Terumo, a Japanese medical equipment manufacturer, wanted to revamp its warehouse in Leuven after it had been in service for a quarter of a century. The challenge: to build a brand new, fully automated and fully continuous warehouse based on the best possible technology for high-dynamic applications – and all without interrupting production supplies. Industrial partner Actemium took up the gauntlet and, with a 100% Siemens hardware and software solution, created an exemplary project – also in terms of sustainability.
High expectations
In order to keep up with growing production, Terumo Belgium decided to build a new warehouse in 2024. The capacity of 5,000 pallets had become too limited and lead times were suboptimal. What’s more, the warehouse had already been in service for 35 years; high time for a revamp then.
When Actemium first sat down with Terumo in September 2024, the matter at hand consisted of three elements:
- an expansion of storage capacity (+70%) within the same space;
- without interrupting operations;
- in the most sustainable, efficient and reliable manner.
To illustrate the latter, Actemium needed to ensure that the new cranes in the continuously running warehouse were available at least 98% of the time. Or even, that a truck could be unloaded in 30 minutes and reloaded in 45 minutes. Terumo left it almost entirely to Actemium to decide which hardware and software to use to do all that. Trust was therefore there right from the start, supported by successful collaborations in other areas.
Phased approach bears fruit
“Since we were given carte blanche for our choices in terms of technology, we quickly decided upon Siemens,” says Wim Serruys, Project Automation Engineer at Actemium. “On the one hand, because the previous warehouse ran on SIMATIC S5 PLCs from Siemens, we were able to link the old and new systems smoothly. This is important for sending pallets from the old warehouse to the new warehouse smoothly during the transition, for example. They remain a single whole. On the other hand, as a partner of Siemens for decades, we know we are working to the latest standards by using their solutions. This guarantee of quality immediately won Terumo over.”
On-site works began in May 2025 and the first phase was completed by the end of the year. Wim Serruys: “We are now entering the second and final phase, in which two more stacking cranes will follow. A key difference compared to the first phase is that we will conduct the Factory Acceptance Tests using a digital twin. This allows us to quickly run through multiple test cases in a virtual yet realistic environment. This visualisation also immediately brings the entire project to life at Terumo.”
About Terumo et Actemium
Terumo, a Japanese medical technology company operating in more than 160 countries, develops reliable and innovative solutions that support healthcare professionals and improve patients’ lives.
Actemium Belgium advises on, designs, implements and supports industrial processes. They also offer service and training.