A significant economic boost for the region
With the expansion and successful commissioning, Imbach Logistik AG is creating around 60 new jobs. Thanks to its central location and optimal transport links - in the heart of a region with a strong industrial base - the logistics center will become an important cornerstone of the regional economy. In addition to the new synergies that will be created, Imbach Logistik will create added value for long-standing and new customers with the newly designed logistics center.
The importance of the project also became clear at the official opening ceremony last Saturday. The Galliker family, together with the Imbach Logistik team led by Managing Director Christian Kempter-Imbach, enjoyed the presence of Reto Wyss, President of the Cantonal Government of Lucerne, City Councillor Marco Baumann and Ivan Buck, Director of Lucerne Economic Development, as well as other important figures from business and politics.
Pioneering warehouse technology on several levels
At the heart of the new logistics center is a fully automated high-bay warehouse with 6,500 pallet spaces and a highly flexible small parts warehouse with a capacity of up to 130,000 containers. One special feature is the innovative spatial arrangement. In contrast to the usual horizontal placement in the industry, the small parts warehouse was built above the high-bay warehouse to save space. This vertical integration maximizes the use of the available space and placed high demands on planning and statics - the floor load is an impressive 5 tons per square metre.
All intralogistics processes are precisely controlled by using state-of-the-art shuttle technologies and a fully integrated warehouse management and material flow system. The system, implemented by long-standing partners SSI Schäfer AG and EPG, allows consistent and highly automated coordination of all warehouse movements across three floors. The Schäfer Flexi-Shuttle system, used for the first time in conjunction with EPG's LFS software, not only controls storage and retrieval, but also upstream picking and packing processes with maximum efficiency.
A new dimension in efficiency and flexibility
The new building covers a total of 30,000 square meters of floor space - the equivalent of about four football pitches - and enables fully integrated warehouse logistics, ranging from secure storage and order picking to just-in-time delivery to production companies in the region. The site was specifically designed to meet the requirements of Industry 4.0 and offers a high degree of flexibility for different customer needs thanks to its modular warehouse concepts and safe storage of hazardous materials.
"With the new Lucerne Logistics Center, we are creating the basis for even more efficient and sustainable services for our customers. Industrial companies in the region in particular will benefit from state-of-the-art technology and individual logistics concepts," explains Christian Kempter-Imbach, Managing Director of Imbach Logistik AG.
Pioneering work in green logistics
Within the Galliker Group, sustainability is not only of great importance on the road, but also in the implementation of new construction projects. The building with a volume of 215,000 m³ is 100 percent powered by a photovoltaic system with an output of 1,000 kWp. The system produces around 1,150,000 kWh per year, which would cover the needs of 245 households - significantly more than is required on site. In addition, heating and cooling is supplied by an environmentally friendly groundwater heat pump in combination with a freecooling system - another clear commitment to green logistics.
