Australian supermarket chain Coles has partnered with German logistics company Witron to automate its new 66,000 sqm distribution centre (DC) in Sydney’s Kemps Creek.

The new centre will service 229 New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory stores, processing four million cartons - or 32 million products - weekly.

Coles chief executive officer Leah Weckert explains automation processes at the ADC - following the opening of Coles first ADC in Queensland last August - reduce manual handling of 16 million kg each week, delivering “a step-change for the safety of our team”.

The technology used by Witron has facilitated the full utilisation of the 36 m high building, with pallets able to be packed to different heights in an optimal stacking sequence, based on product characteristics and store-friendly logic.  

Once pallets are delivered to stores, they require less sorting because of the improved product grouping and greater levels of accuracy, which it is hoped will improve on-shelf availability of items.

The automation of the distribution centres forms part of a billion dollar investment by Coles in technology-led innovation.

Witron specialises in logistics solutions, with an emphasis on automation solutions for fresh produce logistics.