Woolworths has signed a new contract with material handling company Vanderlande to deliver its robotised, end-to-end automated case picking (ACP) warehouse solution in Woolworth’s new Sydney distribution centre.
The STOREPICK system will be installed in Woolworths’ new regional DC in Moorebank Logistics Park.
The new DC is set to supply over 200 stores in New South Wales from 2025.
Woolworths Group’s supply chain arm, Primary Connect, will build and operate the state-of-the-art DC, with the aim of enhancing customer shopping experiences, as well as improving efficiency in stores.
STOREPICK allows for the optimisation of all processes in the entire value chain as it handles both incoming and outgoing goods. It has also been designed using the latest technologies in material handling, including the Vanderlande ADAPTO shuttle system with flexible in-rack shuttles, free-roaming AGVs, intelligent robots for case picking and Goods-to-Picker workstations.
Primary Connect Managing Director and Woolworths Chief Supply Chain Officer, Paul Graham, explained that the facility will transform their service among NSW stores, strengthen their network, and deliver on their ambition to create Australia’s best food and grocery supply chain.
“We will be able to carry up to 8,000 additional products, which will help in unlocking a much better shopping experience for our customers,” Graham said.
“To keep pace with growing demand and ever-evolving customer expectations, we need to continue to invest in new technology and capacity to power our next-generation supply chain. We’re pleased to be on this journey with our trusted technology partners at Vanderlande,” he said.
Vanderlande Managing Director Warehousing Solutions for Australia and New Zealand, Roald de Groot, also commented on the 2-year journey working with Woolworths on the project.
“We are extremely proud to provide Woolworths with this state-of-the-art fully automated solution and are keen to further build on this established partnership in the future,” de Groot said.
For Vanderlande’s VP Warehouse Solutions, Terry Verkuijlen, the relationship between both organisations has been a significant positive.
“Vanderlande is proud to have been highly involved in this key partnership with Australia’s largest supermarket chain,” Verkuijlen said.
“Woolworths has strong ambitions in terms of its growth, product offering and customer experience, so we’re delighted to help play our part in this continued success story,” he said.
He continued that providing their automated end-to-end STOREPICK solution will enable Woolworths to maximise efficiencies within its new DC in Sydney.
Source: Vanderlande