The award, presented by DIRA (Danish Industrial Robot Association), Denmark’s leading robotics organisation, recognised BESTSELLER’s successful implementation of its large-scale, fully automated warehouse solution in Taulov, Denmark.
DIRA underlined BESTSELLER’s automation of the warehouse increased efficiency, improved the working environment for employees, minimised errors and reduced storage space. Danrobotics and Klinkhammer, BESTSELLER’s technology suppliers for the Taulov facility, were also acknowledged as part of the award, which was presented at the DIRA annual awards event in Herning, Denmark.
The DIRA Automation Award winner must serve as an inspiration for others by showing unique solutions and processes based on robotic technology and related automation. According to the panel of judges from DIRA, BESTSELLER delivered a brave, inspiring and ground-breaking solution.
“BESTSELLER won because it is a large-scale automation solution, where they focused on the entire logistics operation – from when the item arrives until the item is delivered to the customer. The company managed to retain and involve their employees throughout the automation process. Other companies can learn from BESTSELLER’s implementation,” said the judging panel.
Automation the future of logistics
At the distribution centre, which serves customers all over Northern Europe, BESTSELLER invested in several technologies, including 79 new Skypod robots which are part of an Exotec system, which automates the collection and packing of products, potentially more than doubling productivity compared to a manual setup.
The robots transport incoming boxes to their storage location, climb shelves, and deliver boxes of products to operators for packing and shipment to customers.
Robots for depalletizing, box opening and palletising are also a part of the solution, ensuring a better and safer working environment for our colleagues.
- Located at Taulov Dry Port, close to Frederica, Denmark – in daily terms it’s called BST (BESTSELLER Taulov.
- More than 90 BESTSELLER colleagues work at the centre.
- Over 30,000 m2 of rented space – the automation takes up 6,000 m2 with a storage capacity of 50,000 cartons.
Accepting the DIRA the award on behalf of BESTSELLER were: Tonni Jensen, Logistics Project Manager (centre) and Jakob Skødt Larsen, Product Owner (second from right), as well as Kim Koertsen, Director, Danrobotics (third from left).
- The DIRA Automation Award is awarded each year to a Danish company with a good automation history.
- The award aims to increase awareness of new technological possibilities and inspire the robotics and automation industry to develop new, innovative products.
- Suppliers are often also included in the award. This year Danrobotics and Klinkhammer, BESTSELLER’s technology suppliers for the Taulov facility, were also acknowledged as part of the award.
- This year's jury consists of a number of permanent members representing research institutions, the press, interest organisations and industry. This year, the jury consists of Ole Madsen from Aalborg University, Laurids Hovgaard from Ingeniøren, Nigel Edmondson from MADE, Peter Krogh from VOLA, Martin Høgsbjerg from Danfoss Drives and last year's winner of the DIRA Automation Award 2022, Simon Have Kjær from Palsgaard Spær.