Mercadona Takes Charge of New Fresh Food Intralogistics Solution Provided by Cimcorp

Cimcorp, a manufacturer and integrator of turnkey robotic order fulfillment and tire-handling solutions, announces its automated fresh food intralogistics solution is up and running in Mercadona’s new Zaragoza distribution center. This is the first of four automated systems the leading Spanish grocery retailer has ordered from Cimcorp, with the remaining three to be installed in new logistics facilities located in San Isidro, Huévar and Sagunto.

Installation and commissioning at the Zaragoza distribution center was finalized just before Easter, the busiest time of the year for Mercadona. While installation teams often stay on site after handover to address any issues, trust in Cimcorp’s automation led Mercadona to fly solo. The simplicity of the automation made it easy to use, and there was no need for big team.

“Our goal is to serve the orders of our stores with the highest possible quality, and we must know how to do it on our own,” said Javier Blasco, warehouse purchasing coordinator, Mercadona. “We had the confidence do to it this way, because the robustness and reliability of this solution has been verified during the assembly and commissioning, and our staff is trained to use it.”

Mercadona has ordered the same automation for all four of its new distribution centers. Each facility will have different climate zones for packed meat products and for fruit and vegetables. By using the same independent automation modules—with the number of modules scaled to meet the needs of each individual logistic center—Mercadona gains many benefits.

Cimcorp’s partnership with Mercadona extends back to 2013, when the automation solutions provider implemented a fully automated order picking system for fresh produce at the retailer’s distribution center in Guadix, near Granada.

“Designing optimal handling and control systems is only the first step in implementing intralogistics automation. Project management is hugely important element in the successful delivery of robotic solutions, but also in developing long-term partnerships,” said Jarkko Hakkarainen, general manager, Cimcorp Iberia. “It is important that we are able to keep things in order even if things are not proceeding as planned. In these situations, quick response time and good adaptability are essential skills.”

For more information, visit https://cimcorp.com.