Mecalux to Automate Manitou DC

Manitou Group, supplier of handling, aerial work platform and earth moving equipment, has opened a new automated warehouse at its spare parts centre in Ancenis, France. The innovative solution consists of the Shuttle System from Mecalux.

Manitou Group, headquartered in Ancenis, has showcased its new automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS). Mecalux has outfitted the French group’s logistics centre with the Shuttle System. This AS/RS — which houses more than 20,000 containers in just 560 m² — responds to the logistics centre’s space constraints. Two high-performance pick stations complete the solution installed. This innovative system increases productivity when it comes to picking the group’s small, high-turnover parts comprising nearly 16,000 SKUs.

The project began in 2021. It took shape in August 2021 with the installation of the structure, and the entire warehouse was put into service in April 2022. Today, with just two operators, this AS/RS can prepare 500 order lines an hour.

“Mecalux has implemented the latest storage and order picking technologies in Manitou Group’s logistics center. The Shuttle System automates the movement of goods to two high-performance pick stations, which boost operator throughput,” says Daniel Joly, General Manager of Mecalux France.

Maxime Deroch, President of Manitou Group’s Services & Solutions division, explains why the company chose Mecalux as a provider: “To better serve our customers, we reduce the preparation time of orders received and to be shipped at the end of the day. We were looking for a solution that would leverage the latest technological innovations to optimise deliveries of rush orders. The Mecalux project team understood that our storage capacity issues would be solved by deploying a high-density solution, and this clinched our decision. Thanks to the top quality of our service, we’re constantly improving our customer satisfaction.”

This two-aisle AS/RS is also scalable. That is, a third aisle can be added to handle a higher order picking volume in the medium and long term.

The Mecalux Group, with headquarters in Chicago and Barcelona, is one of the world’s leading companies in the warehousing technology and logistics software market. With over 50 years of experience, Mecalux develops automated storage, warehouse management system and metal racking solutions for all industries. The multinational has an extensive worldwide distribution network, 11 production plants, 7 R&D centres for technological development and a workforce of 5,000 employees.