Sustainable automation and people-oriented efficiency in a single logistics hub

Swedish retailer Coop has taken a huge step forward in modernizing its supply chain. In Eskilstuna, about 100 kilometers west of Stockholm, the company opened a new central distribution center that will supply more than 800 stores across the country. The facility, covering an area of 77,000 square meters, combines full automation, sustainable energy, and ergonomic workstations in a single integrated concept.

The project was carried out by SSI SCHÄFER, which, as the main contractor, was responsible for design, delivery, implementation, software integration, and maintenance. The degree of automation is no less than 95 percent, placing Coop among the most technologically advanced retailers in Europe.

Whereas Coop previously worked with two (partly manual) terminals, the new distribution center brings all activities under one roof. At the heart of the installation is the SSI Case Picking solution, which automates the entire material flow from goods receipt to shipment.

During peak periods, the system processes more than 600,000 packages per day. Robots take care of depalletizing homogeneous pallets, but also build store-friendly (mixed) pallets—ready for direct delivery to stores.

“By centralizing and automating the flow of goods for our durable and fresh products, we are better serving our customers, streamlining our operations, increasing quality, and strengthening our sustainability,” says Örjan Grandin, CEO of Coop Logistics AB and Deputy CEO of Coop Sverige AB.

Automation with a focus on people

Although almost all logistics processes are automated, people remain an important factor in Eskilstuna. All work areas are equipped with ergonomically designed workstations, where employees perform advanced tasks such as quality control and product validation. This not only ensures higher quality, but also greater diversity in the workplace.

“In our previous warehouses, only 5 percent of the staff were women. Today, that figure is around 40 percent,” says Ulf Axelsson, Managing Director of Coop Terminals. This increase reflects a conscious choice: with this investment, Coop not only wants to work more efficiently, but also in a more socially sustainable way. A more versatile team, better working attitudes, and more career opportunities are part of the retailer's social sustainability strategy.

Energy-efficient and climate-neutral

The distribution center in Eskilstuna was designed with sustainability in mind. By combining refrigerated and ambient storage in a single building, less internal transport is required, which reduces CO2 emissions.

In addition, the site has the second largest rooftop solar panel system in Sweden. The installation generates approximately half of the electricity required. The rest is supplied by external renewable energy sources, meaning that the entire complex runs on green electricity.

This combination of energy efficiency, consolidation, and sustainable mobility (including rail transport) makes the project a textbook example of ecological modernization in food distribution.

Smart software as the brain

The entire process is controlled by WAMAS, SSI SCHÄFER's logistics software. This software provides end-to-end control over all activities in the distribution center: goods receipt, storage, picking, and shipping.

WAMAS integrates seamlessly with Coop's business software and enables real-time monitoring of all material flows. During the design phase, SSI SCHÄFER took both technical efficiency and IT compatibility into account to ensure that the system fits perfectly into Coop's operational environment.

Technology down to the smallest detail

The distribution center consists of two temperature zones, each with its own goods reception area, high-bay warehouses, depalletizing stations, an automated small parts warehouse (ASPW), and robotic cells for palletizing.

A total of 43 SSI Exyz cranes operate in the high-bay warehouses, each capable of up to 40 double cycles per hour. The flow of goods between zones is handled by a rail-based vehicle system that automatically transports pallets.

At teach-in stations, employees measure the dimensions, weights, and properties of new packaging. This information is used to ‘teach’ the system how each type of packaging can be processed safely.

Shuttles and robots in harmony

The individual boxes and crates are stored in the automated ASPWs, which together have more than 600,000 storage locations. Approximately 700 SSI Flexi Shuttles and 280 lifts transport bins and trays in triple depth, maximizing storage density.

The 3D-MATRIX Solution® combines storage, buffering, and sequencing in a single system, ensuring a smooth and error-free flow of goods. On the outbound side, 34 palletizing robots build the pallets layer by layer, controlled by the SSI Pack Pattern Generator in WAMAS. This optimizes the stability, volume utilization, and store-friendly arrangement of the load.

Although the new system runs almost entirely automatically, human expertise remains essential. The SSI Resident Maintenance® service provides an on-site team of 80 technicians who are available 24/7 for maintenance, IT support, and optimization. Preventive maintenance guarantees maximum availability of all mechanical and electrical systems.

According to Ulf Axelsson, this offers clear advantages: “By automating core processes, we increase productivity, improve delivery reliability, and reduce our transport costs and overall environmental impact.”

Forward-looking vision

The new distribution center is more than just a logistics building—it is a strategic hub that supports Coop's long-term growth. The retailer remains committed to continuous monitoring and adjustment of its systems, ensuring that its infrastructure can grow flexibly in line with changing market needs.

With this approach, Coop combines technological innovation, sustainability goals, and staff development into a single coherent whole. The result: a future-proof, resilient supply chain that is ready for the next phase of growth in Northern European food retail.

The close collaboration between Coop and SSI SCHÄFER was decisive for the success of the project. “Innovative intralogistics solutions create value for companies, employees, and the entire supply chain,” says Mauro Lunardelli, Head of Business Unit Logistics Solutions at SSI SCHÄFER.

Thanks to this collaboration, Eskilstuna now has a state-of-the-art distribution center that combines efficiency with sustainability—and a people-oriented approach with technology.