Successful project to be continued

12/16/2025

BT-Systems expands the fully automated high-bay warehouse for Paloma

Following the successful completion of the first major project for Paloma in 2024, BT-Systems is continuing its collaboration with the long-established company. With its competence centre for warehouse technology and intralogistics, ECE-LOG, BT-Systems is once again assuming responsibility as general contractor. Paloma - one of the leading hygiene paper manufacturers in south-east Europe and part of the SHP Group - continues to rely on the expertise of BT-Systems and has commissioned it with the expansion of its existing high-bay warehouse.

Review: Successful project with a role model effect
In spring 2024, ECE-LOG, as general contractor, built a fully automated high-bay warehouse directly on top of a newly built production hall. The challenge: limited space, close proximity to the River Mur and the neighbouring transport infrastructure. Despite these special conditions, the project was successfully put into operation at the end of May 2024 after a construction period of just eight months. With around 24,500 storage locations, state-of-the-art conveyor technology, high throughput rates and optimum integration into the production flow, the project set new standards for efficient intralogistics.

The new project: Expansion for higher production capacity
The increased output volume at Paloma requires additional storage capacity and optimised material flows. The newly commissioned high-bay warehouse will be seamlessly connected to the existing and new production line and will expand the site's automation architecture.

Key technical data at a glance

2.880 additional parking spaces
2.753 m² floor space
10 warehouse levels with trolleys on each level for increased transport and storage capacity
Compact design - adapted to the limited construction area between the existing building and the River Mur
Trolley mover concept on every level for maximum performance and particularly space-optimised storage in the tightest of spaces
Passenger lift for convenient maintenance and possible factory tours
Extended fire protection and safety measures
Direct connection to the existing and new production line

Innenansicht der Werkshalle von Paloma mit Förderanlagen

Förderanlage für Papierrollen bei Paloma

Thomas Lafer vom Kompetenzcenter ECE-LOG

"The structural situation is challenging - but this is exactly the kind of project where we play to our strengths. Precision, safety and adherence to deadlines are our top priorities."

Thomas Lafer
Head of Competence Center ECE-LOG.

The warehouse architecture follows the principle of maximising capacity while minimising space requirements. The consistently compact design and the use of a powerful mover-trolley system mean that the available space can be optimally utilised. 1-stop-shop: Efficiency from a single source BT-Systems offers Paloma a complete service package - from palletising and pallet packaging, which is carried out by the joint venture company Statec-Binder GmbH, to automated warehousing.

For the customer this means

minimal interfaces,
less coordination effort,
faster implementation,
clear responsibilities across the entire material flow.

Automated quality inspection creates safety
The extension fully automates the previously manual pallet inspection system. The system checks every pallet and evaluates, among other things:

Compressive strength and load-bearing capacity of the transport pallets
Visual condition, such as damage or colour markings for clear assignment of pallet pools
Dimensional tolerances, deformations or irregularities that could impair the material flow
Integrity and stability of the packaging of the transport unit

This automated inspection system increases process and delivery reliability and ensures that Paloma can reliably meet high quality requirements even with increasing production volumes.

Construction during ongoing operations - a logistical feat

One of the main challenges of the project is the integration into the tight site and construction during ongoing operations. In order not to impair daily operations, BT-Systems relies on:

precise assembly planning
just-in-sequence delivery
temporarily closed façade openings to secure production
rail-guided assembly crane

Thanks to targeted planning and optimised assembly processes, the expansion can be implemented without significantly affecting the ongoing operation of the existing warehouse.

Intelligent control: two warehouses - one system
The new high-bay warehouse will be fully integrated into the existing Warehouse Control System.

Optimisations from the first project - such as the even distribution of pallets - are adopted and further refined. Result: A coherent, scalable overall system that harmonises material flows. BT-Systems' Project Site Manager comments: "The new order from Paloma shows that our work creates trust. The structural situation is challenging - but this is precisely the type of project in which we play to our strengths. Our teams work in such a way that ongoing operations remain almost unaffected. Precision, safety and adherence to deadlines are our top priorities," says ECE-LOG Competence Center Head. Jerry Tovšak, Paloma Site Manager: "The realisation of our first high-bay warehouse by BT-Systems has met our expectations in every respect. Both the system performance and the reliable project handling were convincing. We are therefore delighted to be realising the expansion of our site together once again," says Jerney Tovšak

Schedule and milestones
The official start of assembly is scheduled for the beginning of May 2026. Acceptance and commissioning of the new plant is planned for mid-March 2027. This means that the project remains on schedule despite the challenging construction conditions and enables rapid integration into ongoing operations.