Novogenia and Knapp are planning a new logistics center in Hallwang, Austria, for future personalized health products. The biotech company Novogenia, a company of Darwin AG, is involved in genetically-based healthcare. Based on genetic analyses, it develops individual dietary supplements and cosmetics tailored to the genetic needs of each individual, the intralogistics company Knapp announced in a press release on July 2.
Driven by a growth strategy and increasing international demand, Novogenia decided to fully automate its logistics processes. Together with the Styrian technology partner Knapp, a new building in Hallwang, near Salzburg, was planned to efficiently, scalably, and future-securely manage complex production and worldwide distribution. The commissioning of the new facility is scheduled for the end of 2026.
According to Knapp, the biggest challenge of the project was the intelligent integration of three completely different areas –
laboratory, production, and distribution. The latter, particularly with a focus on the US market. What was previously considered a logistical balancing act is now becoming a reality through the interplay of technology and know-how. Under the motto "Making Complexity Simple," a solution was developed in which all products of a customer order are produced, stored independently, and then automatically merged only when they are fully ready. According to the intralogistics company, within just 20 minutes, the genetic report, supplement, and cosmetic product converge at the packaging station and are ready for worldwide shipment.
From the logistics center in Hallwang, up to 8,000 packages are expected to be shipped daily in the future, corresponding to annual sales of around 500 million euros.
"Our customers benefit from unprecedented speed and precision," said Dr. Daniel Wallerstorfer, molecular biologist and CEO of
Novogenia.
Thanks to the new infrastructure, customers will receive their genetic analysis and personalized health products within just five days in the future – a quantum leap compared to the usual six to eight weeks in the market.
The 11,000 square meter logistics center has four levels. A two-aisle Evo Shuttle system with triple deep storage forms the backbone of the facility. Combined with autonomous mobile robots from Knapp, the so-called "Open Shuttles," products from different production lines can be automatically merged. "Open Shuttles" take over container transport, while the "Open Shuttle Fork" handles pallet transport. These robots are expected to provide high flexibility and scalability.
Knapp realizes a multi-story storage network, where all production areas are connected through two central pre-zones. At these pre-zones, the "Open Shuttles" can not only drop off containers but also autonomously take
them up. This is integrated into Knapp's "KiSoft One" software, which controls all processes as a central platform. The Open Shuttles use existing load and passenger lifts of the automatic storage system to transport pallets and containers across all levels. Thus, existing infrastructure could be intelligently used.
The Open Shuttle fleet can flexibly grow, and routes and processes can be independently adjusted by Novogenia if needed.
"What particularly excites us is the interaction of 'Open Shuttle Fork' and 'Evo Shuttle Lift,' which gives us the ability to fully automatically transfer pallets to the basement and have them flexibly available to the system at any time," said Dr. Daniel Wallerstorfer.
"The combination of stability, flexibility, and scalability makes this project unique. We have not reinvented technology – but combined it anew," added Johannes Kompek, Senior Sales Engineer at Knapp.
