VF Europe needed a Miniload Storage solution capable of combining exceptional capacity with high throughput and flexibility. Discover how stow created a nearly 25-metre-high automated system with 12 crane aisles and capacity for up to 400,000 boxes.
About VF Europe
VF Europe forms part of one of the world’s most recognized apparel and footwear groups, managing the storage and distribution of goods across the region. Operating in a fast-moving retail environment, the company handles large volumes of carton boxes that vary in size and must move quickly through the supply chain.
For an operation of this scale, storage density and retrieval speed are decisive. VF Europe needed a system in Belgium that could hold enormous quantities of stock, feed rapid order fulfillment, and adapt to shifting product formats without compromise. The company turned to stow to design and deliver a solution equal to these demands.
Unique storage challenges
VF Europe’s requirements combined scale, speed, and flexibility, a demanding mix for any storage system.
The operation needed to store up to 400,000 carton boxes in a compact footprint, which meant building vertically and using every available cubic meter. At the same time, throughput could not be sacrificed. Boxes had to move in and out at high frequency to keep pace with retail demand and order deadlines.
The core challenges included:
- Maximizing storage density within a limited footprint, requiring a system reaching almost 25 meters in height.
- Delivering extremely high throughput to support rapid, reliable order fulfillment across a large inventory.
- Accommodating varied box dimensions flexibly within one automated system, rather than forcing goods into a single fixed format.
- Achieving exceptional technical precision during both engineering and execution, where tolerances at height leave no room for error.
- Meeting a tight commissioning timeline without disrupting the wider supply chain.
This is precisely the type of complex, high-density challenge where an automated small goods solution proves its value.
How stow’s Miniload Multi-store delivered density and speed
To meet these requirements, stow designed and installed a Miniload Multi-store racking system purpose-built for the automated storage of carton boxes. The result is a compact, high-performance structure that turns vertical space into productive storage.
- High-density vertical storage. Standing almost 25 meters high, the system uses building height to near maximum, storing up to 400,000 boxes without expanding the warehouse footprint. This vertical strategy delivers the capacity VF Europe needed while keeping the operation efficient and compact.
- Twelve crane aisles for high throughput. The system features 12 crane aisles, each supporting automated storage and retrieval. This configuration gives VF Europe the extremely high throughput its operation demands, feeding fast and reliable order fulfillment across the entire inventory.
- Flexible box handling. A defining strength of the Miniload Multi-store system is its ability to store different box dimensions flexibly within the same structure. Rather than locking the operation into one format, the system adapts to a varied product mix, giving VF Europe room to respond as its assortment evolves.
- Engineered precision, built-in safety. The project called for exacting technical accuracy during both the engineering and execution phases. Precise tolerances at height are essential for smooth automated crane movement and reliable long-term performance. Integrated safety features, consistent with every stow automated system, protect both the stored goods and the people working around the installation.
Facts & Figures
~25 m
system height
400,000
box capacity
12
crane aisles
24 weeks
from start to finish
Partnership and precision at pace
What makes this project stand out is the combination of technical precision and speed. Delivering a 25-meter automated system with 12 crane aisles requires meticulous engineering, accurate manufacturing, and disciplined on-site execution, all aligned to a single plan.
stow worked in close collaboration with strategic partners, including TGW, to integrate the racking structure with the automation that drives it. This coordinated approach ensured that the storage system and the retrieval technology functioned as one cohesive, reliable operation from day one.
The implementation timeframe underlines the point. In just 24 weeks, the entire system was designed, built, and brought fully into operation. For a project of this scale and complexity, that pace reflects both stow’s in-house engineering expertise and the strength of a well-managed partnership. It is a clear demonstration of reliable delivery, the cornerstone of the stow approach.
A future-ready foundation
The Miniload Multi-store system gives VF Europe more than immediate capacity. It provides a durable, high-performance foundation built to support the operation for years to come. The result is a compact, automated, and precisely engineered facility that turns limited floor space into significant storage capacity.
Looking for a trusted expert to design a high-density automated storage solution for your operation? Get in touch with stow’s experts to start building your tailored racking system today.