SSI SCHAEFER SUPPLIES IKEA

Logistics Insight Asia, 1/9/2009

Swedish furnishing house Ikea is pursuing two future-oriented projects that will demonstrate influence on distribution logistics as well as intra logistics.

The company is setting up an increasing number of multi-level stores, which off er the customer showrooms on several levels. The furnishing house is also concentrating on the use of new storage aids like loading ledges. Its partner for the projects is SSI Schaefer.

“By using recyclable tripod plastic corners as well as paper or cardboard pallets, we are able to save space when storing products and process them easier,” explains Michael Geiger, logistics manager at Ikea Nieder- Eschbach, close to Frankfurt/Main. “Furthermore, the reduced use of conventional pallets also saves handling and warehousing expenses.”

Geiger adds, “In order to ideally use the advantages of the new building structure and the new storage aids, we also wanted to apply an efficient solution to the internal flow of material between goods receiving and allocation in the showrooms. After checking numerous possibilities, the use of a conveyor system turned out to be the best solution.”

Schaefer is currently installing the sixth system of this type at Ikea in La Coruna, Spain. The remaining five systems are located in Nieder-Eschbach, St Gallen and Lyssach in Switzerland; Dublin, Ireland; and Ghent in Belgium.

The approximately 34,500 square meters gross floor area of the multi-level store in Nieder-Eschbach extends over three stories. Goods receiving is located on the lower level, while sales areas are located on the ground and first floor. There, 9,500 items are directly available to customers.