ABB boosts warehouse efficiency and delivery accuracy with Agilon

The Konecranes Agilon automated storage and retrieval system boosts pick-up accuracy, speeds up spare part deliveries and improves occupational safety at ABB Motors & Generators Service warehouse.

ABB’s Motors and Generators Service warehouse in Juvanmalmi, Espoo, Finland, ships motor and generator spare parts to customers worldwide. The packing and dispatch department handles an average of 1,000 shipments each month.

"Customers place their orders directly through our e-commerce platform. We then collect and pack the goods in our warehouse. ABB’s Transport Management Centre in Vaasa schedules the transport, and a carrier comes to pick up the goods," explains Anna Räsänen, Warehouse and Logistics Manager.

Challenge: How to ensure pick-up accuracy and speed up deliveries

“Our promise to customers is that spare parts will be dispatched on the same day if the customer orders by 2 pm. This means that the process and systems must be in order, and you cannot afford to make any mistakes,” Räsänen continues.

To ensure accurate pick-ups and faster deliveries, ABB aimed to modernize spare parts storage, fully utilize the warehouse height, and eliminate the need for forklift trucks to enhance occupational safety.

Solution: Agilon automated storage – All items in one place and readily available

Based on positive experiences from other ABB sites, the Juvanmalmi warehouse implemented a 48-meter-long, 6.1-meter-high Agilon system with two access points. Fully integrated with ABB’s SAP enterprise system, Agilon automates inventory management by retrieving and delivering items directly to employees, eliminating manual searching and reducing errors.

Agilon gets items and picks data from SAP. Picking lists are sent to the Agilon database so that a robot can fetch the desired items and bring them straight to the access points for the employees to pick up and pack for further delivery.

Results: Faster, more accurate, and safer operations

Agilon has helped ABB create a smarter, more reliable warehouse system, optimizing accuracy, efficiency, and safety for improved operations.

Improved accuracy

Agilon fetches only the required package, eliminating the risk of picking errors. Integrated weight tracking ensures precise inventory levels, reducing balance discrepancies. Each package is photographed at the access point, providing a real-time visual record in the user interface and portal.

Faster deliveries

Automation and pre-picking significantly reduce handling time, allowing ABB to meet its same-day dispatch commitment. Sending picking lists to Agilon in advance optimizes the retrieval process, especially for slower-moving items, leading to faster order fulfilment.

Enhanced safety

With Agilon, employees no longer need to climb shelves or lift heavy boxes—each package weighs under 25 kg, improving workplace safety and ergonomics.

Automated material handling and SAP integration have transformed warehouse operations. Every transaction is recorded in real-time, ensuring complete inventory visibility and eliminating the need for manual counting.

"Pre-picking speeds up order fulfilment and enhances accuracy, as Agilon delivers only the required package to the access point. This streamlined process eliminates the possibility of picking errors," says Juho Kuisma, Manager of Consulting Services at Konecranes.

Automated storage Agilon enhances warehouse operations by streamlining inventory management

By automating storage and retrieval, ABB has streamlined warehouse operations, improved efficiency, and ensured seamless integration with its SAP system. Konecranes Agilon continues to support ABB in delivering high-quality service to its global customers.