In Albert Heijn's future distribution centre, robots will take over order picking and stacking from regular workers.
Last year, the chain already announced the arrival of a mechanised distribution centre in Zaandam. Now it turns out that this mechanisation is going to pay off Albert Heijn quite handsomely. By implementing an algorithm, more products can be stacked on the roll container. "This means almost two hundred thousand fewer roll containers need to be transported per year," Hilbert Roukema told Ahá, the supermarket giant's staff magazine. That would save some six hundred thousand transport kilometres.
The DC, which will open its doors in 2017, will only process perishable products. Sustainability will play a major role. For instance, LED lighting will be used and solar panels may be installed on the roof. The DC will besiege around three hundred shops.
Editorial LogistiekProfs
