Shorter routes and more efficient returns processing

GEHE Pharma Handel GmbH, Weiterstadt branch, Germany

The pharmaceutical wholesaler supplies drugs to 6500 pharmacies across Germany, daily. GEHE is a link
between and a reliable partner for pharmacies and pharmaceutical manufacturers. With over 2300
employees, the company guarantees the constant availability of all drugs and standard pharmacy
products available in Germany. The GEHE site in Weiterstadt has a total of 10 Rowa Vmax™, two of which
are in a cold store.

Thanks to our ‘cool’ Rowa Vmax™ system, our employees now no longer have
to pick items in the cold store. This means that they do not have to travel as
far, and therefore saving time, which we now use more efficiently.
Thomas Merkle, Project Manager GEHE Pharma Handel, Weiterstadt
 Facts & Figures:
10 × Rowa Vmax™
Dimensions of each Vmax™:
15.17 m L × 1.63 m W × 3.50 m H
Capacity: All 10 Vmax’s holds
approx. 400,000 packages
Number of SKUs stored in all
10 Vmax™: Approx. 43,000
Containers filled per hour: All 10
Vmax’s holds approx. 1,150 containers
2 × Rowa ProLog™
Storage capacity:
approx. 120–200 packages per hour
2 × Rowa™ Order Buffer
Technical maximum throughput:
up to 1,200 containers per hour

The Challenge The Solution

> Improve efficiency in the order picking of slow-moving > Using a total of 8 Rowa Vmax™ in the non-refrigerated
products area, it was possible to reduce the required storage area,
increase the level of automation and minimise the error
rate in order picking.

> Reduce the time employees spend picking > Installation of two Rowa Vmax™ with fully automated
refrigerated items from the cold store. Storage, employees now spend 90 % less time in the
cold store temperatures.

> Increase order picking at the filling point > The two Rowa™ Order Buffers fill containers and buffer
in limited spaces, thus ensuring greater efficiency and
higher output at the filling point

> Reduce the level of manual work when storing items > Fully automated storage reduces manual work and
and monitoring expiry dates. speeds up the processes.

❄
2 × Rowa Vmax™ with fully automated storage in a cold store 8 × Rowa Vmax™ in the non-refrigerated area

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