Board Game Publisher Reaches New Heights

Board Game Publisher Reaches New Heights

999 Games is on the rise. The Netherlands’ largest board game publisher is growing by an average of 10 percent annually. That growth requires space, inventory capacity, and a logistics setup capable of handling peaks in demand. The company found that space in a new, future-proof facility in Almere, which it began using in 2024. For its warehouse layout and internal transport, 999 Games once again chose Motrac and Linde trucks.

From its base in Almere, 999 Games serves customers throughout the Netherlands and Flanders. These are primarily B2B customers, ranging from the local Bruna store on the corner to major players like bol.com. In addition, the company has also been serving consumers directly for the past five years. Logistics Manager Alwin Dietrich had long seen the need for new facilities coming. “We had really outgrown our space. The combination of growth, seasonal peaks, and market conditions meant that the space in our previous facility was simply no longer sufficient.”

Those market conditions play an important role. Due to higher raw material prices, price fluctuations, and long lead times, 999 Games is strategically maintaining higher inventory levels. “It can be more cost-effective to buy in bulk. But then, of course, we have to be able to store that inventory somewhere,” says Dietrich. Availability is especially crucial in the last four months of the year. During that period, 999 Games handles about 80 percent of its annual volume and processes up to 1,000 B2C orders per day. “If we have to turn a customer away, they’ll go elsewhere.”

Additional pallet spaces

The new warehouse has 10,000 pallet spaces, nearly three times as many as the previous warehouse. 999 Games is literally going up in height. Whereas pallets were previously stored up to about eight meters high, the top beam is now at over 13 meters. This provides nine additional pallet spaces per rack section.

For the layout, 999 Games once again turned to Motrac. “They’ve been our preferred supplier for twenty years. We approached several suppliers, both for the racks and for the trucks, and ended up choosing Motrac again. One reason is that they offer everything from a single source,” says Dietrich. Their experience with Linde also played a role. “The value for money is simply good.”

Collaboration is just as important. Dietrich cites service, after-sales support, and having a dedicated service technician as decisive factors. “At the end of the day, it’s the people who make the difference. Motrac is down-to-earth and has a transparent approach. They do what they say they’ll do.”

Hybrid solution

Based on Motrac’s recommendation, a hybrid warehouse solution was chosen. One hall is set up for conventional reach truck operations, while the second hall features narrow aisles. This maximizes the use of available space. The beams are heavier-duty, allowing pallets weighing up to 650 kilograms to be stored safely. This gives 999 Games greater flexibility in allocating storage locations, even at greater heights.

The complete package consists of racking systems, one Linde K combi truck, two Linde R20 reach trucks, three T20 SF stand-up electric pallet trucks, and one E15 electric forklift. To ensure safe operation, the reach trucks are equipped with rack protection sensors and cameras. BlueSpot safety lights are also included.

Incoming goods are scanned, inspected, labeled, and put away using a combi truck or reach truck. Orders are picked from the floor locations using compact pallet trucks. B2C orders are consolidated directly into shipping boxes using a pick-to-light cart. An automated packing line then seals the boxes and applies a shipping label to them.

“We’re very satisfied with the solution we received,” Dietrich concludes. “And we’re all set for the future.”