Keller & Kalmbach's new distribution centre has a warehouse with 35,000 storage locations.

Jungheinrich has just completed one of its biggest automated materials handling projects for German fastener, screw and machine tool wholesaler Keller & Kalmbach GmbH.

Keller & Kalmbach's new distribution centre, located near Nuremberg, includes a pallet racking warehouse with 35,000 storage locations, an automated small parts warehouse with storage for 164,000 boxes, an automated small parts warehouse for 8,000 trays, and an order picking area designed to cope with a fast throughput of orders.

Jungheinrich set up all stations to support order picking from pallets as well as from boxes and trays. A Jungheinrich warehouse management system manages all of the storage areas.

Stefan Seemüller from Jungheinrich Germany's Automatic Systems says the system enables Keller & Kalmbach to deploy its staff in "the most efficient way possible".

Ingomar Schubert, head of Supply Chain Management at Keller & Kalmbach, adds that the project is "the most ambitious construction project in [the] company's history". It was implemented in less than 18 months from when the contract was awarded.

"Being able to stick to the time plan for a project of this size is critical to the customer," says Seemüller.

Steve Richmond, general manager of Jungheinrich UK's Systems & Projects Division, says the company operates an international network of systems and projects divisions focusing on tailored solutions, from manual warehousing systems to fully automated warehousing systems.