Norwegian SentralDistribusjon - first with OSR technology in Scandinavia

Just over 18 months since the Austrian company KNAPP AG bought Moving, the first contract for an automated warehouse with OSR technology has been signed. The customer is the Norwegian SentralDistribusjon in Oslo, who are pioneers in Scandinavia but far from being the first in the world.

OSR, or "Order Storage & Retrieval", from KNAPP is a successful product based on shuttle technology with very fast and efficient "goods-to-man" picking. The system allows for compact storage of a wide variety of articles, while picking capacity is very high compared to, for example, traditional Miniload technology. The picking stations ensure flawless, highly efficient and ergonomic order picking. KNAPP has already delivered a large number of similar systems around the world, but in Scandinavia SentralDistribusjon becomes the first reference customer for this type of technology.

SentralDistribusjon AS, owned by Cappelen Damm AS, is the logistics partner for approximately 115 Norwegian publishing houses with a turnover of NOK 170 million and 120 employees. It is responsible for the storage and distribution of books and other media products. Each year it distributes 13,000,000 books covering 35,000 titles, representing approximately 50% of the Norwegian book market. In addition, it distributes over 2,600,000 items for book clubs and online shopping, as well as providing a wide range of additional services in the form of special packaging solutions, mechanical packing, mailing information, etc.
SentralDistribusjon has its headquarters and central warehouse in Oslo, and another major warehouse and distribution centre in Skarn. In total there are approximately 40,000 pallets in stock.

OSR is a semi-automated order handling system. Based on the "Goods-to-man" principle and depending on the type of application, client articles are stored either on trays, in plastic crates, cartons or boxes and then transported to an operator/order picker for processing. At each level in the warehouse a shuttle moves independently of the other shuttles and picks up and leaves the carriers in racks. This principle provides very high capacity due to the short lead times from order intake to arrival at the picking operator. A lift takes the carriers to a conveyor system that transports the boxes to and from the ergonomic picking stations. By using this type of technology, it is possible to achieve picking capacities between 500-800 orders per hour, per aisle and picking station, which is 3-5 times higher than what can be achieved with a traditional Miniload solution!

For SentralDistribusjon this solution will contribute to cost-savings as well as increased productivity and quality. In addition, the solution will ensure better access to and control of warehouse contents, and faster transportation of goods to the existing sorting station.

"Now with the availability of OSR’s leading technology combined with our own Miniload solutions, KNAPP-Moving can offer a complete product portfolio for all types of picking applications for light goods. In addition to picking solutions, OSR also offers various types of other application areas within a DC, e.g. goods receiving, returns handling, buffer storage, replenishment, sequencing and sorting," says Ulf Jansson, C.E.O. of KNAPP-Moving AB.