Double the capacity of your small parts warehouse with our innovative automation solutions, and gain integrated control of various logistics processes.
Construction of an automated small parts warehouse
Fully automated small parts warehouse with 32,000 bin locations in five aisles, five storage and retrieval machines of the BOXer system solution, flow rack system for watches and manually operated pallets for accessories, Stöcklin logOS WMS software
Doubled warehouse storage capacity with future growth in mind
Integrated 3D visualization for operating and process statuses enables control room staff to intervene quickly, storage and retrieval capacity of approx. 640 containers/hour, construction time of just ten months
Since 1853, Tissot, part of the Swatch Group, has had a foundational backbone of Swiss craftsmanship and innovation. Producing nearly 4 million watches per year at a reasonable price point, Tissot has customers in more than 160 countries globally. The product range is divided into various collection lines.
In order to accommodate the rapid growth of the company, Tissot wanted to double its capacity with a new logistics center at the Le Locle site in Neuchâtel (NE), Switzerland. After a brief construction period of just 10 months, Tissot was able to implement powerful, modular intralogistics systems into operation in July 2011, thanks to Stoecklin's solution.
For this greenfield project, the focus was on automation with integration of various intralogistics processes, including:
- Defining functional areas for components, finished goods, fast moving items, and accessories
- Installing an overall control system for all material flow and existing systems
With a capacity of 7,500 cubic meters, the new logistics center was designed to store up to 12 million components, watches and accessories - enabling a delivery volume of five to six million watches per year.
The core of the system was a fully automated small parts warehouse, which is equipped with 32,000 container storage locations across five aisles, which are served by five storage and retrieval machines (SRMs) from the BOXer series.
The functional areas were clearly separated by two levels, each with their own loops, which are connected to each other by conveyor technology. On the floor, workstations attached to the miniload were installed for component picking; the upper floor was designed for picking finished goods.
The miniload was supplemented by a flow rack system (DLR) for high-volume watches (fast-moving items) and a manually operated pallet rack, which is primarily used for accessories.
The system is operated in 2-shift operation, 16 hours a day, five days a week. The warehouse management system (WMS) of the Stoecklin logOS Software Suite, enables integrated control of the entire system as well as real-time transparency of operating and process statuses at a central control station.
The automated small parts warehouse, stacker cranes, and conveyor technology from Stoecklin strengthened growth capacity for Tissot right from the start. The 3D visualization of the operating and process statuses at the control station speeds up troubleshooting if necessary - for short downtimes and maximum operational readiness. Last but not least, the lightweight design and intelligent energy management of the BOXer system solution ensures sustainable energy savings.
