Körber Supply Chain is strengthening its presence in the Netherlands with its own branch led by sales manager Marcel Spruijt. In this way, the German system integrator wants to respond even better to local needs for automation solutions for warehouses and distribution centres. Körber is not entirely new to the Netherlands; the company has already automated warehouses of A-Ware and Coca-Cola in the past and will now set to work on setting up JYSK's new distribution centre in Lelystad. Spruijt: "There is plenty of demand for automation of warehouses in the Netherlands."
Körber has a somewhat unusual ownership structure. The company's sole shareholder is the Körber Stiftung, a foundation that invests in social projects. Its founder is Kurt A. Körber, a successful industrialist who passed on his entrepreneurial spirit. "Körber's profits therefore benefit social welfare. This contributes to the company's long-term vision," Marcel Spruijt explains.
At the same time, the text 'home of entrepreneurs' adorns Körber's head office in large letters. Entrepreneurship is highly encouraged within the company, which Spruijt has personally experienced since he got the chance to set up a Dutch branch for Körber Supply Chain 's system integration and automation activities six months ago. "It feels like I am setting up a startup in the Netherlands, but with a big company behind me that I can fall back on. A company with a lot of know-how, a large customer base and its own products."
Körber sales manager - Marcel Spruijt
Strong in software
Körber Supply Chain is one of the four divisions of the Körber Group. As a system integrator, the company specialises in the design and realisation of automation solutions for warehouses and distribution centres. "We supply automatic pallet storage systems and deploy our own pallet cranes or pallet shuttles for this purpose. We are also strong in layer picking. But we also provide solutions with autonomous mobile robots, for which we work with partners such as Hai Robotics," Spruijt explains.
Numerous system integrators already operate in the Netherlands. Spruijt himself has a long history in this sector. What makes Körber different from these system integrators that have already established their names in the Netherlands? "What I have noticed myself is that Körber distinguishes itself with software. We can control warehouses with SAP Extend Warehouse Management (EWM), but also have our own software for both manual and automated warehouses. Including a warehouse management system that, according to Gartner, is one of the leading solutions in the market. As a system integrator, we can support these companies when they want to grow and start mechanisation and automation. In doing so, I can fall back on the support of Wiek de Winter, an experienced software specialist within Körber who already operates in the Netherlands," Spruijt says.
JYSK in Lelystad
Körber is not new to the Netherlands. Its software solutions are already running in the warehouses of machine builder HBM and camping shop Obelink. Local companies such as Veelo and Starware are certified WMS implementation partners. As a system integrator, Körber has already realised automation projects at A-Ware and Coca-Cola, among others. In addition, the company is now working on three new automation projects in the Benelux, including setting up an automated high bay warehouse with 39,000 pallet spaces in Roeselare for Belgian logistics service provider Eutraco.
Even bigger is the project for JYSK, the Danish chain of home furnishing stores. In Lelystad, JYSK is building a 147,000-square-metre distribution centre, including two high-rise warehouses with a total of 21 pallet cranes and 166,000 pallet spaces. For the internal transport of pallets to and from the high-rise warehouses, Körber is installing a rail guided vehicle system, where vehicles with pallets drive over rails to the correct destination. "The distribution centre is now under construction and should be operational next year," Spruijt knows. "This is the third warehouse we are realising for JYSK in Europe."
Dutch challenges
JYSK's project is being picked up by its headquarters in Germany. In time, Spruijt hopes to set up a full-fledged team with its own competences in design and service in the Netherlands as well. In doing so, he works closely with Filip Van den Broeke, who set up a Körber Supply Chain branch in Belgium two years ago. "With the branch in the Netherlands, we want to focus not only on large projects like JYSK's, but also on smaller projects," Spruijt explains. "We have noticed in recent years that there is plenty of demand in the Netherlands for mechanisation and automation of warehouses, also among medium-sized companies. We are happy to sit down with companies to discuss how we can deploy our broad portfolio of automation solutions. I am convinced that we can always come up with a solution, taking into account the challenges in the Netherlands such as the limited building height or congestion on the power grid."
