Preparations began at the start of 2006 based on the first design details produced by Witron, an Austrian company specialising in fully automated warehouses and the Denk consultancy firm. It quickly became clear that electric power requirements would present a problem and that capacity would not be available where needed. Five on-site transformer stations power the entire complex consisting of HEMA’s Distribution Centre. New legislation prescribes that if one of the transformer stations undergoes modification and/or an output increase, the entire complex then has to be powered by a single supply station. This would mean significant additional costs. A decision was reached to chart all the available capacity and consumed power sources with the aim of assessing whether it would be possible to distribute the available power more effectively. This appeared plausible and following a number of modifications to the mains network and supplying the distribution substations from other transformer stations, sufficient power is now available and the necessary works were carried out at the end of 2006.

WorkSphere is currently very busy installing and fitting the technical systems. On the whole, a dynamic process with a great deal of detailed consultation, searching for smart installation solutions. Also in relation to finding the right cableways through a maze of steel structures supporting the 30-metre-high racks. There must also be sufficient open space for the similarly tall robot cranes, enabling them to race around at high speed through the steel jungle. There will be thousands of available pallet places, and since they will all be filled automatically nothing can be allowed to obstruct access.

Designing a fire alarm system in an open area of 30 metres high also proved a challenge. Will a smoke detector detect a fire at five metres in time from this height? Not to mention how the annual tests should be carried out. Solutions have been found for each of these problems. A sound definitive design was created following extensive discussions with the user, consultant, fire brigade and safety & security specialists, addressing various implementation aspects. The fire brigade granted its approval for a solution based on a combination of suction systems and smoke detectors and smart projection. This also resulted in significant cost savings, both with respect to assembly and maintenance. Implementation is well under way and WorkSphere expects to deliver the systems by the end of October.

HEMA’s logistical heart – its Distribution Centre – is located in Utrecht and boasts a surface area of approximately 13 football fields. This is where international shipments of products arrive from around the globe, and from where all the outlets can be stocked in time on a daily basis. Around 250 million items are processed each year.

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