Jungheinrich automates logistics centre for Iaponiki in Greece

The material handling expert Jungheinrich is supporting Greek auto parts importer Iaponiki SA in tackling acute logistics challenges. With a fully automated logistics centre in Markopoulo near Athens, the company is successfully addressing the growing labour shortage while simultaneously creating new capacity for its expanding business.

The new facility combines an automated VNA high-bay warehouse with an intelligent mobile robot system and state-of-the-art safety technology for mixed-mode operation. "Iaponiki faced the challenge of significantly expanding its storage capacity while increasing efficiency despite a shortage of personnel," explains Philipp Gutmann, Project Manager Technical Sales AutoVNA at Jungheinrich. "With our automation solution, we are not only optimising warehouse processes but also significantly reducing operational costs."

The new logistics centre includes a high-bay warehouse with 4,922 pallet spaces, along with an additional gravity rack system providing 286 storage locations. To ensure an automated material flow, Jungheinrich is supplying eight EKS 215a mobile robots with a lifting height of up to six meters and integrated 360-degree safety sensors. These robots handle the entire goods flow from inbound receipt to outbound shipping. Thanks to dedicated travel paths, they can operate alongside pedestrian traffic while meeting the highest safety standards.

Storage and retrieval in the high-bay warehouse are carried out by two automated narrow-aisle trucks of type EKX 516a, which ensure precise positioning thanks to advanced inductive guidance and RFID technology. The intelligent control system optimises vehicle utilisation and minimises empty runs.

Jungheinrich was chosen based on a 15-year partnership and a detailed analysis of customer requirements. "What particularly impressed us was our well-thought-out automation concept, which enables maximum flexibility in mixed-mode operation while meeting the highest safety standards," adds Gutmann. The concept also stood out due to its short implementation time of just twelve months.

Jungheinrich is delivering the project as a complete solution—from the seismically designed racking system and mobile robots to conveyor technology and the warehouse control system (WCS) with logistics interface. Lithium-ion technology and a sophisticated energy management system enable efficient 16-hour operation, six days a week. The commissioning is scheduled for March 2026.

www.jungheinrich.com