MAHLE Aftermarket Automates Distribution Center in Olive Branch, North America with AutoStore

Montgomery, OH, January 13, 2022 – As a leading global parts and solutions provider to the Independent Aftermarket, MAHLE Aftermarket is seeing a shift in customer order profiles from larger pallet orders to smaller package orders in higher frequency. This results in an increasing number of shipping points per customer and shipping smaller quantities to more locations.

To accommodate this shift, MAHLE Aftermarket will implement an AutoStore system from Kardex in their Olive Branch, MS location to automate small parts handling. MAHLE Aftermarket selected AutoStore, a robotic storage technology solution empowered by Kardex for the speed and density of the solution as well as Kardex’s ability to provide superior maintenance and support services by leveraging the Kardex service network.

AutoStore is a fully automated and intelligent goods-to-person storage and retrieval system offering leading product storage density. Bins are stacked vertically in a grid and retrieved by intelligent, battery-powered robots that travel on top of the grid system, sorting, carrying and delivering bins to the respective workstations (ports), where a variety of warehouse operations can be performed (picking, replenishment, inventory control, etc.). The flexible, tailor-made system fits even the most unusually shaped facilities, allowing the grid to be placed around columns, on mezzanines and on multiple levels. The bins are stacked neatly on top of each other in a condensed grid-style system, increasing storage capacity up to four times and performance up to 10 times that of traditional storage methods, all without the need for additional workforce. AutoStore can easily adapt to changing order fulfillment requirements through a flexible configuration of the robots, ports and quantity of bin locations.

A global transformation

As a central core of MAHLE Aftermarket’s Digitalization and Automatization Strategy “Warehouse 4.0”, the Kardex AutoStore solution will enable the company to increase efficiencies and standardize operations on a global scale while achieving high customer service levels and quality goals.  

A tailor-made solution that is scalable, space-saving and fast

In the first stage, the AutoStore system in Olive Branch will contain 42,000 storage bins.  18 AutoStore R5 robots will sort, carry and deliver bins to 5 carousel ports and 2 conveyor ports serving as workstations for picking and replenishment. The ports will be linked directly to light goods conveyors for sortation to LTL and parcel outbound processing. The AutoStore solution will be integrated with the existing Warehouse Management System SAP EWM at MAHLE Aftermarket. Due to the modular design of AutoStore, performance and storage capacity can be expanded at any time, without impacting ongoing operations.

‍

“Our motivation to increase the level of automation in our warehouses came from a need to increase efficiency in order fulfillment, and a desire to provide our channel partners with the best service in the industry. The space-saving AutoStore solution from Kardex is able to provide the speed, precision, and reliability that our customers demand in today's fast-paced world”, concludes Jon Douglas, President Aftermarket North America at MAHLE.

‍

About MAHLE Aftermarket

MAHLE Aftermarket, the business unit specializing in spare parts, uses the expertise from the series production of original equipment in its product range and supplies trade, workshop, and engine repair partners. The portfolio also includes products developed by MAHLE Service Solutions for workshop equipment as well as comprehensive services and customized training programs.  

MAHLE Aftermarket is represented at 25 locations and other sales offices worldwide, with around 1,700 employees. In 2020, the business unit achieved a global sales volume of about EUR 898 million.

Kardex社について

Kardex社は、自動入出庫およびマテリアルハンドリングシステムを提供するイントラロジスティックスソリューションのリーディングカンパニーです。Kardex RemstarとKardex Mlogという2つの起業家的経営部門で構成されています。Kardex社の使命は、商品や材料の保管と取り扱いの効率性を高めるソリューションとサービスを世界規模で提供することです。

この2つの部門は、顧客の製品やソリューションのライフサイクル全体にわたってパートナーとしての役割を果たします。プロジェクトの分析から実現、そしてサービスまで、Kardex社は、あらゆる段階で顧客のパフォーマンス向上を支援します。Kardex社は、自社の生産工場をドイツに3つ、北米に1つ有しており、品質の高いソリューションを提供しています。Kardex社は、技術革新と優れた顧客ロイヤルティにおける自社の競争優位性を維持および強化するため、研究開発、サプライチェーン、サービス組織の拡大、さらには買収による新テクノロジーの獲得に投資しています。Kardex社は、AutoStore、Rocket Solution社、Robomotive社、Intertex社、Sumobox社など、Kardex社と同じ価値観を共有し、Kardex社のソリューションを補完するグローバルリーダーと積極的に提携しています。

Kardex employs 2,000 team members across 30 countries and has installed over 140,000 industry-specific solutions worldwide.

For more information visit: AutoStore | Kardex