Dematic EMEA Newsletter - September 2025
Making the most of what you already have
Would you believe that some industry studies claim as many as 90 pecent of warehouses globally are still entirely manual? In the US alone, analysts say just 20 percent of storage facilities are automated leaving a whopping 80 percent still being run manually! You would think with the assorted labour shortages and supply chain disruptions in the last several years, companies would be running to automate their buildings. So what's holding them back? One factor pointed out in almost every study we found on automation transformation is a misconception heald by many small and mid-sized operations: only the large globally active companies can afford to make the transition.
In fact, adopting robotics can be done in a facility of any size. Automation does not require either plans to build a new facility or having an enormous one. In fact, you can do just fine making using of what you already have!
Dematic is meeting with companies that increasingly want to understand if automation that will make them more competitive can be integrated at brownfield sites and the answer is a a resounding "most definitely!"
Real estate space in Europe: While the European commercial real estate sector has faced rising pressures since the Covid pandemic, including sluggish economic growth, high construction costs and declining property values, the market for industrial real estate has emerged as the most sought-after property type among occupiers and investors. Construction material costs are soaring and highly sought properties make for heavy competition. Yet, it is possible to take your exisiting site, even when space might seem limited, and integrate an AutoStore or a few AMRs to support picking stations.
We had not planned on invoking the "s" word in this edition's editorial but indeed the updating of software platforms, retro-fitting previously installed systems and and simply staying put where you are already storing your products can all play a role in your sustainability strategies. There we said it: using the technologies and space you already have and looking at compatible upgrades and technologies such as robotics to bring automation to your operations can go a long way to boost your competitiveness and contribute to improving the environment around you.
This newsletter's content has much to offer on the topic of getting themost out of what you alread have. So why not take a peek inside and learn how with the right focus, limitations can become opportunities for sustainable growth, stable processes and long-term success.
Your Dematic team
Five with Susanna Felker
The Dematic Multishuttle 2, manufactured in Stribro,Czech Republic, recently received a Cradle to Cradle® Bronze certification; the first of its kind in the industry. Susanna Felker, a research engineer in the Innovation and Advanced Automation team at Dematic in Heusenstamm, Germany, discusses the journey leading to the certification and what it means for customers.
What is your role in EMEA and can you describe some of your responsibilities?
I am a research engineer and have been with Dematic’s Innovation and Advanced Automation team for ten years. My work focuses on exploring key emerging technologies and finding ways to integrate them into our solutions or even create entirely new ones for the future. Because these technologies are so diverse, the topic range covered by my colleagues and I tends to very broad, which keeps the job exciting and full of opportunities to innovate.
You have been busy with the certification of the Dematic Multishuttle 2. What has that involved?
"Cradle to Cradle" is a design concept inspired by nature’s cycles. The idea is to create solutions that use 'healthy', recyclable materials that can remain in an endless cycle, serving as raw materials for new technologies or products at the end of their "life" usage without any loss of quality nor waste creation.
For the certification, the Dematic Multishuttle 2 was assessed in five categories: Material Health, Product Circularity, Clean Air and Climate Protection, Water and Soil Stewardship as well as Social Fairness.
In practice, this meant conducting a full material analysis of all DMS components down to the chemical substance level, collecting detailed data from several suppliers and verifying compliance with regulations such as REACH and RoHS and beyond and evaluating the recyclability of the components.
As part of the certification, our policies, processes, and the DMS production itself were comprehensively assessed in the context of Dematic’s sustainability strategy including clean air and climate protection, water and soil stewardship as well as social fairness.
Overall, it has been an intensive and in-depth journey that demanded significant effort, but in the end we received the certification while also strengthening our internal processes. It also has lead to heightened awareness across our EMEA organization, and unlocked new opportunities for innovation.
What was the outcome of the assessment and what does it mean for this solution?
The results show that Dematic meets the high C2C requirements, which go beyond the current legal standards in areas such as clean air and climate protection, water and soil stewardship, and social fairness. It demonstrates that Dematic takes these topics seriously and is strategically well positioned.
The assessment also confirmed the DMS 2’s material health and recyclability and that our engineers are doing an excellent job in solution development, creating ones with a very high proportion of "healthy" and reusable materials.
Following a thorough analysis and audit, the DMS 2 has been given the C2C bronze certification. It is by far the most complex product certified to date and is unique in our industry. The requirements for the C2C bronze level are set very high and are not easy to achieve, which is why we are especially proud to have reached this milestone after long and intensive work.
But it is only the first step. Our goal is to continuously improve the technology and achieve a higher certification in the next cycle. To do this, we must further optimize material health, increase the share of recycled materials, and make the design even more focused on circularity.
Why is this important for customers?
It provides assurance that our solutions are indeed developed with sustainability in mind. The certificate serves as transparent and credible evidence of this. It also confirms compliance with key regulatory standards, which help our customers meet their own sustainability and compliance objectives. Finally, it positions Dematic as an innovative and responsible partner.
You are based in Heusenstamm outside Frankfurt. Can you tell us something interesting about the location that might surprise visitors when they come?
Our Dematic Tech Center is located here and it is where visitors can see many of our solutions in action. It is a space to experience our technology in-person, explore different systems in operation, and discuss their specific needs directly with our experts. This approach often gives visitors a much deeper understanding of how our solutions work and how they can be customised to optimise their operations.
Sustainability Report 2024 released
Dematic recently released its 2024 Annual Sustainability Report. We publish the report each year because we believe transparency builds trust. It also drives accountability. The report is more than a compliance exercise; it’s a strategic tool that helps us measure progress, identify risks and align with the expectations of our customers, employees and investors.
Increasingly, the industry wants to know what we are doing and how we are doing it when it comes to running a business that puts sustainable measures as a strategic priority. Our 2024 report notes that 100 percent of our global sites are now ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 certified— up from 81 percent two years ago. It also shows a 22-percent improvement in our global safety performance (LTIFR), and an 18.6-percent reduction in Scope 1+2 GHG emissions. These are insights that would not be visible without the discipline of annual reporting.
In the bigger picture, sustainability reporting reinforces our belief that good environmental and social performance makes for good business. It is how we stay competitive, resilient and responsible regardless of external pressures.
Highlights from this year's report inlcude our new emphasis on lifecycle services and recognizing their role in helping customers extend asset life, reduce energy consumption, and maximise ROI. This shift reflects a broader Dematic strategy to embed sustainability in all our solutions and across the full customer journey.
It also takes a look at ohow our GHG emissions and energy use have dropped year-on-year.
In 2024 our Scope 1 and 2 emissions fell to18.6 percent (location-based) and 14.8 percent (market-based), along with a 12.5 percent decrease in total energy use since 2021.
Also our safety performance in 2024 achieved a 41.4 percent reduction in Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate, with 22 percent fewer injuries, and once again zero significant injuries representing a major leap in workplace safety.
These are just a few of the highlights in 2024. To learn more about our progress in the circularity of our solutions, click the link to download:
The rise of brownfield automation
Adding automation to your strategy plans does not necessarily require starting from scratch. Especially in today's rapidly changing competitive environment where it pays to respond quickly. Brownfield site automation offers a smarter, faster, and more cost-effective alternative to greenfield approaches by upgrading existing facilities with cutting-edge technology. And there is no need budget new construction for you automation needs.
When companies automate within existing facilities, they can unlock hidden capacity, boost throughput, and enhance service levels as they continue to leverage existing infrastructure and team expertise. This approach saves time and capital and reduces risk through the expansion of what already works.
Successful brownfield site automation requires strategic planning, seamless legacy system integration and thoughtful change management to avoid disruptions and maximise ROI. While the gains may seem incremental compared to the ones achieved in greenfield projects, there is no denying the long-term impact: improved operational efficiency, scalability along with the flexibility to meet changing customer expectations.
Whether you want to modernise picking systems, enhance warehouse software, or introduce robotics, brownfield site automation allows you to evolve your operations at your own pace and with measurable results.
Discover how Dematic utilises brownfield sites to integrate automation helping companies transform existing operations into high-performance ones.
The magic of SAP and Dematic
Our close partnership with SAP delivers cutting-edge, future-proof logistics solutions which are fully aligned with your business goals. As a certified SAP integrator, we have the expertise to develop seamless system integration along with customised retrofit solutions that maximise efficiency without requiring a new WMS investment.
Whether you are operating a manual facility or a highly automated one, Dematic brings its in-depth knowledge in SAP EWM, SAP WM/Stock Room Management, SAP MFS, and SAP Stockroom Management to everyproject it is involved with. Ever since the late 1990s we have been integrating our automation solutions into SAP environments using our advanced SAP add-ons.
Our offer extends far beyond initial implementation. Whether its expert consulting, system design, commissioning or on-going support, we can oversee your system operation and availability — even across international locations. And because we are on top of SAP innovations, we can ensure your solution evolves with your business.
Whether you're modernising an existing system or building a new one, Dematic's in-house SAP team can deliver a solution perfectly matching your processes.
Experience next-level logistics efficiency:
When was the last time you optimised your facility?
Companies are under pressure from many forces today. The market demands competitive prices and shorter delivery times, consumers want orders delivered to any location of their choice and, of course, they want their orders to be complete and on time.
In this e-book, Dematic covers the challenges facing retail, wholesale and e-commerce, the changes that these industries are going to face in the coming years and how Dematic automation solutions can help. Each of the solution strategies listed is discussed in the e-book and is assigned a point system that clearly shows you the optimisation potential for processes, staff or inventory. There are also solution examples which have been implemented around the world.
- Software;
- Pick-to-light and Put-to-light;
- Conveyor systems;
- Automated guided vehicles and autonomous mobile robots;
- Automated storage & retrieval systems as well as multishuttle systems;
- Goods-to-person systems;
- Micro-fulfilment;
- AutoStore™
- Sorting systems and pouch sorters;
- Robot and mixed pallet palletising.
All together under one roof
Metcash has taken a bold step toward future-proofing its supply chain by consolidating operations into a cutting-edge distribution centre (DC) in Truganina, Victoria. Working with Dematic, the new 115,000 sqm site features a powerful goods-to-person (GTP) automation system, anchored by Dematic’s high-density multishuttle and flex shuttle technologies.
Previously operating from a multi-shed setup at its Laverton site with an aging infrastructure, Metcash faced increasing inefficiencies and challenges with spare parts availability. The fragmented layout made it difficult to meet growing demand across its grocery, liquor, and convenience segments.
The move to Truganina marks a strategic shift, which combines all operations under a single roof for improved efficiency, streamlined workflows and scalable growth.
The Dematic customised solution offers high flexibility with the use of inter-aisle transfer (iAT) technology and ergonomic Gen3 pick stations which boost both productivity and operator well-being. The solution also seamlessly integrates two distinct WMS platforms and meets the complex handling needs of liquor products.
“Bringing everything together has laid a smarter, more integrated foundation for our future,” says Victor Cleves, the head of DC Automation and Design at Metcash.
Discover how Metcash is redefining distribution:
Assorted News
Dematic Multishuttle® 2 is officially C2C Certified® Bronze
Dematic, has reached a major milestone in its efforts to incorporate more circular processes into its products and services. The Dematic Multishuttle 2 has recently officially been Cradle to Cradle Certified® when it received a bronze certification. Read more about our cicularity efforts in the interview ...