The second home of REWE's Central Logistics has been Magdeburg since Friday. Three years after the start of construction, REWE celebrated the opening of RE D 39 on 21 June. The new logistics centre for the dry goods range is considered state-of-the-art for full automation and sustainable construction.
REWE distribution centre in Magdeburg (Photos: Filmkumpels)
With an area of 49,500 square metres, the RE D 39 offers space for 20,000 items from the dry goods range. On peak days, up to 286,000 packages per day can leave the distribution centre via 53 goods issue gates. One of the reasons for the record-breaking efficiency of the new logistics centre: 50 percent of the warehouse processes in RE D 39 are fully automated. "With this high-tech warehouse in Magdeburg, we are not only securing the supply of goods to our stores in the north and east, we are also entering new dimensions in terms of the degree of automation and performance of this second central warehouse," explains Peter Maly, who is also responsible for logistics and supply chain management on the REWE Group Management Board. rEWE opened the first partially automated central warehouse in Neu-Isenburg in 2014, followed by the second warehouse with partial automation in Henstedt-Ulzburg in 2022 Since then, a lot of experience has been gained with the automation of warehouse processes. "With 50 per cent full automation, the RE D 39 is now the next evolutionary step in Central Logistics and makes Magdeburg one of the most modern logistics locations - not only for us in the REWE Group, but throughout Europe."
When fully operational, the RE D 39 employs around 270 people. The automated picking system enables highly ergonomic workstations: Only 50 per cent of the product range - predominantly light and small goods - are packed manually due to their nature. The remaining 50 per cent is picked fully automatically using "Automated Case Picking" to relieve the ergonomic burden on employees. AI-supported algorithms are also used in the automation and robotics technology.
In future, nine regional warehouses in the REWE East and North regions and 1,900 stores will be supplied with food from RE D 39. In addition to REWE, nahkauf stores and other REWE Group trading partners are also customers of the new logistics centre. "Modern food retailing with store opening hours of up to 17 hours places enormous demands on logistics. Thanks to the optimal location for supplying the North and East regions and the modern infrastructure in Magdeburg, we are able to control and optimise our supply chains even better," explains Lars Siebel, the REWE management member responsible for logistics.
In addition to state-of-the-art technologies, Sustainability and energy efficiency played a major role in the planning for RE D 39 from the very beginning. "By supplying from Magdeburg instead of Neu-Isenburg, we save 4 million kilometres of transport every year," explains Andy Bertmann, Head of Central Logistics Management at REWE Markt GmbH. "The new location thus has a decisive positive impact on REWE Group's climate targets."
R ED 39 has been gradually ramping up since February 2024. After no topping-out ceremony could take place in 2021 due to coronavirus, the joy at the small opening ceremony on 21 June in Magdeburg was all the greater. Around 100 guests from politics, the neighbourhood, partner companies and the press were able to see REWE Group's state-of-the-art warehouse for themselves during guided tours.
Peter Maly, REWE Group Management Board member responsible for logistics and supply chain management, among other things
"With this high-tech warehouse in Magdeburg, we are not only securing the supply of goods to our stores in the north and east, we are also entering new dimensions in terms of the degree of automation and performance of this second central warehouse. we opened our first partially automated central warehouse in Neu-Isenburg in 2014, followed by the second warehouse with partial automation in Henstedt-Ulzburg in 2022. Since then, we have gained a lot of experience with the automation of warehouse processes. With 50 per cent full automation, the RE D 39 is now the next evolutionary step in Central Logistics and makes Magdeburg one of the most modern logistics locations - not only for us in the REWE Group, but throughout Europe."
Simone Borris, Mayor of the City of Magdeburg
"We are delighted about the opening of REWE Group's new central warehouse in our Magdeburg-Rothensee industrial and logistics centre and wish the new site every success. The city council was very happy to support the project. The high-tech food warehouse will once again raise the profile of Magdeburg as a business location. At the intersection of important European traffic flows, such as the A2 and A14 motorways, the Deutsche Bahn AG network and the Elbe, Mittelland Canal and Elbe-Havel Canal shipping routes, Magdeburg offers decisive advantages for logistics companies."
Lars Siebel, Head of Logistics & Supply Chain Management, REWE
"Modern food retailing with store opening hours of up to 17 hours places enormous demands on logistics. With the opening of our new central warehouse, we have reached a major milestone in the implementation of our logistics strategy and can respond to future revenue, volume and item growth. The RE D 39 enables us to further optimise the distribution of goods in the REWE full-range segment through a significant increase in flexibility, improved delivery frequencies and delivery bundling as well as competitive logistics costs. Thanks to the ideal location for supplying the North and East regions and the modern infrastructure in Magdeburg, we are able to manage and optimise our supply chains even better.
Andy Bertmann, Head of Central Logistics Management at REWE
"By supplying from Magdeburg instead of Neu-Isenburg, we save 4 million kilometres of transport every year. The new location thus has a decisive positive impact on REWE Group's climate targets."
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Great ... the progressive development in the REWE Group / REWE Lagerlogistik ! ... wish you a successful further development ...!
A successful start!