Bye-bye air cushions: Digitec Galaxus no longer uses protective packaging
Digitec Galaxus now packages around 90% of its range fully automated and without the use of protective packaging. This is possible thanks to two high-tech packaging machines located in the central warehouse of the Swiss online retailer. These machines envelop orders in made-to-measure cardboard boxes, thereby protecting them from transport damage.
Digitec Galaxus is taking a further step towards automating its logistics: Following a successful test phase, the Swiss online retailer recently put into operation the first of two new packaging machines. The second machine is due to be put to work in the next few days. Together, the packaging stations located in Wohlen, canton Aargau, can process 1,400 orders per hour. Unlike manual packaging, the automated method does not require any protective material: Instead, the machines customise the parcels to perfectly fit the bundled orders.
Both machines combined are able to process around 85 per cent of the articles in the Digitec Galaxus warehouse without the use of protective packaging. «Items that are still manually packed by our employees include hard drives, which we only ship in special parcels,» says COO Johannes Cramer. There is also a size limit: «The machines can process orders with a length of up to 80 centimetres and a height of 37 centimetres.» For the time being, Digitec Galaxus also still manually packages glassware and other fragile items as well as collective orders containing more than four articles.
The warehouse keeps on buzzing
In spite of these new machines, manual labour still plays an important role in the warehouse. However, the working steps have changed: Before the machines can package and label skateboards, mobile phones or T-shirts, logistics employees scan the ordered products and bundle collective orders. Only after these steps have been completed, the order is transferred to the conveyor belt. In other words, things that belong together stay together, says Cramer. «It also prevents things from moving about too much during transport. This is particularly the case when packages contain articles in varying sizes.» In addition, there is a need for machine attendants to refill consumables and other materials as well as technicians to attend to any problems.
For the time being, the packaging machines should be able to tackle the order volume ex-warehouse. «However, we expect to reach the capacity limit this Black Friday and during the pre-Christmas period,» Cramer predicts. What’s more, Digitec Galaxus continues to grow. «We are currently looking at purchasing a further machine.»
Tech-savvy readers can find out more about how the machine is implemented into the existing logistics software here:
Images for free use
The new packaging machine:
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Digitec Galaxus headquarters in Zurich:
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COO Johannes Cramer:
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Contact for media representatives
Digitec Galaxus AG
Corporate Communications
Pfingstweidstrasse 60, CH-8005 Zurich
Phone: +41 44 575 96 96
E-mail: media@digitecgalaxus.ch
Internet: digitec.ch galaxus.ch
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Alex Hämmerli
Senior Public Relations Manager
Alex.Haemmerli@digitecgalaxus.chAt Digitec and Galaxus, I’m in charge of communication with journalists and bloggers. Good stories are my passion – I am always up to date.
