Revolutionising Food Logistics: The Game-Changing Three-Temperature Warehouse

Summary

HAVI, a global leader in logistics and supply chain management, has transformed its Lisbon-based distribution center with cutting-edge technologies from Mecalux. The facility, designed to handle frozen, refrigerated, and ambient temperature products, boasts advanced automation including Pallet Shuttle systems and Easy WMS software, ensuring efficient and ergonomic operations. This project strengthens HAVI’s commitment to sustainability, traceability, and client service, providing customized storage solutions. The partnership with Mecalux enhances operational efficiency and supports HAVI’s growth by improving inventory management, reducing labor costs, and maintaining the cold chain in all conditions.

Takeaways

• 😀 HAVI is a global supplier of logistics and supply chain services, with around 10,000 employees.
• 😀 The company expanded its operations by opening a new distribution center (DC) in Lisbon, Portugal, to support growth and improve efficiency.
• 😀 HAVI's new logistics center is equipped with cutting-edge technology from Mecalux, a trusted supplier for automated and semi-automated solutions.
• 😀 The logistics center in Lisbon includes three separate temperature-controlled warehouses: freezer, refrigerated, and ambient temperature zones.
• 😀 The freezer warehouse, operating at -24°C, uses an automated Pallet Shuttle system with high-density racking, providing storage for various frozen food products.
• 😀 The refrigerated warehouse, with temperatures between 4°C and 8°C, uses adjustable pallet racking and push-back roller racking for optimized space usage.
• 😀 The ambient-temperature warehouse stores products like beverages and sauces, managed by an Automated Storage and Retrieval System (AS/RS) for efficient pallet handling.
• 😀 Easy WMS software is integral to managing warehouse operations, ensuring real-time product traceability, stock monitoring, and efficient picking.
• 😀 The automated picking area in the freezer warehouse uses an anthropomorphic arm to pick orders, increasing efficiency and reducing operational costs.
• 😀 Mecalux’s solutions, like the Pallet Shuttle system, are designed to optimize space, improve productivity, and maintain the cold chain integrity, which is essential for HAVI's operations.

Q & A

What is HAVI's core business?

HAVI is a global supplier specializing in logistics and supply chain management services, with a focus on providing end-to-end supply chain operations to its clients.

Why did HAVI decide to open a new logistics center in Lisbon, Portugal?

HAVI opened the new logistics center in Lisbon to meet the growing needs of their clientele. The previous distribution center, located 100 kilometers away, no longer had the capacity to support their expansion.

What role does Mecalux play in HAVI's logistics operations?

Mecalux is a trusted supplier for HAVI, providing advanced storage systems and warehouse management technologies. The companies have collaborated on various projects, including automated warehouses like the one in Lisbon.

What types of technologies were integrated into HAVI's Lisbon logistics center?

The logistics center in Lisbon is equipped with automated and semi-automated systems, including Pallet Shuttle systems, adjustable pallet racking, and an Automated Storage and Retrieval System (AS/RS). The center also uses Mecalux's Easy WMS software for warehouse management.

How does the automated Pallet Shuttle system work in the freezer warehouse?

In the freezer warehouse, the automated Pallet Shuttle system is used to store products such as hamburgers, potatoes, and chicken-based items. It consists of racking units that store pallets up to 6 units deep, providing a total capacity of 2,243 pallets.

What is the significance of having a temperature-controlled logistics center?

The temperature-controlled logistics center ensures that goods requiring specific storage conditions, such as frozen, refrigerated, or ambient-temperature items, are stored and handled correctly. This is critical for maintaining product quality and compliance with regulations, such as maintaining the cold chain for frozen goods.

How does Mecalux's Easy WMS contribute to the efficiency of HAVI's operations?

Mecalux's Easy WMS software enables HAVI to track products in real time, manage traceability, and optimize the order picking process. It works in conjunction with HAVI's own warehouse management system, ensuring seamless coordination and reducing storage and retrieval times.

What are the benefits of using an anthropomorphic arm for order picking in HAVI’s warehouse?

The anthropomorphic arm in the automated picking area allows HAVI to fill multiple orders simultaneously, saving time and reducing operating costs. It works efficiently under instructions from Easy WMS, ensuring product stackability and a streamlined order fulfillment process.

How does HAVI manage product traceability in its logistics center?

HAVI uses Mecalux's Easy WMS software to monitor all goods in the automated systems, ensuring traceability at all times. The software interfaces with HAVI's own WMS, providing real-time stock information and maintaining traceability throughout the supply chain.

What kind of products are stored in each temperature zone within the HAVI logistics center?

The HAVI logistics center in Lisbon has three distinct temperature zones. The freezer warehouse (at -24 °C) stores frozen food like hamburgers and chicken products. The refrigerated warehouse (at 4-8 °C) handles vegetables and pastries, and the ambient-temperature warehouse stores beverages and sauces.