Automating warehouse activities: Exotec robots now processing first orders at Auchan Luxembourg

Auchan Retail Luxembourg has become the first retailer in Luxembourg to use Exotec's Skypod system, with deployment in its Dudelange warehouse.

At Auchan’s site, Exotec has installed 37 robots in the facility to automate order processing, with the aim of making the workload of warehouse employees lighter and more pleasant.

The installation consists of metres high racks in which the Skypod robots autonomously manoeuvre in all directions to extract products from 15,300 bins. They then take these to one of three picking stations, where the order is completed.

Rémy Malchirand, EVP Sales Western Europe, at Exotec says: “By automating warehouse activities, Auchan has significantly increased the quality and reliability of the order picking process, saving employees from a lot of walking and lifting and significantly improving working conditions.”

“This is fully in line with our human first philosophy, in which we constantly make efforts to make work in the warehouse as comfortable and safe as possible.”

In total, 160,000 orders are prepared annually from the Dudelange warehouse, which are delivered via distribution points throughout Luxembourg. Customers who live nearby can pick up the desired goods just ten minutes after their purchase.

Exotec's Skypod robots have no fear of heights: climbing shelves up to 12 metres high to retrieve products from bins.

“The newly installed Skypod system in Dudelange occupies only 749 square metres of floor space, whereas our previous system took up 2,200 square metres of space,” says Nicolas Gueuzurian, Marketing and E-commerce Director at Auchan Retail Luxembourg.

“After a month and a half transition period, the number of products available in Auchan Drive has increased by 17%, bringing the total to more than 13,000, while further improving the shopping experience for our customers. Thanks to this functional building block, we were able to open two new branches in September, thus serving the Luxembourg territory even better.”

2024 RTIH INNOVATION AWARDS

Supply chain technology is a key focus area for the sixth edition of the RTIH Innovation Awards, which is now open for entries.

The awards, sponsored by Scala, CADS, 3D Cloud, Brightpearl by Sage’s Lightning 50, and Retail Technology Show 2025, celebrate global tech innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.

Key 2024 dates

Friday, 25th October: Award entry deadline 

Tuesday, 29th October: 2024 shortlist revealed

30th October-6th November: Judging days

Thursday, 21st November: Winners announced at the 2024 RTIH Innovation Awards ceremony, to be held at RIBA’s 66 Portland Place HQ in Central London.