The online pharmacy Apotea is the market leader in prescription and over-the-counter medications. Due to rapidly growing demand, the company has decided to further automate its warehouse with an AutoStore solution from Element Logic.
The agreement includes the eOperator picking robot from Element Logic. Apotea has automated parts of its warehouse processes with various suppliers over the years and is now taking the next step. The AutoStore solution includes 20,000 bins, 30 AutoStore robots (R5), 4 carousel gates, and picking robots. The AutoStore system will also be connected to other automation zones via a conveyor system. The robotic system is designed to allow for further expansion in the future, and the new capacity is initially estimated at 800 order lines per hour.
Self-learning picking robot
AutoStore is a “goods-to-person” solution, but it works just as well with staff as it does with the automated picking robot eOperator, which is a key part of the new initiative. eOperator is the result of a collaboration between Element Logic and Right Hand Robotics, in which the robotic arm is designed to pick items automatically 24/7 in conjunction with AutoStore. Using machine learning, eOperator automatically determines the best way to handle each item to be picked, which is said to increase order capacity, improve order fulfillment, and reduce delivery times.
“Apotea is an impressive giant in the Swedish e-commerce sector, and since one of its main selling points is fast and accurate deliveries, it was a natural fit to integrate their AutoStore solution with Element Logic’s smart picker, eOperator.” The result is improved order capacity, material handling, and delivery times, says Anders Bohlin, Sales Director at Element Logic Sweden.
“For us, it was important to have a system that can handle variations in product size and order volume—and that can scale as we grow.” “This investment helps us become more efficient, which makes it easier for us to exceed our customers’ expectations,” says Pär Svärdson, CEO of Apotea.
