Thule is moving to centralise its European distribution operations through the construction of a new automated warehouse in Krzyż Wielkopolski, Poland, as part of a wider effort to optimise its regional supply chain.
The Swedish company, known globally for products aimed at active lifestyles and outdoor mobility, has partnered with warehouse automation specialist Mecalux on the project.
The new facility is intended to serve as the central distribution hub for Thule’s European product range while also supporting other international markets. The company currently operates across 138 markets worldwide.
According to Paweł Pępiak, director of the distribution centre for Europe and Rest of World, the project is designed to increase throughput, make better use of storage space and improve product traceability. Automation, he said, is expected to reduce costs, streamline operations and ultimately strengthen service and customer satisfaction.
The clad-rack warehouse will measure 51 metres in width, 135 metres in length and 42 metres in height. It will feature six double-deep stacker cranes and capacity for nearly 40,000 pallets. Temperature and humidity control systems will also be built into the site.
A conveyor system and pallet lift will link the automated building directly with the existing manual warehouse and the production hall. The installation will also include a floor-mounted electric monorail system to move pallets from the receiving zone to storage and from storage to 16 flow channels in the dock area.
Operations will be managed by Mecalux’s Easy WMS platform, which will assign storage locations based on product type and turnover, coordinate order picking and ensure full product traceability.
Thule expects the combination of automation and digitalisation to cut manual handling, improve safety and ergonomics for staff, and raise overall operational efficiency as demand grows.
