{"id":12253,"date":"2026-08-04T08:09:08","date_gmt":"2026-08-04T06:09:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erreviautomation.com\/lyreco-optimises-its-logistics-flows-thanks-to-the-exotec-order-picking-buffer\/"},"modified":"2026-08-04T16:29:39","modified_gmt":"2026-08-04T14:29:39","slug":"lyreco-optimises-its-logistics-flows-thanks-to-the-exotec-order-picking-buffer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erreviautomation.com\/en\/lyreco-optimises-its-logistics-flows-thanks-to-the-exotec-order-picking-buffer\/","title":{"rendered":"Lyreco optimises its logistics flows thanks to the Exotec order-picking buffer"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

At its long-established distribution centre in Villaines-la-Juhel (Mayenne), Lyreco has implemented the Exotec sequencing buffer to replace an obsolete sorting system. The result: the time taken to prepare the 200\u2013300 pallets per day has been reduced from 14 to 7 hours (in a single shift), doubling productivity. <\/p>\n\n

Who is Lyreco?<\/h2>\n\n

Lyreco France<\/a> is the leading distributor in France of products and services for the workplace: from office supplies to personal protective equipment (PPE), from IT equipment to furniture, right through to hygiene products, catering supplies and packaging for shipments.<\/p>\n\n

Established for over 55 years in Villaines-la-Juhel, in the Mayenne region, the Lyreco distribution centre is a long-standing facility at the heart of the Group\u2019s supply chain. Its role is to receive goods, store them and prepare orders for next-morning delivery to the last-mile distribution centres, which are responsible for delivering to the company\u2019s retail outlets. <\/p>\n\n

This major undertaking requires a consistent operational pace: 5,500 orders are processed every day, totalling 35,000 order lines and nearly 25,000 parcels handled.Faced with the natural obsolescence of its existing equipment and the growing need to improve operational performance, Lyreco chose to partner with Exotec to replace its outdated sorting system with a modern solution capable of simultaneously meeting the requirements for productivity, ergonomics and service quality.<\/p>\n\n

The Challenge<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

An outdated sorting system<\/h3>\n\n

The old system was no longer able to meet the site\u2019s growing operational requirements. Palletising the 200\u2013300 pallets dispatched daily to last-mile distribution centres required two shifts, totalling 14 hours of operation. <\/p>\n\n

Increased risk of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n

Under the previous set-up, operators had to manually handle packages weighing several kilograms. Lifting, carrying and positioning these loads, both on the ground and at height on pallets, throughout the working day led to an increased risk of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and greater fatigue for the operators. <\/p>\n\n

Less stable pallets: a source of risk<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n

In the absence of a sequencing algorithm, the order in which the packages were dispatched was also uncontrolled. The heaviest products might end up at the top of the pallet, compromising its stability and increasing the risk during handling. <\/p>\n\n

The solution<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n

The solution comprises 105 robots, 22,000 storage locations, 6 Exchangers and 5 palletising bays, achieving a handling capacity of 3,200 parcels per hour.<\/p>\n\n

Robots<\/td>Storage locations<\/td>Exchangers<\/td>Palletising bays<\/td>Packages per hour<\/td>Pallets per day<\/td><\/tr>
105<\/td>22,000<\/td>6<\/td>5<\/td>3200<\/td>200 to 300<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n
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