EDEKA Expands Warehouse Automation Solution with Robots Featuring AI by KNAPP

The EDEKA NORDfrische Center in Lüttow-Valluhn, Germany is again expanding their automation solution with KNAPP. The expansion consists of two newly integrated Pick-it-Easy Robots that pick individual items fully automatically. The AI-powered robots pick nonstop, 24/7, increasing process reliability and relieving employees from physically strenuous tasks. With the new solution, EDEKA both increases the resilience of their supply chain and lays the foundation for future growth.

Located in Lüttow-Valluhn, Germany, the EDEKA NORDfrische Center supplies around 650 stores with around 2,500 meats, cold cuts and sausages every day. To meet growing requirements for performance, flexibility and reliability, EDEKA chose to expand the existing automation solution with two Pick-it-Easy Robots by KNAPP.

The robots pick different meats, sausages and cold cuts package by package. Thanks to their AI-supported image processing systems and intelligent picking technology, the robots recognize and handle different fresh meat products reliably.

With a performance of around 450 high-quality picks per robot per hour, the solution supports order fulfillment that is efficient, scalable and available around the clock. The robots also perform other steps in the fulfillment process, such as scanning barcodes and recording the actual weight of each item. In doing so, they reduce manual tasks and further improve the quality of processes.

Despite our large variety of products, we are able to pick a wide variety of items efficiently with the Pick-it-Easy Robot. At the same time, we can ensure 24/7 picking if necessary and take the strain off our employees, explains Matthias Biermann, Managing Director of the EDEKA NORDfrische Center.

The investment will continue to increase productivity and support employees while ensuring that EDEKA is able to deliver.

The Pick-it-Easy Robot increases our independence and strengthens our supply chain resilience. We can pick 24/7 at all times, regardless of external influences. That’s an important factor for the future of our company, continues Matthias Biermann.

Automation solution for meat processing

The expansion to the automation solution builds upon a concept that KNAPP first created for EDEKA in 2019 with future growth in mind. The distribution center processes up to 40,000 containers a day in the 8,000 m² (86,000 ft²) system, maintained at a constant temperature of +2 °C (36 °F). Both products from EDEKA’s adjacent meat processing facility and goods from other suppliers are integrated into the process.

After goods-in, depalletizing and destacking, the meats are put away in a shuttle system with around 70,000 storage locations. There they wait, available for further processing at any time.

In order to fulfill orders in a store-friendly manner, there are four different picking areas for items with different turnover rates: ergonomic Pick-it-Easy goods-to-person work stations, Pick-to-Light stations and the two new Pick-it-Easy Robots. This combination provides high flexibility for different item structures and order volumes.

After picking, the orders are assembled, optimized by route. Extensive automation also plays a role in stacking goods on roll containers or pallets or placing them in cooled and insulated containers. All this enables efficient, store-friendly order fulfillment that keeps the cold chain intact.

KiSoft, the intelligent control system

Forming the basis for the seamless interplay of all processes is KiSoft, KNAPP’s software suite. It controls all processes and goods flows, from goods-in and putaway to picking and shipping.

KiSoft AppSuite guides every order from reception to fulfillment, providing insight into stock levels, capacities and process states. Based on this data, the software optimizes storage strategies, deploys resources where needed and plans customer orders, routes and personnel allocation efficiently.

Thanks to the KiSoft solution, we can better plan the tasks our employees perform in the warehouse. Learning how to use the software is easy, since the interfaces are user-friendly and similar across the board – whether in picking, shipping or goods-in, explains Matthias Biermann.

Long-standing partnership is major factor behind success

The current expansion of the automation solution at the EDEKA NORDfrische Center shows how logistics solutions are constantly developing, step by step, and can be modified to meet new requirements. KNAPP and EDEKA’s collaboration is based on years of successful partnership. Both companies are continuing to refine existing processes together to create scalable, future-proof solutions that can react flexibly to changing market conditions, growth and new operational requirements.