Automation At Juncker Bike Parts’ Warehouse Brings Efficiency, Speed, and Reliability

Juncker Bike Parts is a leading distributor of bicycle parts and accessories across the Benelux region in Europe. After outgrowing their existing logistics center, they moved to a new facility in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands, where they installed AutoStore’s automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS), empowered by Lalesse Logistics Solutions.

The installation at their new warehouse improved processing speed, operational flexibility, and employee working conditions, positioning the company as a more competitive and reliable partner for hundreds of bike shops throughout the region.

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The Challenge: Expanding Orders With Same-Day Expectations

Juncker Bike Parts had reached a point where their previous warehouse could not accommodate the company's expanding volume of order lines, nor consistently meet their bike shop customers’ expectations for same-day order processing.

Orders placed later in the day frequently had to be processed separately, creating inefficiencies that rippled through operations. It increased operational costs and put pressure on next-day delivery commitments — a standard expected in the bicycle parts industry. The company needed a solution that could increase processing capacity in shorter timeframes, but also improve the working environment for their warehouse team.

The Solution: AutoStore’s Modular Approach to Warehousing

AutoStore's grid-based automation system provided the answer to many of Juncker's operational needs. It allows for much denser storage, with 40 autonomous Robots working to ensure consistent, high-speed retrieval and delivery of inventory to the picking stations.

The implementation was done in two phases:

• Phase 1 established the foundation with 30 Robots, 6 workstations, and approximately 16,000 Bins.
• Phase 2 added 10 additional Robots, 4 more workstations, and 9,000 extra Bins, all while the main system continued at full capacity — avoiding a disruption in operations.

Custom tunnel systems were designed and installed beneath the Grid to address specific facility requirements around lighting and noise control. This attention to environmental factors created a workspace that supports productivity.

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Key Benefits: Speed, Reliability, and Employee Well-being

The AutoStore implementation brought significant improvements for Juncker Bike Parts, enhancing both customer satisfaction and employee well-being.

• Later cut-off times: Orders can now be picked up to two hours later, and even four hours later during peak demand periods.
• Increased processing speed: Juncker has seen a 300% increase in order lines per hour.
• High reliability: The average uptime for AutoStore is 99.8%. Even if one Robot is out of service, 39 others maintain performance with no interruption to operations.
• Employee well-being: Employees benefit from a quiet, ergonomic work environment, enabling high-volume order flows without distraction.
• Compact design: The system makes efficient use of space through vertical stacking.

These benefits made it easier for Juncker Bike Parts to uphold the standards their customers expect.

Set Up for Expansion

The flexible design of the AutoStore system positions Juncker Bike Parts for continued growth, as the Grid can be expanded as needed, without disruption to operations. Juncker Bike Parts looks forward to continued improvement of their systems and the role of AutoStore in that process.

Project Specifications

• Installation type: Greenfield
• Robots: 40 R5 Robots
• Workstations (Ports): 4 ConveyorPorts, 8 CarouselPorts
• Bins: 25,282 Bins
• Implementation partner: Lalesse Logistic Solutions

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