Parcel Hub Madrid for SLS Spain

Körber’s state-of-the-art technology enables the company to handle a large volume of parcels per hour, giving it a decisive competitive edge. In fact, thanks to the technology implemented, it has been possible to increase the system’s capacity and reach flows exceeding 50,000 parcels per hour, a milestone in the logistics sector in Spain.

The customer

GLS Spain is a subsidiary of the GLS Group, a leading provider of national and international parcel, freight forwarding and express services in 40 countries.

Since 2005, the GLS Spain subsidiary has been growing continuously, offering parcel and courier services to become one of the leading companies in quality with a European-wide agency network.

GLS is one of the main parcel companies in Spain, with a national standard delivery time of less than 24 hours. The company offers integrated express shipping, national and international networks, secure IT solutions and are leaders in quality and in offering additional services that satisfy their customer’s needs.

The project

Goal

The goal was to support GLS in optimizing their processing time, increasing the sorting capacity and in further improving the quality of their operations to make this a definitive reference hub in the sector. Therefore, Körber had to solve a complex and demanding task in designing, integrating and commissioning the best technology hand in hand with GLS.

Challenge The smooth and efficient movement of materials requires modern, innovative solutions. Solutions that ensure items get to the right place at the right time with minimal resources. Large volumes of parcels are delivered in bulk. But processing devices, scales, scanners and sorters operate with individual items.

That’s why these deliveries need to be singulated as quickly as possible. This is crucial for maximizing the entire process chain and increasing the sorting capacity.

Solution

Körber spent several months analyzing the project, designing the best solutions for sorting shipments, implementing and adapting different systems and technology together with GLS. Now the work is complete, delivering excellent results.

Our solution includes:

• Five Visicon systems: We implemented the Visicon singulator that reliably transforms bulk parcels into a stream of singulated items with the help of an AI-based vision system. This revolutionary system precisely detects and records the shape, size and position of each parcel on the belt. Real-time information allows the system to calculate critical parameters such as separation, orientation and exit direction
• 4 reading systems that scan all 6 sides of a parcel
• 4 systems of dynamic triple scales
• A sorting system consisting of 4 linear shoe sorters

Features and benefits

• Installation of four primary lines, sorting 47,000 parcel per hour
• Installation of two lines for irregular items with 3,000 parcels per hour
• Increasing the system’s capacity to enable flows exceeding 50,000 parcels per hour, a milestone in the logistics sector in Spain

“At GLS Spain, we have felt supported from the very beginning. From Körber’s first visit to our facilities to them understanding the needs of the project, to its closing. Both companies share the common goal of ensuring that the system works with maximum efficiency.”
Roberto Martínez Chief Finance Director of GLS Spain