Cimcorp has completed the deployment of an automated bakery order fulfilment system for Penske Logistics in Illinois, US, designed to improve picking accuracy, throughput and the handling of fresh bread and rolls.
Announced on 22 September 2026, the installation replaces a largely manual operation with robotic handling and warehouse control technology. Cimcorp says the completed system is achieving 100% order accuracy while reducing labour requirements for the operation by 50%.
Robotic order picking
At the centre of the installation is Cimcorp’s MultiPick gantry robot technology, integrated with the company’s Warehouse Control System (WCS).
The system combines buffer storage and order picking into one automated process. Bakery orders are selected at tray level before being assembled for distribution, reducing the amount of manual handling required within the facility.
Cimcorp says the approach has enabled Penske to increase processing capacity while improving order accuracy and workplace safety.
“Automated systems like this one help Penske accelerate supply chain performance for its customers as these systems augment the capabilities of our highly trained workforce,” said Steve Chambers, Vice President of Operations, Distribution Centre Management at Penske Logistics.
He added that the business expects increased throughput efficiency and order-picking accuracy alongside safety benefits from removing the need to manually handle tray stacks.
Freshness and scalability
For industrial bakeries, automation at the distribution stage is becoming increasingly significant as manufacturers balance short product shelf lives with higher volumes, changing order patterns and continuing labour availability challenges.
The modular design of Cimcorp’s system is intended to allow capacity to be increased as demand changes, including during seasonal production peaks.
