Rügen C&C adds automated deep‑freeze tray warehouse, partners with Klinkhammer

Rügen C&C Warenhandel GmbH has commissioned a new automated deep‑freeze tray warehouse at its Parchtitz site on the island of Rügen. The facility stores frozen goods in a two‑aisle automated tray system with an 11,000‑tray capacity and supplies a sequencing picking process that assembles roll containers in the exact order needed for packing and delivery.

Rügen C&C supplies catering, hospitality and institutional catering across Rügen and faced growing demands for storage capacity, faster order processing and greater process reliability. The company engaged intralogistics specialist Klinkhammer during logistics planning to design an automated solution that reduces errors and increases throughput while preserving existing storage assets.

At the core is the two‑aisle automated tray storage. Trays travel on a conveyor loop between the goods‑in station and the picking station. The loop includes integrated buffer sections to hold inventory and regulate flow. Each picking zone has upstream buffer stations to prevent congestion on the main conveyor line and keep the picking process continuous.

The sequencing capability delivers trays to the picker in the order items should be placed on the roll container for a specific customer and delivery route. That sequencing reduces sorting at packing, minimises picking errors and simplifies downstream dispatch.

A deliberate physical separation was built into the design: storage remains in the deep‑freeze area (around -22°C), while order picking takes place in a temperature‑controlled zone maintained at 2–7°C. That change improves working conditions for staff and supports higher process quality because pickers operate in a milder environment rather than in the freezer.

• Faster, more accurate deliveries: Sequenced trays allow roll containers to be assembled directly in delivery order, reducing handling steps.
• Fewer picking errors: Tray sequencing and controlled flow cut mispicks and misplacements.
• Better staff conditions: Picking at 2–7°C instead of -22°C reduces operator exposure to extreme cold.
• Continued use of existing assets: The new installation was integrated into the existing facility so the legacy deep‑freeze pallet area remains available for pallet storage.

The system supplies the picking station and goods‑in via the conveyor loop. Buffers smooth variations in inbound or picking rates. Fragile items can be positioned on top during packing because the picker receives trays in an optimised packing order. The controls and conveyor layout focus on preventing main‑line blockages through upstream buffers rather than on stopping operations to resolve bottlenecks.

What this means for customers and routes

For customers, the immediate outcome should be more reliable, error‑free deliveries and reduced package damage because the packing sequence can account for fragile items. For Rügen C&C's distribution planning, sequenced roll containers streamline route loading and simplify dispatch checks before vehicles leave the site.