‘Automation can save millions in the long run’

There is no denying the importance of supply chain efficiency when it comes to the perishable market, says Fred Albrecht, managing director of APC. “It is essential to meet the growing demands, even in a recessionary state, and warehouse automation is the one driver that could add competitive edge.” Albrecht says while most companies have been affected by the recession it has been a time of reducing costs while driving efficiencies up. “It could be simplistic supply chain changes that make the difference in one’s business nowadays. For us it is all about finding these weaknesses and offering services that will help the bottom line – and that could be an automated or sometimes even a non-automated storage solution.” APC, considered pioneers in the design, construction and start-up of turnkey cold stores and refrigerated warehouses, is currently applying its vast knowledge to the construction of self-support cold storage facilities for the perishable market. “It is all about automation,” says Albrecht. “We are infrastructure builders and need to make customers understand that by investing in an automated warehouse they can save millions in the long run. The perishable industry is all about timing. Understanding your market demand and the supply chain shortfalls such as for example road infrastructure goes a long way in being able to manage your business model around the challenges.”