Würth Australia to automate fulfilment across two sites

Würth Australia is expanding its distribution capability with an automated fulfilment programme at facilities in Yatala, Queensland, and Keysborough, Victoria. The company has selected Dematic to integrate automated storage, picking and outbound handling into its national network.

The project is intended to improve order accuracy, reliability and processing capacity as Würth serves more than 56,000 active customers. Its product portfolio exceeds 22,000 items and spans automotive, transport, earthworks, fabrication, maintenance, construction and mining.

A hybrid model for a broad product range

Rather than applying one fulfilment method across the network, the planned design combines automation with dedicated manual work areas. At its core will be an AutoStore goods-to-person system, providing high-density storage and supporting both split-case and full-case picking.

Manual picking zones will handle products whose dimensions or handling requirements make them less suitable for automated storage. This hybrid structure is designed to direct different stock and order profiles through the most appropriate process, while retaining flexibility as demand changes.

After picking, orders will pass through conveyor transport, document insertion, carton optimisation, sealing, labelling and despatch sortation. Dematic’s Warehouse Control System will coordinate equipment and tasks alongside Würth Australia’s warehouse management system.

Phased delivery and future capacity

Serge Oppedisano, Würth Australia chief executive and senior vice president of the Würth Group Oceania, said the investment was aimed at ensuring customers receive complete and accurate orders when expected. He also linked the project to stronger inventory control and product flow through the national network.

The Yatala installation is scheduled to become operational in August 2027. The larger Keysborough facility is planned to follow in December 2027, giving Würth a scalable platform for handling growth across its customer base.