CEVA Logistics strengthens warehouse automation in the Netherlands with Skypod robots from Exotec

• CEVA adds 57 warehouse robots to two Venray sites in the Netherlands 
• Exotec's automation provides solution for seasonality and volume fluctuations  
• Low energy requirements contribute to sustainability goals at sites 

CEVA Logistics is expanding warehouse automation at its two warehouses in Venray in the Netherlands. To do so, the company chose the Skypod System from Exotec, the fast-growing French specialist in warehouse robots. The flexible goods-to-person order picking solution will increase warehouse efficiency, and thus CEVA expects to handle up to three times more volume than before during peak periods and peak season.  

CEVA's facility in Roosendaal has been working with a Skypod installation from Exotec for some time, with which the two facilities in Venray have now also been equipped. As many as 57 Skypod robots are deployed there to add warehouse automation for CEVA's customers, ultimately increasing both warehouse capacity and flexibility to cover peak periods.   

With the Skypod order picking system, robots can climb up to 12 meters high in the racks. The fully scalable solution makes it easy to add robots, picking stations or totes, and to increase or decrease warehouse storage volume. This allows CEVA to respond quickly to both changing market conditions and the growth of its customer base. 

In addition to the efficiency and capacity benefits, sustainability also plays a key part of CEVA's business strategy. Indeed, the Skypod System's low energy consumption contributes to the company's sustainability goals. Moreover, the Skypods at the CEVA warehouses in Venray operate entirely on solar energy, making it a completely energy-neutral solution. Thus, the Venray and Roosendaal sites contribute to CEVA's energy-positive operations in the Benelux, where the company produces more energy than it consumes.  

Jaco Kneteman, Head of Contract Logistics Benelux at CEVA Logistics: "It's in our culture at CEVA to always look for innovative solutions to better serve our customers. The Skypod System offers great added value to our warehouse automation. Our customers expect a high level of service, efficiency and flexibility in our operations, and thanks in part to Exotec's solution, we can continue to create value together with our customers."

Wim Vermeir, Senior Sales Executive at Exotec: "We are pleased with the successful cooperation with CEVA, especially now that they are also implementing the Skypod System in their two warehouses in Venray. With the Skypod System, we are able to take our customers' services to the next level. Our scalable warehouse solutions allow CEVA and its customers to effortlessly expand for more storage capacity. A major logistics service provider like CEVA gives us a lot of valuable input from our practical experience with external logistics parties, which we can use to further improve our services."  

CEVA also has four distribution centers in Belgium; in Courcelles, Willebroek, La Louvière and Grobbendonk, and operates worldwide. The logistics provider says they are very satisfied with Exotec's Skypods there, and that Skypods will be added in other warehouses in the future.