current projects
Three New Warehouses. One Retrofit.
JBS is retrofitting an existing box storage warehouse in Greeley, Colorado. JBS is also building three
new warehouses in Cactus, Texas; Marshalltown, Iowa; and Plainwell, Michigan. Once complete, each of the
new warehouses will contain state-of-the-art storage equipment and controls software. Order fulfillment
will be enhanced by utilizing Automated Storage and Retrieval System (AS/RS) equipment. The equipment will
automatically put away, and retrieve, inventory as needed. In addition, the new warehouses have Variable
Retention Time (VRT) freezers integrated into their designs. Each VRT will have the ability to quickly
chill, or freeze, a large capacity of products directly after processing.
These warehouse projects are designed to help JBS achieve the following key business objectives:
- Enhance System Reliability and Upgradability
- Increase Storage Capacity and Throughput
- Eliminate Necessity for Offsite Product Storage
- Standardize Shipping Platform and Support
Below is a short synopsis of what is being done at each of these warehouses.
Greeley Warehouse Retrofit
The current controls software at the Greeley beef plant is antiquated and extremely difficult to
troubleshoot and support. The Ethernet infrastructure and software package is being upgraded to provide
better metrics, reporting, and reliability. The Greeley retrofit is scheduled to be complete in March 2011.
Marshalltown Warehouse Project
Marshalltown, Iowa
The Marshalltown pork plant is receiving a new 100,000 sq. ft. warehouse. This building will accommodate
14,000 pallets of frozen product and 2,000 pallets of fresh product, in pallet AS/RS. Products will be
automatically palletized and put away, until peak seasons, when they will be extracted for shipping. The
pallet AS/RS will reduce company costs for outside storage and associated transportation costs.
Marshalltown is scheduled to begin operation in April 2011.
Cactus Warehouse Project
Cactus, Texas
A new warehouse is being built at the Cactus beef plant which will have a capacity of 120,000 boxes in
single-box AS/RS and 1,200 pallets in pallet AS/RS. This will replace the current outdated crane system,
and significantly increase the throughput, at Cactus. The building is scheduled for operation in
May 2011.
Plainwell Warehouse Project
Plainwell, Michigan
A new warehouse is being constructed at the Plainwell beef plant. Once complete, the current
storage space will be utilized to increase cattle slaughter and processing capabilities. The new warehouse
will have a capacity of 3,900 fresh/frozen pallets and 18,000 single-box AS/RS. The Plainwell warehouse
is scheduled to begin operation in July 2011.