Arlington Heights, IL: Coop Norge Handel AS, the second largest food retailer in Norway, has signed a contract with Witron Integrated Logistcs to build a 535,000-square-feet automated distribution center near Oslo.
The distribution center will feature four temperature zones and service the eastern part of the country, as well as handle slow moving and special items for Coop's 850 stores throughout Norway.
After evaluating a number of solution providers, Coop selected Witron because of its overall concept, its extensive experience and success with similar projects and its lowered cost-per-case handling capabilities.
"The complete concept impressed us regarding its cost-efficiency, ergonomics, energy efficiency and flexibility," says Halvor Nassvik, Coop's logistics director.
The site will hold nearly 12,500 SKUs from the dry-assortment, fresh assortment (36 degrees Farenheit), as well as the frozen product assortment ( minus 13 degrees Farenheit) and fruit and vegetable products (45 degrees Farenheit).
All pallet/stacker cranes and conveyors will be built by FAS, a Witron subsidiary, and will be equipped with environmentally friendly power saving and synchronous propulsion technology.
The material flow in all stock areas and temperature zones is interlaced with the highest logistic efficiency. "The Witron technology will enable us to offer our customer an optimal and sustainable store-service for many years to come," says Nassvik.
Witron supplied the design, and will supply the IT, PLC-controls and all mechanics. Technical service and operation of the logistics center will be managed by a Witron on-site team.
