The JumboFlex High-Stack allows applications to be picked up in an upright position.

Efficient Shipping at dm Thanks to Vacuum Lifters From Schmalz

The textile distribution center of dm-drogerie markt in Karlsruhe is redesigning its hall, including the loading area. The existing system could no longer keep up with the sharp increase in the number of daily shipments, which is why a new solution was sought that would optimize processes, minimize transport costs and relieve the strain on employees. Schmalz developed a custom-made concept that meets dm's requirements and offers an efficient and ergonomically designed solution for loading parcels.

Products used in the application

Characteristics of the success story

Industry	Logistics
Workpiece	Cardboard boxes
Product group	Vacuum Tube Lifter JumboFlex High-Stack
Type of handling	Manual Handling

With Schmalz

2.15

meters

stack high

1’850

shipments per day

deliver

The Customer: dm drugstore

The textile distribution center of the drugstore chain dm in Karlsruhe ensures that the individual dm stores are supplied on time. In addition to health products, the range also includes food products, photo articles and baby and children's clothing. With over 3,600 stores in 13 European countries, dm is a major retailer. At the textile distribution center in Karlsruhe, around 160 employees work in an area of almost 11,000 square meters to distribute the products in the German stores and in selected stores in Austria, Croatia and Slovenia. Round 480,000 parcels weighing up to 30 kilograms are shipped here every year.

The Challenge

The dm distribution center was faced with the challenge of coping with the constantly growing throughput of products, especially in the children's textiles sector. With increasing shipping volumes, a new hall layout and a new handling infrastructure became necessary. dm had already been using a solution from Schmalz: a JumboFlex 35 vacuum tube lifter with column-mounted jib crane for loading the large cardboard boxes. However, after the conversion of the loading area, the length of the column-mounted jib crane was no longer sufficient for the newly designed packaging line and the stacking height was limited with the previous vacuum lifter due to the system.

Initially, around 800 parcels left our storage facility every day, but now the average is 1,850 shipments.

∼ Alexander Fiedler, Head of the Textile Logistics Department, dm Karlsruhe

Schmalz's Solution

The solution developed by Schmalz for dm consists of the JumboFlex High-Stack vacuum tube lifter in combination with a specially adapted crane system. The JumboFlex High-Stack is designed for overhead handling. It enables employees to stack heavy cardboard boxes and parcels up to a height of 215 centimetres onto pallets and thus make optimum use of the truck's loading height without compromising their ergonomic posture. The vacuum lifter is equipped with an adjustable vacuum gripper that enables flexible handling of different carton sizes without additional adjustments. This significantly increases the efficiency and flexibility of the system. To improve working comfort, the vacuum lifter is equipped with a silencer box that reduces the sound pressure level of the vacuum generator. This not only contributes to the health and safety of employees, but also reduces noise pollution in the working environment. In addition, the vacuum lifter has a radio remote control that allows users to switch the vacuum generator on and off directly at the operator handle during work breaks. This allows employees to conveniently and efficiently control the vacuum lifter, which further increases work performance and efficiency. Overall, Schmalz's solution for dm offers an ergonomic, efficient and flexible way of handling heavy loads and improving employees' working comfort.