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Industrial

ACMEI: 4 SILO² VLMs for high-turnover electrical distribution

  • Electric
  • SILO²
  • Finished products
4 SILO² automated VLMs with mixed-height trays for electrical and lighting product picking — ACMEI logistics hub, Modugno (BA)

ACMEI: 60,000 electrical SKUs, from Southern Italy to the national market

Founded in Bari in 1973, ACMEI is one of the leading distributors of electrical and lighting products in Central and Southern Italy, with revenue of 110 million euros, 305 employees and 52 sales agents, 5 branches across Puglia, Calabria, Basilicata, Abruzzo and Molise, and over 60,000 SKUs organized into 7 divisions: Lighting, HVAC, Automation, Home Automation & Security, Medium Voltage, ICT and Renewable Energy.
The centralized logistics platform in Modugno manages around 1,400 to 1,500 order lines per day, with peaks of up to 4,500 items picked during the busiest summer weeks.
In a market where competitiveness is measured by lead time, the ability to pick the right SKUs quickly and without errors is the advantage that makes the difference.
ACMEI: 60,000 electrical SKUs, from Southern Italy to the national market

The logistical challenges

Moving to a centralized logistics platform raised four clear requirements:

• Manage 15,000+ high-turnover SKUs with significant dimensional variability, from small components to bulky materials, in a single organized system.
• Increase picking productivity by reducing walking distances across a 17,000 m² warehouse.
• Ensure full traceability and centralized stock control across 60,000 SKUs, while efficiently managing an average order size of 5 order lines.
• Create a scalable structure to handle seasonal peaks without adding staff.

4 SILO² VLMS with trays in three usable heights: electrical components of every size stored in the right space

Each SILO² Vertical Lift Module occupies 22.54 m², with 3 storage columns and 2 side-by-side picking and refilling stations, providing 55.04 m³ of capacity.
The trays are configured with three different usable heights, 100, 200 and 300 mm, to manage small, medium and large components within the same storage system, each in the optimal space, with no wasted volume and no risk of damage.
Together, the 4 SILO² VLMs occupy just 90 m², less than 1% of the total 17,000 m² warehouse area, providing over 220 m³ of total capacity and managing 12,000 high-turnover SKUs.
a combined capacity of over 220 m³ and 12,000 high-turnover SKUs for ACMEI with 4 SILO²

EasyMag WMS integrated with ICON: 3,500 items per day, +50% productivity per operator

Capgemini’s EasyMag WMS, integrated with ICON, manages allocation, picking and refilling in real time.
An average 5-line order generates 3,500 items picked per day, rising to 4,500 during summer peaks, with productivity increasing from 30 to 45 lines/hour per operator: +50% compared with the previous manual management.
Together, the 4 SILO² Vertical Lift Modules generate 40% of the entire warehouse volume, concentrated in less than 1% of its floor space.
EasyMag WMS integrated with ICON: 3,500 items per day, +50% productivity per operator

Key results

More productivity, more control, less walking

  • +50% productivity per operator

    from 30 to 45 lines/hour, with the same workforce and without expanding the dedicated area

  • 40% of the entire warehouse volume in 90 m²

    12,000 high-turnover SKUs concentrated in less than 1% of the hub’s total floor space

  • Components of different sizes stored in the right space

    three tray heights eliminate wasted volume

  • 3,500 items per day

    up to 4,500 during summer peaks, managed without adding staff and without operational slowdowns

  • Travel time eliminated

    The goods-to-person principle brings goods directly to the operator at the picking and refilling station, in a 17,000 m² warehouse where every meter not walked means more productivity

  • Real-time traceability

    EasyMag WMS and ICON synchronized on every movement: allocation, picking and replenishment always up to date, with no manual intervention

We chose ICAM because we were able to see the value of its solutions in the field, because we believe in shared know-how, and because we trust the Italian system.

Ugo Rainone Logistics Manager, ACMEI

Want to achieve the same results?

Every distribution hub has its own SKU mix, volumes and seasonal peaks.
Tell us about your setup and we will design the right solution for you.