Novità

Varner’s new AutoStore soon to be fully operational – will be one of the fastest in the world

06.12.2023

At the beginning of 2022, fashion group Varner AS announced its decision to expand its Nordic central warehouse in Vänersborg and to invest in an additional AutoStore solution from Swisslog. In June this year, the new AutoStore solution began to be deployed, step by step. When fully operational in March 2024, it will be one of the fastest in the world.

The new AutoStore solution consists of 425 robots, 250,000 bins, and 62 workstations, and includes the capacity for further expansion. The Swisslog solution also includes SynQ software, which controls and monitors the automation process, as well as conveyor systems, packaging machines and a further five miniload cranes. With the new automation solution, Varner will be able to handle 7,500 order lines per hour, which makes the AutoStore solution one of the fastest in the world.

»The parts of the solution that we have started using are working very well. All the installed hardware works excellently, and we are continuing to develop and test our new packaging machines for paper bags. We’ve had some challenges with the software, but on the whole it’s working well,« says Anders Eriksson, who is Supply Chain Director at Varner AS, which is one of the largest fashion groups in the Nordic region, featuring the popular chains Dressmann, Cubus, Carlings, Bik Bok, Volt and Junkyard.

The decision to invest in an additional AutoStore is a result of the rapid growth of e-commerce and reflects Varner’s own ambitious commitments to both growth and customer service.

»With the new facility, we will have two compact, fast and flexible ‘factories’ for our warehousing and distribution. This makes it possible for us to provide both stores and customers with faster and better service in a highly competitive market,« explains Anders.

The new AutoStore solution will exclusively serve Varner’s e-commerce customers, while the other will solely serve the group’s around 1,200 stores.

»High demands and straightforward communication«

Since the very start, back in 2013, the collaboration between Varner and Swisslog has been characterized not only by a very close and developing cooperation, but also by high demands and good communication.

»Our collaboration began ten years ago. Right from the start, we established a really good collaboration, which is based on high demands on our part, but also on straightforward communication and a shared high level of ambition,« explains Anders Eriksson.

»We are filled with pride and enthusiasm as we prepare to deploy Varner’s second AutoStore solution, marking a significant milestone in our developing collaboration,« says Marcus Dahlin, who is Senior Project Manager at Swisslog.