Due to increasing market requirements for wide product ranges and fast deliveries, the food trade industry is increasingly relying on modern automation technology for storage and order picking. Consequently, the organic wholesaler Phönix from Germany decided to optimize and expand its intralogistics by investing in two highly efficient AutoStore systems, empowered by Element Logic.

Phönix GmbH is part of Bio Development AG and supplies retailers, chain stores, large kitchens, and catering companies with organic food. The company was founded in 1981, selling exclusive organically grown products from a garage, such as cereals, nuts, dried fruit, and grain. In the course of time Phönix has become professional and today offers a product range of more than 10.000 items.

The main warehouse of Phönix is currently located at the company’s headquarters in Rosbach near Frankfurt. From November 2020, Phönix will relocate its headquarters to Lützellinden, 40 kilometers north of the current location. To make optimal use of the larger storage area and to be able to achieve more efficient logistics processes, Phönix commissioned the intralogistics expert Element Logic to plan and implement two AutoStore systems. One system will be built up in the cooling area and a second one in the dry area of the logistics hall, which consists of 14.500 square metres of space. The modular design and the extremely dense AutoStore system enable optimal use of space. Driveways or free areas for operating devices are no longer required – this enormous space efficiency was one of the decisive reasons for Phönix to invest in two AutoStore systems implemented under one roof.

The AutoStore system in the cooling area will be built on an intermediate platform on 391 m² floor space, offering a final capacity of 7.500 storage bins. In the first construction phase, the system will initially be equipped with 5.500 bins, 5 robots and 2 conveyor ports.

The AutoStore system in the dry area will also be set up with the final size of 882 m², enabling a storage capacity of 35.500 AutoStore bins. In the first phase, the system will be equipped with 20.000 bins, 16 robots and 4 conveyor ports.

“The Element Logic team convinced us through their quick reactions at all times and the very competent and uncomplicated cooperation. We are sure that with Element Logic and their AutoStore solution, we have chosen the right partner who can ideally support us in our further development at the Lützellinden location, especially in the current, incredibly dynamic situation”, emphasizes Jörg Mayer, Managing Director of Phönix GmbH.