Coop Aclens – returns logistics

Aclens is the location of Coop’s distribution centre for the whole of Western Switzerland. 350 Coop stores as well as Pronto shops in French-speaking Switzerland get their deliveries from here. More than 10,000 roll containers are delivered from the centre per truck or rail every single day. However, these roll containers as well as other material have to be brought back to the centre too. Returns logistics is thus an important part of the overall process. This is why a new building was added to the distribution centre.

What makes the Gilgen Logistics intralogistics system special is its size: it is several floors high. The combi conveyor system from Gilgen Logistics can transport both normal Euro pallets as well as roll containers - simultaneously. A pre-selection for the final destination is already made when the returns are delivered. The goods then pass through the system’s core - the sorting system - once or several times.

The sorting system connects the delivery, sorting, waste disposal, washing station and storage systems with each other. A separate walkway for the materials handling technology was built to connect the new building to the existing one. The storage area for roll containers in the existing building A has been greatly expanded and connected to the existing materials handling technology, also from Gilgen Logistics. The new large buffer store can hold 600 roll containers. If two empty containers are sacked head-to-tail, it is even possible to store up to 1,200 units here.