Adler Lacke: Start of construction for new raw materials logistics

With the "Factory of the Future", Austria's leading paint manufacturer Adler will continue to expand and modernize its production in the coming years, particularly in the area of environmentally friendly water-based paints. The focus is on comprehensive digital support for all processes as well as automation with a sense of proportion - not to save jobs, but on the contrary to provide employees with the best possible support and to further increase quality, safety and efficiency. In the first construction phase, the original high-bay warehouse for finished goods, which was no longer in use, will be converted into a fully automated raw materials logistics system. To this end, the building was completely gutted in order to equip it with modern storage and conveyor technology in the next stage. In 6 storage aisles with around 4,000 pallet spaces, the approx. 600 different raw materials and semi-finished products required for the manufacture of Adler's products will be stored here in future.

A digitally controlled conveyor system will deliver the raw materials from the warehouse to the adjacent pre-picking area. In future, around 10 employees will compile and weigh the raw materials for each individual production batch and prepare them for further processing. Digitally supported pre-picking stations will be set up for this purpose, which are perfectly tailored to the respective requirements. Each workstation is ergonomically equipped with pulling and lifting aids to ensure healthy and safe working conditions. And Adler's customers will also benefit: "Our new raw materials logistics will enable us to further increase efficiency in our production and minimize faulty batches - making us even faster and more flexible in the production of customer orders," says Romed Staggl, Head of Production and head of the "Factory of the Future" project at Adler. Construction work on the new parts of the building is currently in full swing. The building technology is due to be installed as early as mid-2024, with the new Adler raw materials logistics facility scheduled to go into operation in stages from mid-2025. In the following years, Adler will continue to push ahead with the "Factory of the Future" project - among other things, a modernization of the existing Production 1 and the environmental protection and recycling center is planned. Adler is thus consistently continuing on its path towards digitalization and Industry 4.0 and at the same time sending a strong signal for the company's location in Schwaz: "Adler has been producing exclusively here in Schwaz since our family business was founded in 1934, and we want to keep it that way in the future. With the 'Factory of the Future', we will further strengthen our location and create high-quality, future-proof jobs," affirms Managing Director Andrea Berghofer.