The trading firm has recently decided to carry out an upgrade of its distribution centre with the help of BITO-Lagertechnik Bittmann GmbH in order to improve productivity. For this purpose, BITO retro-fitted static pallet racking levels with carton live storage flow shelves. The self-supporting flow shelves are simply hooked into slots of the upright adapter profiles which allow this system to be implemented in pallet racking of any manufacturer.

As early as in the 1980s, the product range of the supermarket supplier Tegut Gutberlet Stiftung & Co. in Fulda, Germany, was enlarged by organically produced fruit and vegetables. The organic segment with more than 2.500 products comes in part from company owned subsidiaries and the bakery shop which both closely cooperate with farmers of the Eastern Hesse region.

According to their turnover frequency, the organic products are supplied in static pallet racking levels. In order to increase picking performance of their operators while maintaining the FIFO principle during in- and outfeeding, Tegut decided to upgrade its existing pallet racking from BITO and other manufacturers. Static pallet racking levels were to be retro-fitted with carton live storage flow levels.

Customer requirements translated into a practice oriented solution

The upgrade involved fitting roller track levels. To this end, flow levels are hooked into upright adapters with the help of adapter clips. The upright adapters are simply bolted to the uprights of existing pallet racking of any brand. The slot pattern of the upright adapter profiles allows to regulate level spacing on a 12.5 mm pitch. The static pallet buffer on top of the newly created live storage levels makes sure that supply routes are short.

Live storage in the carton live storage levels ensures strict adherence to the FIFO principle. Moreover, all references on stock can be immediately viewed and accessed which facilitates the overview on batches and helps monitoring sell-by dates. Travel routes are cut down considerably due to separate loading and picking aisles. This, in turn, increases staff efficiency during replenishment and picking actions as operators are not in each other’s way.

BITO-Lagertechnik Bittmann GmbH

BITO-Lagertechnik, headquartered at Meisenheim, Germany, specialises in storage and workshop equipment as well as in order picking systems. The product portfolio includes shelving and racking, bins and containers as well as workshop equipment and accessories for use in any industry. BITO customers can choose from a wide range of standard products developed and manufactured by BITO and benefit from customised project solutions along with the reliable and competent BITO service – from a single source. The medium-sized, family owned company operates production plants in Germany and has a joint venture with production plant in India. BITO runs 13 subsidiaries in Western and Eastern Europe, 1 subsidiary in Dubai and operates sales offices in Austria, Bulgaria and Russia. In 2009, the group with a staff of 720 achieved a turnover of 125 million EUR.