Case Study: dm Austria improves logistics efficiency and sustainability with SSI SCHAEFER plastic containers

dm Austria - Customer Case Study

dm Austria, the Austrian subsidiary of a leading European drugstore chain, faced challenges in optimizing its intralogistics for storage, order picking, and transport. Seeking a more efficient, scalable, and sustainable alternative to disposable packaging, they partnered with SSI SCHAEFER to implement a closed returnable container system.

SSI SCHAEFER provided a solution using its rugged FKE 6320 plastic containers, which were integrated into a fully automated high-bay warehouse and material handling system. This created a uniform, closed-loop process from the distribution center to the stores and back. The results included safer transport of goods, an 80% reduction in the volume of returned empty containers, and significant long-term cost savings. The system, which handles up to 3,500 order positions per hour, is so successful that dm Austria now consolidates annual orders of 40,000-60,000 containers for ten other European subsidiaries, with between 600,000 and 800,000 units in circulation.

dm Austria

Herbert Scheiblauer

Manager Transports & Warehouse Organization