Kardex Automated Warehouse Solution for E-commerce and Retail

Overview

Kjell & Company is a leading retailer of consumer electronics accessories, operating both online and through a network of 80 physical stores across Sweden. With a portfolio of more than 9,000 products—ranging from iPhone cases and mobile chargers to specialized electronic accessories—the company offers one of the most extensive assortments of consumer electronics accessories in the Nordic region.

To support its rapid growth in both e-commerce and brick-and-mortar retail channels, Kjell & Company required a more flexible and efficient storage solution.

Challenges

Headquartered in Sweden with a sourcing office in Shanghai, Kjell & Company employs over 600 staff. However, the existing static shelving system was no longer able to meet the flexibility and performance demands of an increasingly complex omnichannel sales model.
The 8,000 m² distribution and logistics center in Malmö was gradually reaching its maximum capacity.
The key challenge was to identify a storage solution that could optimize warehouse space, improve picking efficiency, handle growing volumes of online orders, and at the same time create additional storage capacity to support future expansion.

Kardex Automated Warehouse Solution for E-commerce

Kardex implemented 12 Kardex Shuttle VLM vertical lift modules, each designed with dual access openings and integrated with the Kardex Color Pick system to significantly enhance picking accuracy and speed. Above each access opening, a touch-screen display enables operators to easily identify the color-coded picking locations for each order batch.

Today, warehouse staff can process retail and e-commerce orders simultaneously—including returns, inbound stock, and express deliveries. Picking performance has increased to 120–200 picks per hour, compared to only 70 picks per hour with conventional static shelving.
This easy-to-install solution maximized the vertical space of the warehouse, reducing the required floor area from 800 m² to just 80 m² after the installation of the first six automated storage systems. In addition, inventory security has been significantly improved.
All material flow processes are fully integrated via the Kardex JMIF software, providing end-to-end visibility and control across the entire intralogistics operation.

Scope of Delivery

– 12 Kardex Shuttle 250 automated storage system

• Width: 3,480 mm | Depth: 2,310 mm | Height: 7,950 mm
• Tray dimensions: 3,050 × 610 mm

– Kardex Color Pick system and Kardex JMIF (Java Machine Interface) software
– Kardex VLM storage containers and Plexiglass safety panels

Key Benefits

• Significantly increased picking speed
• Up to 90% reduction in floor space requirements
• Improved employee safety