The doors of a new Home Shop Center (HSC) of supermarket chain Albert Heijn in Barendrecht were recently opened. In the centre, Albert Heijn uses robots to automatically pack customer orders. Every week, the system will take care of 45,000 orders.
Albert Heijn has long been active in delivering groceries to customers' homes. The automated HSC it is now opening supports this service. Robots in the centre load products fully automatically into the familiar blue grocery crates that the chain delivers to customers' homes.
Around 300 robots active
The HSC features an automated network of rails. A total of some 300 robots are active in the system. They drive a total of 45,000 totes through the centre, collecting groceries ordered by customers.
The robots focus exclusively on picking and packing perishable products. They work closely with human employees of Albert Heijn; humans complete orders and add fresh products, among other things.
Cooperation with Swisslog
The mechanisation of the centre was carried out in cooperation with Swisslog. This company specialises in warehouse automation for logistics processes. The company is part of the KUKA Group and has over 14,000 employees worldwide. Among other things, it supplies automated storage systems, automatic transport and conveyor systems, picking and palletising solutions and supporting software.
Besides the HSC in Barendrecht, the construction of a mechanised HSC in Zwolle is also planned. This centre is due to open its doors in mid-2024.
Sustainability
Albert Heijn is also betting on sustainability with the new HSC. For example, the centre is equipped with over 5,400 solar panels, an energy-efficient cold store, LED lighting and a heat pump for the climate system in the offices. There are also 63 charging points for electric vehicles.
Marit van Egmond, CEO Albert Heijn: "As the largest e-commerce player in supermarket country, Albert Heijn is committed to innovation, growth and sustainability. In doing so, we continuously seek the latest technologies to work smarter and more efficiently. I am proud of the new step we are taking in our HSC in Barendrecht. With this, we are tapping into yet another opportunity to continue to grow with e-commerce, taking into account the tightness in the labour market."
Author: Wouter Hoeffnagel
Photos: Albert Heijn
