Houtch: an automated storage solution built to scale

Requirements

To drive its growth and respond to new market demands, Houtch undertook the construction of a new logistics facility in Saint-Quentin, purpose-built for this project.

👉 “A strategic project designed to lay the foundations for future growth.”

The goal was to maximise pallet storage capacity and improve service responsiveness to customers, while incorporating new storage and order picking functionalities.

In this context, the project had to address three key operational challenges:

• Operational safety: eliminating the coexistence of manned forklifts in the same space, reducing risks and improving efficiency.
• Space optimisation: making the most of a high-bay building through stock densification.
• Responsiveness: reducing lead time by shortening the gap between order receipt and despatch.

👉 “Three clear operational challenges: safety, densification and maximum responsiveness.”

Proposed solution

ULMA Handling Systems supported Houtch throughout every phase of the project, from data analysis and commissioning to ongoing support from our Service team. From the outset, we were actively involved in defining a solution aligned with the objectives of the new building.

The developed solution consists of an automated pallet storage system with an STV-type loop distribution circuit, designed to be scalable in both capacity and throughput.

👉 “True scalability: future capacity expansion without redesigning the installation.”

This approach allows new vehicles to be added as pallet inbound and outbound flows increase, ensuring the installation progressively adapts to business needs.

From a layout perspective, a compact solution was chosen that integrates pallet lifts at the centre of the distribution circuit. This design freed up the maximum available space in the goods-in, despatch and mezzanine areas dedicated to order picking.

Furthermore, as the building was designed from scratch for this project, the installation has been conceived with a long-term vision: the customer has planned openings in the mezzanine to accommodate new pallet lifts or lowering units, enabling future expansions without impacting existing operations.

ULMA's proposal was decisive in the final selection, offering a combination of responsiveness, compactness and scalability aligned with the project's objectives.

Result

The installation has been operational since November 2024 and runs in two shifts, from 04:00 to 21:00. To ensure optimal performance from day one, ULMA has a technical team on site every day, responsible for preventive maintenance.

Thanks to automation, Houtch efficiently utilises the 23-metre height of the building — purpose-designed for this system — achieving significant improvements in productivity, capacity and operational agility.

👉 “Automation to make full use of the building height and multiply productivity.”

The installation currently handles a flow of 400 pallets per hour, with the potential to reach 800 pallets per hour in the future through expansions already built into the design.

👉 “Today: 400 pallets/hour. Tomorrow: potential for up to 800.”

Beyond performance, the project reflects Houtch's commitment to innovation and continuous improvement, reinforcing its positioning as an agile and reliable logistics partner, ready to support its customers' long-term growth.