Apotea, an online pharmacy based in Sweden, has completed the installation of an AutoStore automation system from Element Logic.
The decision to invest in automation was driven by demand for its warehouse to deliver approximately 50,000 orders to its customers each day. It is hoped that the new solution will support the company in meeting the increase in demand that came about during the pandemic.
The solution is comprised of 20,000 bins, 30 AutoStore R5 robots, and four carousel ports. The robots move along a grid around the clock to pick and deliver goods, calculating the ‘smartest available routes’ to optimise efficiency.
It also includes three eOperator piece-picking robots developed collaboratively by the two companies with RightHand Robotics. Element Logic says that the eOperator uses machine learning to ‘automatically select the best way to handle an item to be picked from AutoStore’, which it claims improves order capacity, goods handling, and delivery time. Apotea’s warehouse is the first in the world to make use of fully-integrated eOperator robots.
Apotea expects that the addition of this solution will not only improve efficiency but also save space, reduce costs, and make work more stimulating for its employees.
Thomas Karlsson, Managing Director of Element Logic Sweden, said: “To Apotea, the automation solution of AutoStore, eOperator, and other features from Element Logic goes splendidly with their combined targets of optimal warehouse efficiency and environmental care.”
He added: “We look forward to following Apotea’s journey towards highly accurate deliveries along with saved energy, reduced noise levels, and ergonomically-friendly working hours.”
Element Logic (stand i930) and AutoStore (stand i400) will be at IntraLogisteX on 28-29 March 2023 at the NEC Birmingham. For more information, visit www.intralogistex.co.uk.
