METALAG in use at the Logistik Zentrum Müllendorf

MTH Retail Group opens its new logistics centre after just a year of construction work: METALAG in use at the central warehouse for LIBRO, PAGRO and EPLUS in Müllendorf / Burgenland

Exactly a year after construction began, the new MTH Retail Group logistics centre in Müllendorf (Burgenland) was opened – meaning that the project of Austrian enterprises LIBRO, PAGRO and EPLUS is totally on schedule. As of now, the state-of-the-art logistics centre, which is equipped with Metasyst’s warehouse management system METALAG, delivers goods to the Austrian market from one central site. This makes for significant advantages that point the way ahead for the whole company.

The European markets are fast changing and continuously merging closer together. To remain in competition in this environment, we are increasingly making use of synergies and investing in the latest technical advances”, says MTH Retail Group CEO Dr. Martin Waldhäusl about the project’s background. “Our new logistics centre enables us to be one significant step ahead in a very competitive European market. This is one of the crucial strategic steps we are taking to secure the growth of the MTH Retail Group, which comprises not only the Austrian companies LIBRO, PAGRO and EPLUS, but also the German enterprises MÄC GEIZ and PFENNIGPFEIFFER.” After already being successfully implemented by the German company PFENNIGPFEIFFER, the METALAG warehouse management system is now also in use at the central warehouse in Müllendorf. It is interconnected via interfaces to SAP as well as the REWE ERP system. Furthermore, the system ensures the effective interaction of automatic, semi automatic and manual storage areas, therefore enabling efficient delivery to the stores.

Opening exactly one year after the laying of the first stone

The 23.000 square metre building was opened after just one year’s construction work. Following the draft period from summer 2009 to January 2010 and after submission, call for designs and the choosing of the winning design, the ground-breaking ceremony took place in August 2010, the topping-out ceremony followed just four months later. The trial operation period for the logistics centre, which is now going into live operation at the end of August, started in June 2011. “We want to thank all our project partners and the responsible political representatives, whose commitment made it possible for this project to be completed on time and within budget”, says Waldhäusl.

The MTH logistics centre was officially opened on Friday, 26 August, by Governor Hans Niessl, the project managers, construction partners and other political guests of honour. Following the opening speech given by MTH Retail Group chairman of the supervisory board Dr. Josef Taus and MTH Retail Group CEO Dr. Martin Waldhäusl, there were official speeches by guests of honour Governor Hans Niessl, MP Christoph Wolf, who was deputizing for vice governor Mag. Franz Steindl, Dir. Peter Schmitl (WiBAG), Mayor Werner Huf (parish Müllendorf), as well as a project presentation by MTH Retail Group and LIBRO MD Mag. Thomas Zechner (project manager). Then the building was blessed by pastor Martin Korpitsch. The brass band of Müllendorf was responsible for the musical entertainment that night and they were joined by Eurovision-Songcontest star Nadine Beiler for a special musical treat.

New logistics centre ensures sustainable growth

Because of its fast development, the MTH Retail Group has practically exhausted all their previously existing storage capacities. Additionally, the group is expecting a considerable increase in volume where logistics are concerned, which won’t be manageable in the existing warehouses for very much longer. In order to effectively manage administration and optimize internal logistics processes, it was decided to open a joint logistics centre for MTH Retail Group companies LIBRO, PAGRO and EPLUS equipped with the warehouse management system by Metasyst. The new logistics centre will take over storage, store and customer friendly commissioning, dispatch and transport processing for the Austrian stores LIBRO and PAGRO, as well as dispatch for EPLUS.

New logistics centre is a state-of-the-art project

On a site of 51.000 square metres, the building sets the benchmark for warehouses and logistics constructions: the automated high rise racking store has approximately 17.000 bays for pallets about 26 metres above the ground; the state-of-the-art sorting system enables the dispatch of 20.000 items per hour. To fulfil the high demands to a central warehouse for the entire Austrian market, the logistics centre boasts up-to-date warehouse management and commissioning systems, as well as highly efficient delivery technology, such as Cross-docking. All this combined practically guarantees a zero-mistake-tolerance where outgoing goods are concerned. “The most modern warehouse technology makes our logistics centre a “state-of-the-art” project”, Waldhäusl proudly announces. Additionally, modern logistics technology reduces the physical strain on the employees and the intervals between delivery at the warehouse and the moment when the items go on sale at the store are shortened.