Fully automated transport from bottling to dispatch by Jungheinrich

Hamburg – Tradition meets high-tech: The renowned Italian winery Fontanafredda is automating its finished goods warehouse in the Langhe region of Piedmont with Jungheinrich. Driverless transport systems and state-of-the-art conveyor technology will ensure a fully automated material flow from the wine cellar to shipping.

The historic winery Fontanafredda, based in Serralunga d’Alba in the Piedmont region of Italy, has commissioned Jungheinrich to fully automate its finished goods warehouse. At the heart of the project is a ten-aisle, very narrow aisle warehouse located underground. Two automated EKX 516a trucks from Jungheinrich, in combination with conveyor systems and two EKS 215a automated high-lift trucks, will manage storage and transport from the bottling line to the dispatch area.

With this decision, Fontanafredda is responding to the urgent need to replace its ageing automatic AutoVNA warehouse system. The goal is to modernise and future-proof its production and logistics processes through comprehensive automation, featuring advanced navigation, enhanced safety measures, and increased throughput. Jungheinrich convinced the customer not only with its technological performance but also with its full-service offering – from racking and conveyor technology to vehicles and system integration.

"For us, it was essential to find a reliable partner who could offer an innovative, future-proof solution from a single source," explains Andrea Farinetti, CEO at Fontanafredda S.r.l.. The system integration includes the Warehouse Control System (WCS) and a logistics interface that is seamlessly embedded in the winery’s processes.

"That a globally renowned traditional company like Fontanafredda is taking this step toward full automation with us shows how precisely our solutions meet the demands of modern production logistics," says Stefano Rocca, Head of Product Specialist Sales Management at Jungheinrich. "We are proud to support Fontanafredda in transforming its warehouse processes".

One of the key callenges of the project is the location of the warehouse, which lies five metres below the production area. Connection between the levels is provided by intelligent conveyor technology and two EKS 215a automated high-lift trucks. Two EKX 516a trucks, capable of operating at shelf heights of up to 6.6 meters, will manage the 3,840 pallet locations for Euro and industrial pallets. The vehicles’ energy supply is efficiently handled via a busbar system that enables overnight intermediate charging.

www.jungheinrich.com