Automated logistics for organic pioneer Rapunzel

Buchs/Dortmund, 18 August 2021 – Business is going well for Rapunzel Naturkost GmbH, German organic pioneer in the production and sale of organic vegetarian food. “Consumers are increasingly relying on organically grown products that are manufactured under fair conditions,” says Stefan Schmaus, Head of Logistics at Rapunzel, adding, “That has given us a gratifying increase in sales of ten percent per year over the past three years."

The organic food company has been growing for some time and in recent years, it has built up and expanded its production and logistics systems accordingly. Now, Swisslog is developing a new automated high-bay pallet warehouse for raw materials and packaging, complete with conveyor technology and a fleet of driverless transport systems (AGV) at Rapunzel’s Bavarian headquarters.

The start of productive use of the plant is planned for the 1st quarter of 2023. "We are very pleased that Rapunzel is once again placing its trust in us," says Jens Schmale, Head of Swisslog’s EMEA region. “It truly highlights our extensive expertise in developing flexible, tailor-made automation for the food industry.”

“The interpersonal element is also important to us, it just has to fit when you implement such projects," says Stefan Schmaus and added "With a good logistics system, you may not win new customers, but with poor logistics performance you are more likely to lose customers."

The intralogistics specialist built an automated pallet and picking warehouse for the organic manufacturer at the Bad Grönenbach location in 2020. The expansion now being implemented in Legau includes a high-bay warehouse with around 9,300 spaces for euro and industrial pallets, has 4 aisles and is equipped with Swisslog Vectura storage and retrieval cranes. Approx. 450 meters of automatic Swisslog ProMove conveyor technology are planned for the boundary of the facility. The new building is adjacent to an existing Rapunzel facility, with transfers between the two buildings using an automated guided vehicle system.