headquartered in Switzerland.