66 shuttles on 13 levels: This is how Hebe automates its existing logistics center

The intralogistics provider Advasolutions SE from Traunstein has received an order to automate an existing logistics center of the Polish drugstore chain Hebe. The company is installing a container system with 66 autonomous shuttles and around 20,000 storage spaces. The implementation will take place step by step during ongoing warehouse operations. The commissioning is scheduled for early 2028. For Advasolutions, this is the first facility project outside Germany.

Hebe belongs to the Portuguese trading group Jerónimo Martins and operates a branch network in Poland, as well as locations in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. At the end of June 2026, the drugstore retailer had 412 branches in Poland. In addition, there are its own online sales channels and a marketplace. By modernizing its existing storage capacities, the company aims to create the logistical prerequisites for the further development of its branch business and online trade. According to Advasolutions, the high variety of items, increasing number of orders, and short delivery times in particular require adaptable warehouse automation.

Automatic Replenishment via Flow Racks

A component of the plant concept is the integration of flow racks directly below the actual container storage. These areas are intended for frequently requested items that are needed more frequently during order picking.

The replenishment of the flow racks is carried out automatically by the shuttle vehicles. According to Advasolutions, this eliminates time-consuming manual replenishment paths within the warehouse. The employees at the picking stations should be able to continuously access the provided items without having to organize the replenishment themselves.

The concept is complemented by ergonomically designed goods-to-person workstations. In this picking principle, the required goods are automatically brought to the workstations where order processing takes place. The combination of shuttle storage, integrated flow racks, and goods-to-person picking is intended to enable the processing of different order structures within Hebe's omnichannel logistics.

Conveyor Technology with Automatic Ejection

The plant also includes integrated conveyor technology for container transport between the various functional areas. It features an ejection route for containers in which deviations are detected during the material flow.

Advasolutions cites unreadable barcodes and overfilled containers as examples. Affected load carriers are automatically ejected from the regular material flow. This should allow containers with detected deviations to be treated separately from the further transport process.

The control and management of the warehouse processes are linked to Hebe's existing warehouse management system. For this purpose, the automation system is connected to SAP Extended Warehouse Management. The integration is intended to enable continuous data and information exchange between warehouse automation and the overarching system, as well as to create transparency over the ongoing processes.