Outdoor and active lifestyle brand Thule has announced plans to build a new automated warehouse in Poland to strengthen its European supply chain and support future international growth.

The Swedish business said the new facility in Krzyż Wielkopolski will centralise its European product range while also serving other markets, as it works to improve throughput, make better use of storage space and enhance product traceability.

Thule, which operates across 138 markets, said the move forms part of a wider push to improve efficiency and customer service through greater automation.

Paweł Pępiak, director of the distribution centre for Europe and rest of world, said: “Our goals are to increase throughput, leverage our storage space and ensure product traceability.

“Automation will enhance cost efficiency and streamline processes, enabling us to deliver superior service and improve customer satisfaction.”

The new clad-rack warehouse will measure 51 metres wide, 135 metres long and 42 metres high, with capacity for nearly 40,000 pallets.

Six double-deep automated stacker cranes will handle storage and retrieval operations.

The site will also include temperature and humidity controls, alongside direct links to Thule’s existing manual warehouse and production hall through a conveyor system and pallet lift.

A floor-mounted electric monorail system will transport pallets from the receiving area into the automated warehouse, as well as moving goods from storage to one of 16 flow channels in the dock area.

Warehouse operations will be managed through a new software system designed to assign storage locations based on product type and turnover, organise picking and improve end-to-end traceability.

Thule said the combination of automation and digitalisation would reduce manual handling, improve staff safety and ergonomics, and help the business meet expected demand in the years ahead.

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