Unilever adopts Geek+ SkyCube to boost throughput at its largest facility

As retailers and grocers race to meet consumer expectations of rapid delivery, even established brands are turning to automation for help. London-based Unilever PLC wanted to expand its reach to 14 global markets. The company used autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) from Geekplus Technology Co. to turn its warehouse in Hefei, China, into its largest production facility in the world. Unilever’s brands include household names in personal care, food and beverage, and ice cream. During peak sales periods, traditional manual picking operations were insufficient to meet the surge in demand for popular products.

Geek+, which has offices in Beijing and San Diego, has shipped more than 46,000 AMRs to about 770 customers worldwide. It worked with Unilever to deploy multiple systems in the 100,000+ sq. ft. Hefei warehouse.

The implementation included Geek+’s SkyCube automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS), which was previously named Sky Storage Ground Pick and can store full pallets and cartons. The company integrated 24 X-series robots, 39 P800 robots, and nine lifting devices with its software to connect film-wrapping, inspection, and warehousing processes.

Within this setup, the SkyCube created five layers with more than 9,500 storage locations for ultra-high-density storage. It achieved a business-to-business (B2B) outbound efficiency of 100 pallets per hour and a business-to-consumer (B2C) outbound efficiency of 28 pallets per hour.

Geek+ added that its RoboShuttle handles small to midsize goods for B2C operations. It creates over 16,000 tote storage locations, facilitating high-density storage for broken-case goods. With 11 RS robots and 39 P40 robots, Unilever’s RoboShuttles have achieved a B2C outbound efficiency of 1,067 orders per hour.

Unilever and Geek+ reported that the AMRs also improved employee safety, reduced physical strain, and cut labor costs by 65%. This combination of the SkyCube pallet-to-person ASRS and the RoboShuttle tote-to-person AMRs in the same warehouse was the first of its kind and offers flexible support for omnichannel operations, they said.

The smart system used algorithms to automatically organize inventory based on product popularity. This enhanced outbound efficiency to 100 pallets per hour, followed “first-in, first-out” principles, and optimized inventory structure.

In addition, the flexible configuration of the entire system helped Unilever manage peak and off-peak seasons. The company was able to process 20,000 parcels daily around China’s 11/11 festival.

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