The Alsatian company Fortwenger, which specializes in the production of gingerbread and cookies, has automated its logistics with four storage systems from Mecalux and the warehouse management system "Easy WMS." The Spanish supplier of warehouse technology announced this in a press release in May.
According to the release, Fortwenger is integrating new technologies into its production processes. As a result, the traditional manufacturer is able to move around 2,000 containers daily, thus serving its ten sales outlets and its online customers, as stated by Mecalux.
"The online sale
of gingerbread required a rethinking of the supply chain to ensure a high-quality service, improve delivery times, and offer a wide range of products," explains Florent Schmitt, assistant to the management at Fortwenger.
The plant in Gertwiller is equipped with an automatic "Pallet Shuttle" — a compact storage system in which pallets are placed and retrieved from the shelves with a shuttle. Furthermore, according to Mecalux's own statements, pallet racks, drive-in racks, and a mezzanine, which doubles the usable area, were delivered.
In the neighboring town of Goxwiller,
10,864 containers of delicious sweets are stored in an automated container warehouse on an area of just 295 square meters. Storage and retrieval machines and conveyor technology transport the goods to the order pickers. A "Put-to-Light" system indicates into which container the individual items should be placed and how much stock is needed. Thanks to automation, the employees can pick up to 48 orders simultaneously according to Mecalux — 24 at each picking station. According to Schmitt, the goods are mainly shipped to France.
Fortwenger knows the real-time
storage position of all sweets and can track their movements via Easy WMS. The warehouse management system organizes all processes by giving instructions to warehouse employees on what to do with the individual items and also ensures the traceability of the goods, according to the warehouse technology supplier.
"We aim to continue developing delicious products and distribute them beyond the Alsace region. This requires further improvement in e-commerce activities. Our omnichannel strategy is covered by the logistics solutions from Mecalux, with whom we have been working for many
