Wurth Australia taps Dematic for two-site automation

Wurth Australia has appointed Dematic to automate order fulfilment at its distribution centres in Yatala and Keysborough.

Under the deal, Dematic will install an AutoStore goods-to-person system, supported by manual picking zones and downstream processing equipment, at both facilities. The system is designed to handle split-case and full-case picking, with orders moving between automated and manual areas before carton sealing, labelling and despatch sortation.

Wurth Australia distributes more than 22,000 products to more than 56,000 active customers across sectors including automotive, transport, earthworks, fabrication, maintenance, construction and mining. Its customer base ranges from independent workshops and tradespeople to larger industrial operators.

The project is intended to improve order accuracy and speed while reducing reliance on manual warehouse processes. It will also give Wurth a common fulfilment approach across two distribution locations serving its national network.

Serge Oppedisano, Chief Executive Officer and Senior Vice President of the Wurth Group Oceania, said the project was closely tied to customer service.

"The customer experience is incredibly important to us here at Wurth, and a big part of that is ensuring our customers receive accurate and complete orders when they expect them.

"Wurth is a specialist in smart inventory management solutions, with thousands of customers relying on our flagship ORSY systems to keep their workshops organised and running efficiently. This investment reflects those same values in our own operations, strengthening how we manage inventory, fulfil orders and move products through our national distribution network.

"Investing in automation across our Yatala and Keysborough facilities will enable us to process orders faster and more efficiently, while reducing our reliance on manual processes. It gives us a stronger foundation to consistently deliver the speed and accuracy our customers rely on."

How it works

Dematic's warehouse control software will sit between Wurth's warehouse management system and the physical automation equipment. It will coordinate picking activity and the movement of goods across the combined automated and manual workflow.

This is important because Wurth's product range includes items with different handling and storage needs. Some stock is better suited to dense automated storage, while other items will continue to be picked manually from dedicated areas.

Terry Jamieson, Business Development Manager, Dematic, said the mixed model reflected the nature of Wurth's inventory.

"We are proud to partner with Wurth on this significant automation project across its Australian distribution network," Jamieson said.

"Wurth's extensive product range means there isn't a one-size-fits-all approach to fulfilment. Bringing together AutoStore with dedicated picking areas and downstream automation allows different products and orders to move through the most appropriate process, while Dematic iQ helps coordinate those elements as one integrated system."

Two facilities

The Yatala site in Queensland and the Keysborough site in Victoria are both included in the programme, although the two installations will not go live at the same time. The Queensland facility is scheduled to come online first, followed by the larger Victorian site.

Multi-site automation projects require standardisation across processes, software and equipment while still accommodating differences in building size and local demand patterns. In Wurth's case, Keysborough is expected to be the larger of the two facilities.

Dematic, part of KION, supplies warehouse and supply chain automation systems globally. Wurth Australia is part of the wider Würth Group, which focuses on assembly and fastening materials and also provides inventory management systems to business customers.

The project highlights continued investment in warehouse automation in Australia as distributors seek to manage broader product ranges, support faster delivery expectations and handle labour-intensive fulfilment work more consistently across their networks.

Wurth said the automation would provide "a stronger foundation to consistently deliver the speed and accuracy our customers rely on."