Picnic: a stronger, stackable load carrier for rapid growth
Picnic built a unique, highly efficient supply chain — largely developed in-house. For the next step they asked Van Vliet & Newwen: design a load carrier suitable for automated fulfilment that can withstand the demands of daily operations.
Growing with a lightning-fast delivery chain
Picnic is growing fast: more than 2,500 small electric delivery vans, delivery in 120 cities, 70 hubs and 15+ fulfilment centres in the Netherlands, France and Germany. The existing racks (100% aluminium with a V-brace, from another partner) lacked the stability that this scale and level of automation demands.
Picnic put two questions to Van Vliet & Newwen: can you design a rack suitable for automated warehouse processes? And how do we guarantee strength and durability?
Designed with simulations, built for the real world
Thorough R&D process
Together with Picnic we completed an extensive development process, including FEM analysis (Finite Element Method) and simulation models to predict how the rack responds to real-world forces.
The design
- engineeringRacks of steel and aluminium with centred, weighted support points at the corners.
- fitness_centerJust as strong and durable as the previous diagonal construction — but more stable.
- stacksStackable to save logistics space.
- precision_manufacturingSuitable for automated warehouse processes.
“Newwen is a true hands-on partner who worked with us effectively throughout our R&D process.”
— Michiel Muller, CEO PicnicGreater productivity, across three countries
The smart, reusable design increases the productivity of staff, vehicles, hubs and fulfilment centres. The carriers are stackable and poolable — a closed-loop system that saves both space and waste. Van Vliet & Newwen now supplies solutions across three countries and acts as Picnic's collaboration, development and innovation partner.
Reuse as the standard
Poolable, reusable load carriers in a closed loop are precisely the model the PPWR promotes through its reuse targets for transport packaging (40% in 2030, 70% in 2040). Working this way means building a PPWR-ready supply chain today.