Potermic automates its warehouse to improve customer service

Potermic: 35 years of pursuing excellence

With over three decades of experience, Potermic is a Spanish distributor of hydrothermal accessories. The company offers a wide range of products, including safety valves, solenoid valves for fluids, motorised valves, filters, thermometers, flow regulators, expansion tanks, pressure groups and regulation and control accessories. Potermic provides sustainable, efficient solutions aligned with current trends in energy savings and environmental protection. Founded in 1989, the company stocks over 4,500 SKUs.

“We’re a sound, resilient organisation with a proven track record of stable, continuous growth. Recently, we centralised our logistics operations in a single warehouse. Through this strategic change, we can now provide higher quality service to our customers, with immediate turnaround times,” says Martín Pozo, General Manager of Potermic.

The hydrothermal components distributor’s facility in Pallejà (Spain) houses one of the largest inventories in the sector. “We stock more than 4,500 items, and our priority is to provide fast logistics service,” says Pozo.

Potermic is committed to technology, offering consumers innovative products for hydrothermal installations. A case in point is its new warehouse, equipped with a comprehensive solution from Mecalux featuring automation, software and storage systems. “We reached out to them because they’re a company with an excellent reputation,” says Pozo.

At the heart of this logistics centre is a miniload automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS) for boxes. It inserts and removes goods from the racking autonomously, making these tasks speedier and safer. “We automated our intralogistics operations to leverage available space and bring down order processing costs,” says Pozo. Just 140 m² provide a capacity for 5,200 boxes containing small items.

Distribution across three countries

The Easy WMS warehouse management system intervenes in all operations. These include order fulfilment and distribution to clients in Spain, Portugal and Andorra. “We’ve gained greater control over what’s happening in our facility,” says Pozo.

The system classifies over 4,500 SKUs based on their size, supplier and arrival date. Heavier products are stored in pallet racking or Movirack mobile racking, while small items are housed in the miniload AS/RS.

To minimise potential errors, orders are fulfilled individually, one after another. They are divided into two types: larger products on pallets and small items in boxes.

In the miniload AS/RS, operators receive the SKUs required to complete orders directly at their pick station without the need to travel. This product-to-person technique shortens picking times.

The Multi-Carrier Shipping Software module organises packing and labelling to streamline pre-transport processes. This Easy WMS functionality optimises shipments by integrating with delivery agencies, providing them with the necessary documentation. As a result, when carriers arrive at the facility, they merely have to collect the goods and load them onto the vehicle.

Growth and diversification

Potermic is a business committed to continuously improving its logistics processes. By automating and digitalising its warehouse, it has optimised space, reduced errors, increased productivity and ensured product traceability. The hydrothermal components company is now ready to adapt easily to market demands and continue providing its customers with quality service.

We automated our intralogistics operations to leverage available space and bring down order processing costs.