A 50% reduction in labour requirements and 100% order accuracy: those are the headline figures from a newly live automated fulfilment system at a bakery distribution centre in Illinois, US, operated by third-party logistics provider Penske Logistics.

The system replaces a fully manual process in which bread trays were unloaded, stored and picked by hand, with stacks reaching over two metres in height. That configuration carried documented ergonomic risks associated with overhead picking and left room for order inaccuracies.

Cimcorp's deployment centres on its MultiPick gantry robot technology, paired with the company's Warehouse Control System (WCS). The two elements operate as a combined buffer storage and order-picking function rather than as sequential stages, enabling tray-level selection throughout.

Steve Chambers, Vice President of Operations, Distribution Centre Management at Penske Logistics, said the system was expected to deliver "increased throughput efficiency and order-picking accuracy as well as safety benefits from eliminating the manual handling of tray stacks."

Faster order processing is listed among the operational outcomes, with the company noting downstream effects on product freshness and shelf life at retail. The system's modular architecture is designed to accommodate demand peaks and longer-term capacity growth.

Penske selected Cimcorp on the basis of the supplier's track record in high-volume bakery environments. Previous installations include Martin's Famous Pastry Shoppe, Kwik Trip and Fazer Bakeries, alongside fresh food retail clients including Mercadona, REWE and Netto.

Adam Gurga, Sales Director at Cimcorp North America, described the project as reflecting "Penske's forward-thinking approach to logistics and commitment to investing in technology to drive customer success."

Cimcorp is headquartered in Ulvila, Finland, and operates as a member of Murata Machinery Ltd.