In today’s rapidly evolving logistics landscape, businesses are constantly seeking warehouse solutions that offer not just space, but also unparalleled efficiency, sustainability, and strategic advantage. The recent expansion of the long-term partnership between Swisslog, a leader in intelligent logistics automation, and Rexel France, a major player in electrical distribution, provides a prime example of how modern logistics centers are being transformed to meet these demands.
Automated logistics in France: The Rexel-Swisslog partnership
The collaboration between Swisslog and Rexel France highlights a shared vision for an advanced, resilient, and sustainable supply chain. This partnership, which began with a successful AutoStore deployment in 2019, is now setting new benchmarks for automated warehousing, offering insights for businesses exploring industrial property and logistics platforms in France.
Miribel: a model for sustainable & high-performance logistics
At the heart of this expansion is Rexel France's impressive 36,000 m² logistics center in Miribel (Ain). This facility is not just vast; it's engineered for peak performance and sustainability, evidenced by its Breeam Very Good environmental certification. For businesses prioritizing eco-friendly operations and seeking to rent logistics space in France, Miribel stands as a testament to environmentally responsible development.
The Miribel hub is designed to achieve J+1 deliveries, crucial for maintaining a competitive edge. It features a new-generation AutoStore system capable of managing over 68,500 product references with 50,000 bins and more than 70 robots. This level of automation ensures rapid, accurate, and scalable operations, making it an ideal model for companies needing high-throughput distribution centers.
To ensure optimal system availability and performance, the Miribel site benefits from a comprehensive 5-year maintenance contract with a dedicated Swisslog technical team. This long-term commitment underscores the reliability and future-proofing aspects of such advanced logistics solutions.
Saint-Ouen: agility for urban distribution
The partnership's success isn't limited to large-scale operations. An earlier AutoStore deployment in 2019 at Rexel's 4,000 m² Saint-Ouen platform demonstrates the versatility of these automated systems. Serving as a 'drive express' center, the Saint-Ouen site showcases how compact, automated facilities can provide crucial agility for urban distribution, perfect for businesses requiring strategic last-mile solutions in dense areas like Paris and its suburbs.
What this means for businesses seeking warehouse space
For companies looking to rent or invest in warehouse space in France, the Rexel-Swisslog model offers invaluable insights into the future of logistics:
Enhanced efficiency & productivity:
Automated systems drastically reduce manual labor, increase picking speeds, and minimize errors, leading to significant operational cost savings and faster order fulfillment.
Sustainability & certification:
Facilities like Miribel's Breeam Very Good certified center demonstrate a commitment to environmental responsibility, a growing requirement for modern businesses and their supply chains.
Scalability & flexibility:
AutoStore systems are inherently modular and scalable, allowing businesses to adapt their storage and fulfillment capacities to changing market demands without major structural overhauls.
Strategic locations:
Whether it's a large-scale distribution hub in Ain or an agile urban 'drive express' center in Saint-Ouen, these examples highlight the importance of strategically located logistics platforms tailored to specific business needs.
Reliability & support:
Comprehensive maintenance contracts, like the one for Miribel, ensure system uptime and long-term performance, offering peace of mind for business operations.
The collaboration between Swisslog and Rexel France underscores a pivotal shift towards technologically advanced, sustainable, and highly efficient logistics centers. As businesses strategize their supply chain operations, exploring spaces that integrate such automation and environmental certifications becomes paramount for achieving long-term success and resilience.
Source: faq-logistique.com
