Wurth Australia is expanding automated fulfilment capacity at two distribution facilities as it builds infrastructure to support growth across its industrial customer base.
The supplier of assembly and fastening materials has partnered with Dematic to install automated order fulfilment systems at its Yatala, Queensland, and Keysborough, Victoria, operations.
Wurth Australia distributes more than 22,000 products to over 56,000 active customers across the automotive, transport, earthworks, fabrication, maintenance, repair and operations, construction and mining sectors.
Wurth Australia chief executive officer and Würth Group Oceania senior vice president Serge Oppedisano says the investment is intended to increase fulfilment capacity while improving the speed and reliability of customer orders.
“The customer experience is incredibly important to us here at Wurth, and a big part of that is ensuring our customers receive accurate and complete orders when they expect them.
“Wurth is a specialist in smart inventory management solutions, with thousands of customers relying on our flagship ORSY systems to keep their workshops organised and running efficiently. This investment reflects those same values in our own operations – strengthening how we manage inventory, fulfil orders and move products through our national distribution network.”
The investment continues Wurth Australia’s development of its distribution infrastructure. The company moved its head office to a purpose-built Dandenong South facility in 2021, with the larger premises designed to accommodate growth in its product range and workforce.
“Investing in automation across our Yatala and Keysborough facilities will enable us to process orders faster and more efficiently, as well as reduce our reliance on manual processes. It gives us a stronger foundation to consistently deliver the speed and accuracy our customers rely on,” Oppedisano says.
The Dematic systems will be built around AutoStore goods-to-person technology, providing high-density automated storage and supporting split and full-case picking.
Automated storage will operate alongside dedicated manual picking areas for products with different storage and handling requirements.
Orders will move between automated and manual picking areas as required before progressing through automated conveyor transport, document insertion, carton optimisation and sealing, labelling and despatch sortation.
Dematic’s warehouse control system will integrate with Wurth’s warehouse management system, providing an optimisation layer between the management software and automated equipment to coordinate picking tasks and the movement of goods through the facilities.
Dematic business development manager Terry Jamieson says the breadth of Wurth’s product range requires different approaches to storage and fulfilment.
“We are proud to partner with Wurth on this significant automation project across its Australian distribution network.
“Wurth’s extensive product range means there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to fulfilment. Bringing together AutoStore with dedicated picking areas and downstream automation allows different products and orders to move through the most appropriate process, while Dematic iQ helps coordinate those elements as one integrated system.”
The Yatala system is expected to be operational in August 2027, followed by the larger Keysborough facility in December 2027.
Wurth Australia is part of the Würth Group, which develops, manufactures and distributes assembly and fastening materials globally. In Australia, Wurth supplies fasteners, technical chemicals, personal protective equipment, tools and material-processing products, alongside inventory and procurement systems.
Its metal division serves customers including metal and steel fabricators, fitters and machine manufacturers, as well as maintenance operations.