To address growing production and distribution demands, Vafo, a leading pet food manufacturer, partnered with stow to optimize its warehousing operations in Zdice. The project required a rapid turnaround time of just four weeks to deliver a high-capacity, safety-compliant warehouse. Completed in September 2024, the new facility is now a critical component of Vafo’s supply chain expansion strategy.
Challenge
Vafo faced increasing logistical pressures due to its expanding operations, particularly the need to consolidate storage for packaging materials and raw ingredients. The solution required a highly efficient installation schedule while adhering to stringent safety requirements, including specialized storage solutions for oils of both animal and vegetable origin.
Solution
stow designed and implemented a racking system with a capacity of nearly 28,000 pallet spaces, divided into three fire compartment sections for enhanced safety.
- Two sections for packaging materials: Maximizing storage efficiency and accessibility.
- One section for raw materials: Includes tailored storage for oils, featuring catch basins and a foam fire extinguishing system. This solution ensures the sprinklers can effectively isolate water from oil in case of fire, preventing contamination and dispersal.
The installation required close collaboration between Vafo, stow, Jungheinrich, and Panattoni. The demanding schedule allowed only two weeks for stow to assemble the racking system, achieved by deploying two installation shifts daily.
Results
The initial project phase was successfully completed within the specified four-week timeframe. The warehouse is fully operational and prepared to support Vafo’s growing supply chain needs.
- Capacity: Expanded to store approximately 28,000 pallets.
- Safety standards met: Dedicated fire compartments and safe storage for oils.
Milan Brože, Director of Logistics at Vafo, highlighted the importance of the new facility, stating,
The warehouse in Zdice is key to our expansion. stow delivered on their promise of a fast installation within four weeks, and their team remained professional and flexible throughout the project.
Next Steps
With the warehouse now in operation, Vafo is shifting its focus to relocating raw materials from an external logistics provider to the new facility. This second phase is expected to conclude by early 2025.
Collaboration Achievements
Tomas Horák, Sales Director at stow, commented,
The tight schedule was a challenge we were eager to take on. Thanks to strong coordination and teamwork across all partners, we achieved this ambitious goal on time.
stow’s commitment to precision, safety, and adherence to client requirements has reinforced its reputation as a reliable partner in creating tailored warehousing solutions.
Contact Us
At stow, we specialize in delivering advanced storage systems that meet both operational and safety needs. Learn more about how we can support your business’s storage challenges and help you scale efficiently, contact us today