Apotea, said to be Sweden’s largest online pharmacy, has opened its new, highly automated warehouse in Varberg, Sweden.
The facility is described as a “state-of-the-art logistics center” spanning 30,000 sq m, featuring a fully integrated automation solution from SSI Schaefer, a solution provider for all aspects of intralogistics.
The project was successfully completed on schedule and is now ready for operation.
The new warehouse has been designed to meet Apotea’s growing needs, focusing on scalability, sustainability and faster deliveries to southern and western Sweden.
The facility will be able to handle over 30,000 unique SKUs with an impressive volume flow – more than 50,000 orders and over 150,000 order lines per day, with the system capable of expanding to 70,000 orders daily as demand grows.
“This new warehouse is equipped with a perfect automation solution developed in collaboration with SSI Schaefer. It makes us even more efficient and well-prepared for continued growth, but, above all, it means faster service for residents in southern Sweden,” says Pär Svärdson, CEO of Apotea.
The automation solution includes:
- SSI Cuby shuttle system with 174 shuttles and approximately 87,000 storage locations
- Automated small parts warehouse with nearly 45,000 storage locations as well as connected A-Frames (more than 2,800 product channels)
- A-Frame system for rapid processing of orders even at peak loads
- Integrated third party supplier picking robots for fast and precise order handling
- Advanced Pick Stations one-level and ergonomic work stations for gentle handling of sensitive products; Advanced Pick Stations are designed for future transformation into fully automated piece picking stations
- Conveying system connecting the entire facility, ensuring uninterrupted material flow
- WAMAS Warehouse Control System (WCS) logistics software, providing optimum support for a wide range of picking scenarios, and WAMAS Control Center, monitoring and controlling all processes – enabling warehouse management at the highest level
- Pick by Light to pick from pallets, facilitating efficient handling of larger volumes
- BD Rowa Vmax dispensing robots for secure and automated handling of both prescription medications and non-prescription medications
The fully integrated system enables Apotea to manage the entire order flow automatically – from inbound to outbound – with high precision and efficiency.
Jenny Heinze, head of sales Nordic at SSI Schaefer, says: “We are proud to once again be part of Apotea’s automation initiative, acting as the full-service provider of a fully automated warehouse solution that can grow with their future needs.
“Building on our successful project in Morgongåva, Sweden, the new logistics center will be highly automated from day one, with 100 percent of orders processed automatically. We look forward to continuing our close partnership and driving innovation in logistics together.”
Installation started in the third quarter of 2024, with commissioning taking place in conjunction with the inauguration on June 17, 2025.
Main image: Apotea’s automated warehouse in Varberg, Sweden. © Michael Jönsson / Vegafoto AB.
