Spanish supermarket chain Mercadona has announced the full launch of CIMCORP automation in its third of four distribution centres to be fitted with the Nordic-based integrator’s robotic handling solutions.
Following the installation of CIMCORP automation in Mercadona’s Zaragoza and San Isidro sites, the systems are now up and running in its Parc Sagunt facility in Sagunto, Valencia. The fourth and final distribution centre set to make us of this technology is based in Huévar del Aljarafe, Seville.
The Sagunto facility began its launch of the automated solutions in May 2022 and has gradually ramped up to full capacity. CIMCORP claims that its solutions have resulted in ‘record order fulfillment lead time for two of Mercadona’s large logistics centers’.
One function of the warehouse automation is to maintain optimal freshness of produce, which it does by reducing lead time. Kari Miikkulainen, Director of Warehouse & Distribution Industry Sales at CIMCORP said: “Today, stores offering the freshest, most seasonal produce will win. Our job is to help industry players provide their shoppers with more high-quality, fresh produce in less time, enabling longer shelf life and therefore less food waste.”
Another advantage of this is its prevention of employee overexertion. Through the use of robots rather than human workers to carry out certain tasks, Mercadona can reduce the risk of staff injury. “We trust our robots with the heavy lifting” said Javier Blasco, Logistics Solutions Purchasing Manager at Mercadona.
Blasco continued: “Trusting automation maximises the centre’s output capacity, increasing the quality and productivity of the staff at work. This collaborative human-machine know-how ensures that everything inside the four walls of the distribution centres is optimised, and no orders are ever late.”
