MS Direct, Bergzeit & Kardex launch 25,000-bin AutoStore in Germany

Fulfillment provider MS Direct has partnered with intralogistics supplier Kardex and outdoor retailer Bergzeit to deploy an automated storage and retrieval system in Kaufbeuren, Germany. The joint project integrates cubic warehouse automation into an operational logistics facility to process multi-variant e-commerce inventory for outdoor retail.

System Architecture and Technical Division
The industrial cooperation established a defined division of engineering responsibilities to deploy the cubic automation platform within a 17-week schedule prior to operational go-live on 8 October 2026. Kardex executed the system design, mechanical layout, and physical assembly of the aluminum grid structure. MS Direct managed overall project planning, operational process integration, and software interfacing between the automation controls, the warehouse management system, and external e-commerce enterprise platforms. This collaborative framework allowed the engineering teams to integrate robotic handling hardware directly into an established fulfillment site without disrupting active operations.

Operational Integration and Grid Specifications
The Kaufbeuren installation replaces conventional wide-aisle racking with an ultra-dense cubic storage matrix engineered to minimize physical footprint requirements. Operating within approximately 600 square meters, the layout requires 70 percent less floor space than conventional storage layouts providing comparable capacity.

The physical installation incorporates 25,000 standardized storage bins organized in vertical stacks beneath an overhead rail grid. Ten battery-powered robots navigate the top tracks to excavate, reposition, and deliver inventory bins to picking ports. The automated handling sequence achieves an aggregate throughput capacity of up to 400 bin presentations per hour, maintaining continuous presentation rates for high-velocity order sorting.

E-Commerce Application and Scalability
The system functions as the fulfillment platform for online retailer Bergzeit, managing complex inventory profiles characterized by seasonal variations and wide stock-keeping unit matrices across apparel and outdoor equipment. The cubic layout resolves access bottlenecks inherent to multi-variant distribution by automating retrieval and eliminating manual transport within the storage area.

The modular framework permits continuous scalability. Storage cells, replenishment ports, and automated transport robots can be added directly to the existing grid during active fulfillment shifts, eliminating operational downtime during future capacity adjustments. The deployment also incorporates local technical infrastructure in Kaufbeuren for ongoing equipment maintenance and system support.

Edited by Natania Lyngdoh, Induportals editor, with AI assistance.

www.kardex.com