Groundbreaking for new logistics centre: Feldschlösschen and Swisslog begin construction in Rheinfelden
Swisslog, a leading global provider of warehouse automation, and Feldschlösschen, market leader in the Swiss beer market, are jointly realising a modernised logistics centre at Feldschlösschen's headquarters in Rheinfelden. The large-scale project, named "NOVA", officially broke ground on 23 September. The double-digit million investment falls within the company's 150th anniversary year and sends a strong signal for the future of the production and logistics site.
Image from left to right: Daniel Erne (President of the Board of Directors, Erne AG), Jan Zuurbier (CEO, Swisslog), Dominique Salathé (Owner, Salathé Architects), Thomas Amstutz (CEO, Feldschlösschen), Tim Fischbacher (Project Manager, "Nova"), Georg Stocker (Managing Director, Otto Partner Architects), Ralph Ammann (Senior Project Manager, Jauslin Stebler AG). Foto: Swisslog
"A traditional company like Feldschlösschen knows its processes inside out and understands exactly where intelligent modernisation should begin," says Stefan Mahler, Managing Director Swisslog Switzerland. "At Swisslog, we also bring more than 100 years of experience to the table. We understand how to combine established workflows with modern automation without disrupting them. What's being created in Rheinfelden is a solution that runs reliably and enables Feldschlösschen to grow flexibly even if requirements evolve."
Optimising existing infrastructure rather than starting from scratch
Feldschlösschen faced a classic challenge: growing volumes, limited space, and outdated infrastructure. At the heart of the project, therefore, is an intelligent retrofit strategy. A new high-bay warehouse with capacity for over 50,000 pallets is not being built in isolation, but connected directly to all existing operational areas via a one-kilometre monorail system. The new building is being constructed right next to the existing bottling plant from the 1970s, while the site's iconic castle ensemble remains untouched.
"This groundbreaking marks the starting point for infrastructure that will equip us for the coming decades," says Thomas Amstutz, CEO of Feldschlösschen. "We've cared for our site since our founding and have continually evolved. With this new high-bay warehouse, we're once again investing in modern logistics infrastructure. With Swisslog, we've found a partner who understands that tradition and innovation need to go hand in hand."
Integrated system without operational disruption
Production, rail loading, empties handling, customer loading, and the picking zone will all function as a fully integrated system without operational disruption. The high-bay warehouse is served by ten Vectura S32 stacker cranes. A dispatch buffer with 972 storage locations absorbs peak demand and is supplied by four additional Vectura S12 stacker cranes.
A material flow system based on SAP EWM orchestrates all manual, semi-automated, and fully automated processes. This provides full transparency across all goods movements – from goods receipt through to shipping – and creates the foundation for data-driven decision-making in day-to-day operations.
Flexible scalability for the future
The new solution in Rheinfelden is built on a modular, scalable design. Should production volumes, product ranges, or customer requirements change, the system can be flexibly expanded without the need for new investment in core infrastructure. A comprehensive service and operations agreement ensures the facility runs smoothly.
For more information on Swisslog's solutions for the beverage and food industry, visit: www.swisslog.com.
About Swisslog
Swisslog delivers data- and robotics-driven solutions for logistics automation, along with reliable, modular service concepts. Together with forward-thinking companies, we set new standards in warehouse automation and develop future-proof products and solutions.
As part of the KUKA Group, our customers rely on the expertise of our dedicated employees – more than 15,000 people worldwide.
www.swisslog.com & www.kuka.com
About Feldschlösschen
Headquartered in Rheinfelden AG, Feldschlösschen brewed its first beer on 8 February 1876 as the first nationally operating brewery in Switzerland. To this day, the company remains market leader in the Swiss beer market and operates as a nationwide beverage distributor. Feldschlösschen employs around 1,200 people across 22 locations throughout Switzerland. With over 40 of its own Swiss beer brands – both alcoholic and non-alcoholic – as well as a broad beverage portfolio ranging from mineral water and soft drinks to wine, Feldschlösschen supplies approximately 25,000 customers from the hospitality, retail, and beverage trade sectors.
feldschloesschen.swiss
