Solimè Optimizes Space and Efficiency with Modula Vertical Lift Modules
Case Study Summary
Solimè, a producer of natural herbal products, supplements, cosmetics, and remedies, faced space and efficiency challenges in their warehouse. By integrating three Modula vertical lift modules, they optimized storage space, improved order processing times, and streamlined their e-commerce operations. This transformation allowed them to handle both bulk and micro orders efficiently, meeting the growing demand for fast delivery.
The Challenge
Solimè, founded in 1975 in the province of Reggio Emilia, produces natural herbal products, supplements, cosmetics, and remedies. With over 1,350 products in their catalog, including both large and small items, packaged and unpackaged, Solimè faced significant storage challenges. As producers, they needed to store a large number of semi-finished products, leading to a dilemma: either move to a larger facility or find a way to compress the storage space for semi-finished goods. The inefficiencies of their existing system meant that operators had to spend considerable time searching for products, which were often not located near the order preparation area, resulting in delays. Processing around 100 orders took two and a half to three days.
The Solution
To overcome these challenges, Solimè installed three Modula vertical lift modules: two Modula Lift ML 50D units, each 7.1 meters high with double internal bays for finished products, and one Modula ML 50D unit, 7.5 meters high with a telescopic bay for storing raw materials. The double internal bays facilitated the efficient handling of finished products destined for final customers, which is particularly important in the e-commerce department. The telescopic bay in the raw materials storage area greatly improved the management and movement of heavier materials, integrating seamlessly with the production flow.
The Modula units made full use of the vertical space in Solime’s facility, which had previously been underutilized. The automated system drastically reduced the time needed for order processing. Operators can now retrieve products with just two clicks on the copilot interface, significantly speeding up the picking, packing, and shipping process. This efficiency allowed Solimè to handle even micro orders, such as single-item Amazon orders, within a single workday, meeting the modern demand for rapid delivery.
Initially, there were concerns among the staff about the complexity of operating the Modula units. However, the transition was smooth, and the units quickly became the operational hub of Solimè’s production and e-commerce activities. The Modula systems proved to be not only simple to operate but also highly reliable, integrating effortlessly into their existing order management and production systems.
