Building Services Engineering l July/August 2021
AN INTELLIGENT CONCEPT FOR LOGISTICS
Energy savings as a key foundation Amazon is by far the largest internet retailer in the world, capable of supplying virtually anything, to anywhere, no matter what the country. Demand for its products and services has risen dramatically right across the globe, including Europe, creating a major logistics challenge. Consequently, this has led to the opening of a massive new logistic centre in Leipzig, Germany, for the distribution of bulky and heavy items such as electronics, home appliances and furnishings, hardware, and sports and outdoors equipment. The site has 400 workers operating two shifts, with the schedule increased to three shifts in the period coming up to Christmas. Spanning an area of almost 22,000 sq m, the site is as large as 11 soccer fields combined. The comfort/energy challenge Although most of the products stored require only freeze protection, the inbound and outbound loading areas, and the assembly area, require comfort heating, especially at the 48 loading docks where it is essential. A comfort
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temperature of 20°C is required in the stock room and picking areas with spot heating needed for selected work stations. Because of specific requirements, Amazon needed a custom-made heating solution, one that provides constant comfort to the different areas. Furthermore, the focus was also on finding a cost-efficient solution, one that contributes to keeping operational costs under control. The heating solution devised was developed in cooperation with Schwank who designed a tailored solution based on its proprietary logistics-heating concept. In the loading/unloading areas, infrared heating acts as a protective shield, sheltering workers from the cold and providing a comfortable environment and a steady temperature. Even when loading dock doors remain open in the winter, the area stays warm. The heating system is monitored through Schwank ThermoControl Plus. These controllers allow for the flexible setup of 15 independent heat zones.
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Above: Schwank’s Logistics Heating Concept is designed specifically for the unique requirements of logistics facilities.
Thanks to its optimised, environmentfriendly combustion, the heating system ensures a very high radiant factor, high energy yield, and durability. Schwank‘s unique Logistics Heating Concept is based on the latest scientific research and the experience that comes from heating well over 2.5 million sq m of logistics facilities every year. In collaboration with a German university, Schwank researched and optimised heat distribution in logistics facilities to arrive at its solution. The result for Amazon is an efficient system that ensures uniform heat distribution, was cost-effective to install, and is economical to maintain and operate. Intelligent controls allow the system to provide complete heat coverage to the warehouse area, and flexible heating to the picking area when required. Amazon is so convinced of the effectiveness and efficiency of this heating system that the company has granted Schwank two additional heating projects for Amazon‘s newest warehouses in England and Bad Hersfeld (Germany). Contact: Paul Devereux, Specification Manager, Hevac. T: 01 – 419 1919; M: 086 – 173 8060; E: paul.devereux@hevac.ie; www.hevac.ie Q
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