De Bijenkorf warehouse automation

Projects

3.5 kilometres of conveyor system for De Bijenkorf

For the De Bijenkorf distribution centre in Tilburg – managed by CEVA Logistics – Valor supplied and implemented a large-scale conveyor infrastructure as a part of the warehouse automation system. The installation consists of approximately 3.5 kilometres of conveyor technology, forming the backbone of the internal transport system within the facility. At the time, this was one of the largest projects Valor had delivered. It has become an important reference project for the company and laid the foundation for a long-term collaboration built around phased expansion.

Bijenkorf warehouse automation

Integration with third-party systems

Valor was responsible for the conveyor infrastructure within its own scope, including container handling and waste flows. Rather than acting as the full system integrator for the entire facility, Valor connected its conveyor systems to third-party equipment through agreed communication protocols and I/O signals.

The conveyors interface with several third-party systems, including:

  • Packaging machines (CVP)
  • Sorting technology
  • Warehouse Management System (WMS)

Conveyor control and transport routing

Valor’s conveyor system interfaced with adjacent technologies through standardized communication protocols, ensuring products were transferred at the right moment between systems. Packaging machines, for example, only released a package once conveyor capacity was available. Based on destination data from the warehouse management system, Valor controlled the internal transport flow across the distribution centre, routing items through the correct paths, buffers and handover points. Third-party systems remained responsible for their own internal processes, while Valor ensured reliable transfer to and from those systems.

Bijenkorf warehouse automation

Built for continuous expansion

The Tilburg facility has expanded multiple times since the original installation. Valor has repeatedly modified and extended the system to support new warehouse processes. This expansion has not been limited to a single phase. The Tilburg site has continued to evolve over the years, with recent additions made to support new process steps and growing operational demand.

Examples include:

  • Integration with a high-speed sorter system
  • New conveyor routes toward sorting exits
  • Transport lines for both filled containers and empty container return flows
  • Buffer systems connecting storage and packaging lines

Because the Qliqflow system is modular, adjustments and expansions can be implemented without redesigning the entire infrastructure.

Installation during ongoing operation

Most expansions were executed while the warehouse remained operational. This required careful planning, limited installation windows and close cooperation with the site teams. Despite these constraints, the cooperation on site remained highly practical and solution-oriented. Close alignment with the operational teams made it possible to carry out modifications efficiently and bring extensions online with minimal disruption.

Technical developments

The project also played a role in Valor’s technical development. During the earlier phases, new transfer concepts such as pusher-based mechanisms were introduced for this installation. In practice, those solutions also highlighted the risks of depending too heavily on externally controlled modules, especially when long-term availability, spare parts and backwards compatibility became critical. Those lessons directly influenced later expansions, in which Valor introduced its own transfer modules and control electronics to improve serviceability and reduce dependency on third-party control platforms.

A scalable internal transport infrastructure

The result is a scalable internal transport infrastructure that continues to grow with the De Bijenkorf distribution centre. The project shows how a modular conveyor belt system can support phased expansion, connect with multiple technologies and remain adaptable as warehouse processes evolve over time.

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