Penske Logistics and Cimcorp set a new standard in bakery supply chain efficiency
Cimcorp, a pioneer in robotic handling solutions, announces the successful go-live of its advanced bakery order fulfilment solution for leading third-party logistics provider Penske Logistics in Illinois, US. By automating its customer’s order-picking process, the 3PL is managing the flow of baked goods from production to retail shelves in a way that improves order accuracy, boosts processing capacity, enhances operational safety and speeds up store deliveries.
From manual handling to automated bakery fulfilment
The collaboration with Cimcorp marks a pivotal shift from traditional manual operations to a data-driven, highly automated distribution model. Previously, Penske’s bakery distribution operation relied entirely on manual handling. Bread trays were unloaded, stored and selected by hand, with stacks exceeding two metres (seven feet) in height. This process presented significant ergonomic challenges and safety risks related to overhead picking, while also increasing the potential for order inaccuracies.
Cimcorp’s solution integrates its MultiPick gantry robot technology and intelligent Warehouse Control System (WCS) to optimise the flow of fresh bread and rolls through the distribution process. Buffer storage and order picking are combined into one seamless operation to meet high processing volumes, while ensuring consistent performance and precision. Now, all orders are selected at tray level and assembled by Cimcorp’s solution with 100% order accuracy.
“Automated systems like this one help Penske accelerate supply chain performance for its customers,” says Steve Chambers, Vice President of Operations, Distribution Centre Management for Penske Logistics, “as these systems augment the capabilities of our highly trained workforce. By implementing this system, we expect to see increased throughput efficiency and order-picking accuracy as well as safety benefits from eliminating the manual handling of tray stacks”.
Greater efficiency and scalability for bakery distribution
Other benefits include accelerated order processing – which results in fresher deliveries and extended shelf life for bakery products – and labour requirements being reduced by 50%, allowing for more strategic resource allocation. The latter is a key lever for competitive advantage, given the labour availability issues currently experienced across the logistics industry.
The modular design of Cimcorp’s solution enables the automation to scale with demand peaks and long-term business growth, while the real-time insights provided by the system support continuous supply chain optimisation. “Cimcorp’s experience and data-driven approach directly support our goal of continuously strengthening our customers’ supply chains,” confirms Chambers.
Penske selected Cimcorp as its automation partner based on the company’s extensive experience and proven technology tailored for high-volume bakery operations. Cimcorp has delivered its award-winning bakery automation for Martin’s Famous Pastry Shoppe, Inc.®, Kwik Trip and Fazer Bakeries, with other fresh food customers including Alimerka, Mercadona, Netto and REWE.
“This project reflects Penske’s forward-thinking approach to logistics,” says Adam Gurga, Sales Director at Cimcorp North America, “and commitment to investing in technology to drive customer success. By working together to implement an automated solution that improves performance today and supports growth tomorrow, we’ve set a new standard for bakery distribution”.