CF GROUP France, 38070 Saint-Quentin-Fallavier, France

New dynamics in the market for swimming pools are dramatically boosting equipment sales

Four Hänel Lean-Lift® systems at this pool equipment supplier enable just two employees to process more than three hundred orders every day

CF GROUP France offers a complete portfolio of components, parts and accessories to a large number of swimming pool manufacturers. At the distribution center in Saint Quentin Fallavier more than three hundred orders are processed every day.

Travel restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic have boosted market demand for swimming pools considerably. Four Hänel Lean-Lift® systems help employees in the shipping department cope with this logistics challenge.

Enormous capacity density with height-optimized storage saves valuable floor space

The lift systems are ten meters high and provide enormous storage volume within a small footprint. Thanks to the Hänel intralogistics solution, CF GROUP France is able to store diverse small items such as pipe connectors, filters, clamps and strainers neatly and transparently while saving space at the same time – the inventory is comprised of 3,600 storage positions. The Hänel solution increases storage density, saves valuable space and utilizes the height available – from floor to ceiling. What’s more, the Lean-Lift® systems protect inventory items from light, dust and unauthorized access.

When a customer order is received, an employee creates a pick list in the company’s ERP system which is based on Microsoft Dynamics AX. Thanks to the extreme flexibility of Hänel microprocessor controllers, the four Hänel Lean-Lift® systems can be operated directly from Microsoft Dynamics AX.

An employee starts the job and the lifts automatically bring the requested items to the access point for retrieval. Optimized routing saves time during this process. The compartment and sub-level indicators show precisely where items are located on the containers. The number of articles to be picked is shown on the controller display. This minimizes picking errors.

Ergonomics and economy are combined in the Hänel Lean-Lift®

The access point is positioned at the optimum height to ensure ergonomic picking. There is no need for ladders or forklifts. Once the pick is confirmed on the Hänel controller, the storage system automatically brings the next requisite item to the access point for retrieval.

The compact clustering of the storage systems and their integration in the existing shipping department means that employees at CF GROUP France do not need to walk around the warehouse looking for items – and that saves both time and money. Two employees can manage the picking of small items quickly and efficiently thanks to the Hänel storage solution. 

CF GROUP France has been using Hänel intralogistics solutions since 2008. Shortly thereafter CF GROUP France flexibly expanded storage capacity with an additional Hänel Lean-Lift®. The company has come to appreciate the high reliability of Hänel Lean-Lift® systems as well as the enormous space savings and time savings that have been gained for order picking.

The flexible integration and enormous storage density in combination with time savings and lower costs enable CF GROUP France to cope with the booming demand for swimming pool components resulting from the coronavirus pandemic!

„With the Hänel solution we can utilize the entire height available in the building. That would not be possible with conventional rack and shelf storage. The Hänel Lean-Lift® systems are linked to our warehouse management system so that all orders and processes are fully synchronized.“

Mathieu Rognon,
Site Manager