To look at it today, you’d never guess that Spimaco’s gleaming pharmaceutical production and storage facility in Qassim, Saudi Arabia, was once its biggest obstacle to growth. But that was indeed the case. Just some years back, the power was a cramped, manual operation that was struggling to stay pace with the company’s daily throughput needs never mind provide room to grow.
For company leaders, those constraints were fast becoming a cause for concern. That concern eventually led to the choice to give the facility, which was inbuilt 1988, a much-needed makeover and convey it into the 21st century. Spimaco tapped Germany-based Lödige Industries, a manufacturer of fabric handling solutions, for the work of modernizing the operation. After some consultation, the partners chose the automation and expansion route: that’s, they decided to reinforce the existing facility with the addition of an automated high-bay distribution and storage center.
OLD VS. NEW
The first step for the Lödige team was to conduct a detailed analysis of Spimaco’s existing infrastructure and processes in order to determine what equipment and systems would best meet its future needs. Acting as a general contractor for the installation, Lödige then designed and implemented new handling and fulfillment systems incorporating solutions from different suppliers into one custom-made system where necessary.
The results of its efforts are a new state-of-the-art warehouse that allows for palletizing, picking, automated storage and retrieval, and therefore the dispatch of pharmaceutical goods in full compliance with pharmaceutical regulations. Among other upgrades, the power features more than 5,000 storage spaces, several hundred meters of conveyors for cases and pallets, two palletizing robots, and over 30 automated shuttle vehicles.
To make sure the new facility ran smoothly across all production lines during the initial period of operation, Lödige maintained operational management of the power and provided “resident maintenance” services as well.
A MULTITUDE OF BENEFITS
The results of the project are impressive. With the new automated systems in situ, Spimaco has almost doubled its throughput rates for handling finished goods. additionally, the upgrade has given the corporate full inventory control and high-quality track and trace programs, while improving its ability to handle extremely delicate products governed by strict industry rules and regulations.
In the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, having a highly capable infrastructure has helped the corporate to grow and prosper. “Our old distribution center was starting to limit our capabilities. But now with the new facility, we've modernized the existing systems, and our potential for growth has become unlimited,” said, chief military officer of Spimaco, during a statement. “Since pharmaceutical products are very sensitive, it had been important to have a highly reliable solution
No comments:
Post a Comment