Food manufacturer Bell Switzerland entrusted Stoecklin Logistik AG with the planning and implementation of one of the most modern, fully automated deep-freeze logistics centers.
Planning and implementation of a state-of-the-art, process-integrated deep-freeze logistics center at the Swiss site in Oensingen
10-aisle, 30-meter-high deep-freeze high-bay warehouse with 10 MASTer RBG and FSP shuttles, incl. 4 AGV EAGLE-ANT 2 (for two-level pallet storage), around 1,100 meters of pallet conveyor system and 320 meters of carrier/tray conveyor system; all in deep freeze/refrigerated design
Doubling of capacities, expanded range of services, 50 percent energy savings in the new deep freeze HBW
Process control over four floors: for the first time in the industry, automatic freezing, storage and acclimatization of meat products take place under one roof
Bell Switzerland Ltd is the largest supplier of meat, charcuterie and seafood in Switzerland and a major supplier of regional charcuterie specialties in Europe. The expansion of the Swiss site in Oensingen included the commissioning of a highly automated deep freeze high-bay warehouse (HBW) in August 2024. Stoecklin Logistik AG was commissioned as the general contractor for project planning and implementation, including steel construction and integration of the third-party systems, which had to be brought-in and installed during construction.
At the heart of the project is a fully automated, 30-meter-high, 10-aisle deep-freeze HBW. Ten high-performance, deep-freeze-capable stacker cranes from the Stoecklin drive along the 80-meter lengthwise Aisles MASTer series (type 2032), handling the double-deep storage and retrieval of Euro 1 and industrial pallets in wood and plastic weighing up to 800 kilograms. With runs and lifting speeds of 3.15 and 1.00 m/s respectively and energy-optimized acceleration 0.40/0.5 m/s2 Run / Lift), they can store up to 280 pallets and remove up to 250 pallets per hour at peak times. Fast, safe and reliable.
The Periphery: Four Pre-Zones for Various Process Steps on Four Temperature-Controlled Floors. On the ground floor (incoming and outgoing goods for frozen and fresh products) and first floor (picking of frozen pallets on 14 staging lanes), there are inbound/outbound carousel systems for direct transfers to the high-bay operation. The 2nd and 3rd floors (block storage for fresh products; freezerinerting airlocks and 1.4 km of pallet conveyor technology. The entire operation is seamlessly connected via pallet elevators and Stoecklin’s EAGLE-ANT 2 automated guided vehicles (AGVs), which ensure a fully automated transport chain. Thanks to Stöcklin’s patented, highly efficient Li-Ion battery technology, the AGVs can operate continuously and recharge autonomously within the deep-freeze zone without leaving the field of operation.
The facility was commissioned in stages, with full handover completed in August 2024. With the new frozen food logistics center, Bell was able to more than double its storage volumes from 15,000 to 35,000 Pallets. With the same number of employees and high quality assurance of the goods. In addition to deep freeze capacities, services such as order picking, price labeling, multipack and similar are now also part of the logistics service offering.
