Log and Tech: Optimization in the Spotlight

There is a growing demand among tenants for the optimization of warehouse processes. On the one hand, the direction of development is driven by a gradual increase in operational and cost efficiency; on the other hand, it is driven by a reduction in the negative environmental impact.

Tenants are becoming increasingly aware of their needs. They know that a warehouse facility is an integral part of their business, so the specific solutions implemented there deliver tangible, real-world benefits. Among the most sought-after technical solutions today, which enhance the comfort of using warehouse facilities while also improving cost efficiency, is the proper use of energy. As Marzena Taube, Leasing Director for Pomerania at 7R, explains, high-quality insulation in warehouse buildings helps save thermal energy.

7R also installs destratification units in the buildings it constructs. This device, mounted near the roof, circulates the warm air that accumulates at the top of the building so that it heats the entire space. It has been calculated that this reduces heat consumption by 8 percent.

“In a situation where electricity and gas prices are rising as rapidly as we’re seeing now, this is crucial for tenants. It’s also worth remembering that 99 percent of warehouses are heated with gas. This is particularly important for very large spaces,” emphasizes Marzena Taube.

Further savings can be expected when skylights are used to illuminate the docking area, allowing natural light to enter the building.

“This solution implemented by 7R, like all previous ones, also exceeds current market standards and—importantly—positively impacts the working conditions of the people employed at these facilities,” says Marzena Taube.

Eco-efficiency

Cost-effectiveness and environmental sustainability go hand in hand, because in addition to optimizing costs, the solutions implemented in 7R’s projects aim to reduce the negative environmental impact of buildings. The company was one of the first in the market to begin installing solar panels on building roofs. It also uses systems to recycle rainwater collected from the roofs of its facilities.

“We’ve calculated that the 20,000-square-meter array of solar panels installed at our facilities can meet up to 100 percent of our daily energy needs. This results in significant savings on operating costs,” says Marzena Taube.

7R facilities are also equipped with DALI LED controllers. The system not only adjusts to the level of natural light but is also equipped with sensors that activate the lighting when motion is detected. “Above all, this solution delivers savings in electricity consumption,” emphasizes a 7R expert.

Automation takes productivity to a whole new level

One of the major trends, driven largely by the growth of e-commerce, is the automation of warehouse processes. The shift toward robotization is so significant that warehouses introduced to the market just a few years ago bear little resemblance to those being built today. As Marzena Taube explains, nearly all companies in the e-commerce sector now use automated multi-level storage systems that reach ever higher. These include various types of sorters, as well as multi-level miniload systems and AutoStore.