KNAPP Builds Largest Shuttle System in Korea for Asung Daiso

The KNAPP AG and Doosan Logistics Solutions are marking another milestone in Korean retail logistics. Asung Daiso, which operates Korea’s leading fixed-price store chain, will implement a highly automated omnichannel solution with KNAPP at their new location in Yangju, which is also the largest KNAPP shuttle system ever built in South Korea. The installation is the eleventh KNAPP project in Korea, and the fourth project with Asung Daiso – impressive proof of the many successful years of collaboration between KNAPP, Doosan and Asung Daiso.

Asung Daiso: From startup to retail giant

Asung Daiso developed from a Korean startup into the most popular fixed-price retail chain in South Korea, with a 2024 turnover of around 2.46 billion euros, the highest in company history. The company offers a particularly broad assortment of goods – around 50,000 items, including household, kitchen, home decor and living accessories, stationery and office supplies, beauty products and toiletries as well as leisure products and children’s items. A steadily growing product range, strong demand in e-commerce and the need to supply around 1,000 stores daily led to the strategic decision to build a new, high-performance logistics center. The aim of the project is to combine all sales channels in one integrated omnichannel solution for the first time.

KNAPP’s powerful Evo Shuttle 1D is the heart of the new installation and is designed optimally for the dynamic requirements of Asung Daiso, delivering high storage density, flexibility and scalability. The large variety of items, strongly fluctuating quantities and the need for high throughput required a system that allowed not only batch picking for store deliveries but also rapid, ergonomic goods-to-person processes for e-commerce. Based on their positive experiences with the three existing systems, Asung Daiso chose to work with KNAPP again, a decision that gives them the support they need for their long-term growth strategy.

“With the new KNAPP solution, we can supply our stores and fulfill our online orders from the same integrated solution for the first time. The high performance and scalability were crucial to continue growing,” explains Chang In Hwan, Vice President Asung Daiso.

Technical highlights of the new installation

The new logistics center in Yangju has four levels providing a total of 165,000 m² (1,776,045 ft²) of warehousing space and is one of the most powerful omnichannel systems in the Korean retail sector. The centerpiece of the installation is a 20-aisle Evo Shuttle 1D that provides almost 140,000 storage locations. The shuttle solution allows high‑capacity storage and retrieval of items within the system, where high-performance shuttle robots operate to supply all different channels reliably.

The system works alongside other modern technologies across the entire process chain: a powerful sorter in the flow rack area, ergonomic Pick-it-Easy-stations for processing online orders as well as a comprehensive system of conveyors and connecting lines across all levels. A batch picking concept is used for store deliveries, where large order quantities are assembled rapidly and supplied by item type. The processes of the new warehouse are controlled and optimized by KNAPP’s end-to-end software solution KiSoft – including WCS and KiSoft Analytics – ensuring maximal and up-to-the-minute transparency. The installation can handle daily volumes of up to 50,000 e-commerce orders while also supplying around 1,000 stores with more than 1.1 million items a day.

Sven Waldhaus, Director Sales & Engineering Asia at KNAPP, is certain: “With the largest KNAPP shuttle system in Korea, KNAPP underscores their leading position in the field of smart logistics automation. The Asung Daiso solution is an impressive demonstration of just how powerful and flexible modern logistics solutions have to be in order to meet the rising demands of omnichannel retail.”

Long-standing partnership is major factor behind success

KNAPP and Doosan Logistics Solutions enjoy long-standing collaboration based on trust. Since 2018, the two partners have realized sophisticated logistics projects and implemented three high-performance installations that have significantly contributed to the growth of Asung Daiso. The close cooperation, deep understanding of processes and the ability to precisely tailor the solutions to the unique requirements of the Korean retail market created the foundation for what is now their fourth project together. With the new installation in Yangju, the three companies carry on with their successful partnership to create a logistics solution that will be fit for the future and that will reliably support Asung Daiso’s growth in all sales channels.

About KNAPP

KNAPP is the technology partner for intelligent value chain management. Headquartered in Austria, the KNAPP group provides all-in-one solutions for automation and digitalization, from production and distribution to the point of sale. Excellent service and long-term collaboration make KNAPP the strong partner behind the success of their customers in the healthcare, retail, food retail, fashion, wholesale and industry sectors.