Coca-Cola HBC has inaugurated a new finished-goods warehouse at its Knockmore Hill facility in Lisburn, Northern Ireland, featuring Mecalux’s semi-automated Pallet Shuttle system. Designed to meet rising demand across the island of Ireland, the warehouse now holds up to 9,000 pallets with improved storage density and streamlined logistics.

The Pallet Shuttle solution uses four motorised shuttles that autonomously move pallets within storage lanes, while operators load and unload pallets using forklifts. This technology offers direct access to each pallet, optimizing inventory control and accelerating both goods receipt and dispatch processes.

“As a fast-moving consumer goods company, our key metric is DIFOTAI: delivery in full, on time and accurately invoiced. We need to manage our warehousing, inventory control and distribution processes efficiently to optimise customer service and operate cost-effectively,” says Karl Quinlivan, Logistics Route to Market Manager at Coca-Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Coca-Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland serves as the strategic bottling partner for The Coca-Cola Company on the island, managing a diverse portfolio of brands including Coca-Cola, Fanta, Sprite, and local products like Deep RiverRock. The company is also a distributor of premium spirits and has recently expanded into the coffee sector.

“We’re always looking for ways to optimise our infrastructure and build a borderless supply chain that will supply our territory at optimum cost,” says Quinlivan. Recently, the company commissioned an additional finished-goods warehouse to make full use of the available space and boost capacity. “We had a great experience working with Mecalux. The team offered us flexible design options and carried out the installation quickly, working within our strict health and safety guidelines on site. They were always available to answer questions during implementation,” he adds.

Quinlivan adds: “The workflow is far more dynamic, as operators and the Pallet Shuttle system carry out different tasks simultaneously.”

In the Coca-Cola HBC Lisburn facility, employees use Mecalux’s warehouse control system to send orders to the shuttles from a tablet. “The interface is very user-friendly. Within minutes, any operator can learn to issue commands and monitor the process without external support,” he says.

Since opening in 2010, the Knockmore Hill plant has grown steadily, now operating nine advanced production lines. The new warehouse upgrade with Mecalux technology supports Coca-Cola HBC’s commitment to efficiency and sustainability, enabling timely delivery of beverages across Ireland.

Implementing the new finished-goods warehouse with Mecalux’s semi-automated Pallet Shuttle underlines Coca-Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland’s commitment to Industry 4.0. “By integrating new technologies into our manufacturing and logistics processes, we’re making steady progress towards Industry 4.0, enhancing efficiency and quality at every stage,” Quinlivan concludes.