Dematic EMEA Newsletter - November 2025
When you can't find your crystal ball
How many times have you found yourself or someone you know saying "if I could just see what happens tomorrow, everything would be alright" or words to that effect? We would all love to know what the next big trend will be, what consumers are going to rush to buy, what food items will be the hits at dinner parties. Unfortunately, we all know the world does not work that way. So, we do the next best thing we can to be ready for tomorrow: we prepare ourselves to be able to respond to a number of possibilities that may turn up.
Okay, maybe not everyone does this, but if you think about it, we all should. Because being flexible offers the best chance of surviving tomorrow no matter what happens. And being flexible is not a new concept for organisations. Just think about your favourite sports teams - or at least the most successful ones. They do not fill their rosters with players who are all the same. Instead, they look for players with lots of different capabilities to face any situation the opposition might throw at them and they build their squads around some solid, consistent players whose skills will always be in demand.
When it comes to supply chains and warehousing, the situation is not all that different and that is why Dematic wants you to think of your facilities as dynamic storage units ready to respond to anything that a tomorrow might bring. Automation does not have to be static and rigid to build your future. But it does need to offer you options as your business grows and evolves because no one can truly say what tomorrow will bring
Your Dematic team
What happens in Stribro...
...does not stay in Stříbro! On the contrary. It is integrated at customer sites across Europe and sometimes globally as well. When it comes to Dematic operational sites in Europe, KION Stříbro just might be the best-kept secret. The state-of-the-art production facility is where a number of smart warehouse automation solutions come together in one of three halls that belong to KION Group, the parent company of Dematic and industrial truck brands Linde Material Handling and STILL. “We offer complex solutions for entire intralogistics systems. And the complexity of the solution is our main advantage in the multi-brand strategy behind our location,” explains Jiri Smolek, senior director of Operation Management at Stříbro.
Located 40 kilometres west of Pilsen, the Czech production site for Dematic has been running since 2020 and experienced a revamp in 2023.The plant covers 25,550 m2 and employs close to 350 Czech employees.
Perhaps the most well-known solution to come from the western Czech location is the Dematic Multishuttle System 2. This AS/RS technology, which has been on the market since 2006, is produced at the facility for European customers.
The complex technology has recently received a Cradle to Cradle Certified® validation from the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute making it the only solution of its kind in the supply chain industry to receive a certification recognizing the circular processes involved in its manufacture. And Stribro is the only location within Dematic that produces the bronze-certified solution.
For warehouse solutions, it also produces conveyor belt and bag sorter systems. In 2024, the recently added two new solutions to the production list. These include the BK25 pallet conveyor and the BK10, which are conveyor systems designed for smaller boxes. It is essentially an alternative option to the well-known Dematic Modular Conveyor System or MCS. And there are plans in the works to add two more solutions to its production portfolio. One involves an entirely new technology while the other is being transferred from another European site. According to the Stříbro team, it is still a bit early to mention much more about these new technologies but you can bet once they begin production, the completed technologies will not stay in Stříbro for long!
Staying agile in a world of constant change
Change is constant and this is especially true when it comes to supply chains and the purchase habits of consumers. Demand fluctuates, product ranges expand and customer expectations can be fickle. They want it now and everywhere and they want to return it tomorrow and they want 24/7 service.
Dematic offers a powerful response to all of the demands thrown at businesses today. It provides intelligent and adaptable solutions that grow with your supply chains. They help you to scale your operations when capacity increases, adjust as markets evolve and remain stable in times of uncertainty.
We focus on creating sustainable, scalable and future-proof operations. By considering key factors to successful flexible automation technologies, you can build the foundations for long-term viability in your market.
It allows you to balance cost, quality and performance, ensuring you remain agile, resilient and ready for whatever comes next. Read more about Dematic's flexible strategies.
Key ingredient for today's fresh food supply chain
Today’s food industry is driven by consumers who value freshness, convenience and sustainability. Meeting these expectations calls for innovation at every level and flexible fulfilment is leading the way.
Powered by automation, robotics, and smart software, flexible fulfilment allows businesses to quickly respond to changing demand, maintain optimal stock levels and ensure every product reaches the customer at its freshest. The result is a connected, data-driven supply chain that delivers speed, accuracy and quality from producer to plate.
At Dematic, we are proud to work with food manufacturers, distributors and retailers to transform how food moves through the supply chain. Our solutions, such as automated Storage and retrieval systems, automated guided vehicles, and warehouse execution software, help businesses streamline operations, enhance traceability, and drive sustainability.
Leading brands such as Tesco, Kesko, and other global innovators are already realising the benefits of faster fulfilment, reduced waste, and greater customer satisfaction through Dematic technology.
As demand for fresh, sustainable food continues to grow, flexible fulfilment is becoming the key ingredient for long-term success. Discover how Dematic is helping redefine what’s possible in fresh food logistics by making every step smarter, faster and more efficient.
First fully automated logistics facility for Lotte Chilsung
As consumer expectations for speed, variety and flexibility continue to grow, beverage logistics are under increasing pressure to respond to expectations. Lotte Chilsung, one of South Korea’s leading beverage producers, asked Dematic to design and implement the region’s first fully automated, multi-product beverage logistics facility.
Located in Bupyeong, Incheon, the 8,264-square-metre centre consolidates four existing warehouses into a single, state-of-the-art hub. Standing 42 metres tall and capable of handling over 1.2 million cases annually, it now serves as the cornerstone of Lotte Chilsung’s logistics network in the Gyeonggi region.
Built on a 20-year relationship, the project marks a major milestone in automation for the beverage industry across Asia. It is the first facility in the region to feature complete end-to-end automation, including automated storage, picking, palletising, and truck-specific sequencing.
For Lotte Chilsung, automation was essential to address order complexity, labour challenges, and space constraints. The new facility boosts efficiency and safety and provides real-time operational visibility supporting logistics longevity in a fast-evolving market.
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