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ICA Group Quick and Efficient Retrofit Project
Technology Category
- Functional Applications - Warehouse Management Systems (WMS)
- Automation & Control - Automation & Process Control Systems
Applicable Industries
- Retail
- Food & Beverage
Applicable Functions
- Warehouse & Inventory Management
- Logistics & Transportation
Use Cases
- Warehouse Automation
- Inventory Management
The Challenge
The old cranes in ICA's central warehouse were 25 years old and needed to be replaced quickly during the off-peak season without affecting delivery service to stores. The challenge was to replace the old cranes and put the new cranes in operation in seven weeks. ICA sent an inquiry to four players and chose Swisslog due to their good relations and proven track record in the Nordic region. The project was planned, designed, and procured about a year before the actual replacement took place, involving a team of five to six people working full-time and another 25 people involved in different aspects of the work.
About The Customer
ICA Group is Sweden’s largest grocery retailer and one of the country’s largest companies, with operations in pharmacy, banking, and real estate activities. The core of ICA Group’s operation is the retail grocery trade, carried out in 2,300 stores in Sweden and the Baltic countries. ICA has set high targets for continued strong growth, profitability, and sustainability. Effective logistics and warehousing operations are prioritized activities in conjunction with the ongoing work to modernize and streamline ICA’s logistics network.
The Solution
Swisslog was chosen to replace the six worn-out stacker cranes in ICA's central warehouse. The project was carried out according to plan, with the replacement starting at the end of June and the first cranes in place by early July. All six cranes were in operation before the end date of the stringent time plan. The new six High Bay cranes are of the type Vectura S32. The replacement was an emergency measure to ensure the operation of the facility and avoid shutdowns. The facility’s track system, also 25 years old, will eventually need to be replaced to obtain conditions for greatly increased productivity and efficiency in the automated High Bay Warehouse.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
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