Vom klassischen Stahlhandel hin zum automatisierten Lagersystem. Das Bedürfnis nach effizienteren Arbeitsabläufen führte die Aug. Heseding GmbH zu einem maßgeschneiderten Hochregalsystem. Erreicht werden konnte so eine deutlich gesteigerte Warenverfügbarkeit, der Kommissionierungsprozess wurde effizienter, und die Fehlerquote konnte reduziert werden.
Das niedersächsische Unternehmen Aug. Heseding GmbH ist seit fast 70 Jahren im Stahlgeschäft tätig. An zwei Standorten, Lohne und Westerstede, sind heute 100 Mitarbeiter beschäftigt. Mit 40.000 Artikeln, 2.400 Kassetten im Hochregal und 13.100 Quadratmeter überdachter Lagerfläche verfügt das Unternehmen über ein beträchtliches Firmenareal. Gehandelt wird mit Stahl, Arbeitsschutz, Werkzeug & Maschinen, Betriebseinrichtung, Befestigungstechnik, Antriebstechnik und Industriebedarf. Seit Dezember 2020 ist das erneuerte, 22 Meter hohe vollautomatisierte fehr-Hochregallager für Rohre und Profile aus Stahl, Edelstahl und Aluminium in Betrieb. Es bietet nun Platz für 2.400 Kassetten und für 8.400 Tonnen Ware mit Längen bis zu 6,5 Metern. Seit 1973 ist Heseding außerdem Mitglied im Einkaufsbüro Deutscher Eisenhändler (E/D/E) – dem größten Einkaufs- und Marketingverbund im Produktionsverbindungshandel Europas, mit 1.189 mittelständischen Handelsunternehmen. Das E/D/E setzt sich für den Ausbau der Marktposition seiner Mitglieder ein und sichert so künftige Erfolge im Wettbewerbsumfeld. Neben dem umfangreichen Produktsortiment bietet es seinen Mitgliedern eine Fülle an professionellen Dienstleistungen. Mit dem durch das E/D/E geknüpfte Netzwerk war es Heseding möglich, seit Beitritt ein stetiges Wachstum zu verzeichnen.
Heseding relies on advice
At Heseding, customers receive advice from trained staff. This is done either by telephone, in the Heseding showroom or at the customers' premises. The company has 18 vehicles in its own fleet, which are supplied to customers. Orders can be delivered flexibly within 24 hours; delivery via parcel services is also possible. Another factor which favors a short delivery time is the fully automatic central warehouse of the E/D/E in Wuppertal (eLC). From there, over 80,000 items are delivered to customers in the shortest possible time. The company’s processes are constantly supported by a successful combination of a modern inventory management system and warehouse logistics, which makes it possible to work without documentation and has a positive impact on productivity. Nevertheless, the storage line can intervene, if necessary, on processes in the flow of goods in order, for example, to prioritize an order. An optimal flow of goods and the best possible handling of the goods can therefore always be ensured. Thanks to the new online shop and the diverse digital ordering options, the wide range is even more easily accessible for customers.
A new system as a growth booster
From the classic steel trade to the automated storage system – that was the aim of Aug. Heseding GmbH. There was also a desire for a partner to provide long-term support within the framework of this project. Due to the tailor-made logistics and needs analysis and project advice in advance, the choice finally fell to Fehr. The operation of the new warehouse or its software should be particularly quick and easy. A simple user interface was therefore particularly important in order to be able to quickly train all employees. A high-bay warehouse of the "Fehr honeycomb" type was built for long goods. More specifically, a shelf system supporting the building, block 1+2 with 2,442 compartments and various peripheral stations for storing and removing the material. As well as a high-bay warehouse "Fehr honeycomb" for flat goods/sheets. This second high-bay warehouse is a free-standing block 1+2 with 668 compartments. At both high-bay warehouses, Fehr carried out both assembly and commissioning, training and project management. The entire system was installed at Brägeler Ring 2, in 49393 Lohne. To analyze the current situation, a very general performance simulation was first made to ensure that the correct hardware is used. Both the WMS and the ERP connection were intensively presented and discussed on site. The assembly of the first high-bay warehouse began on 15 June 2020. This was completed and commissioned on 4 December 2020, i.e. after about 6 months. After about a year, the assembly of the second high-bay warehouse began. The assembly began on 23 August 2021; the completion and commissioning took place almost two months later on 20 October 2021. Even after the construction of the first high-bay warehouse, the storage capacity and availability could be significantly increased compared to the old systems.
Logistics processes for warehousing and removal from storage have also been significantly improved. The increased inventory options made possible deals and economies of scale in purchasing that had previously failed due to the lack of space.
Significantly increased goods availability
"Our goods availability has increased significantly. The purchasing and sales departments appreciate the new possibilities offered by the technology of Fehr Lagerlogistik AG," announces the management of Aug. Heseding GmbH. The commissioning process became considerably more efficient and the error rate with the resulting complaints has thereby been greatly reduced. In addition, the increasing shortage of skilled labor could be partly compensated. "Fehr Lagerlogistik AG was and is the right partner for us for our requirements. In the Corona year 2020 with two lockdowns, it was only possible to meet the time frame reliably with extremely professional advice, project implementation and perfect joint planning. The cooperation was competent, forward-looking and trustful at every level, including the assembly staff on site. Our partner deserves special recognition for this." The new warehousing and logistics technology of Fehr Lagerlogistik AG has eliminated a significant bottleneck in logistics from Aug. Heseding. Now the increasingly growing customer demands for quality, availability, batch tracking can be met much better than in the past. In the next expansion stage, we also want to cooperate with Fehr.
