HÖRMANN Intralogistics hands over customized intralogistics solution for heat pumps to Hoval in Slovakia

Munich/Istebné (SK) September 2025 - Hoval is one of the major international players in the production of heating and air conditioning solutions. Due to the high demand for heat pumps, Hoval has expanded production at its site in Slovakia to include a fully automated storage system consisting of a high-bay pallet warehouse, conveyor technology and AutoStore small parts warehouse. The entire new storage system, which HÖRMANN Intralogistics implemented as general contractor, has now been accepted.
The pioneering system was completed in August 2025 and handed over to the customer's satisfaction: "With the ePlant in Istebné, we are equipped for the future in the long term. The implementation work was challenging, but HÖRMANN Intralogistics was able to put the entire system into operation on time and seemlessly," summarizes Pavel Polak, Project Manager of Internal Logistics and Warehouses at Hoval.

"Despite adverse weather conditions, a tight schedule and changes to plans, we were able to build this special system over the last few months. The combination of special pallets, AutoStore small parts warehouse, conveyor technology and HiLIS WMS is impressive and will help our customer move forward in the long term," observes Pascal Omlor, the responsible project manager at HÖRMANN Intralogistics.

The storage system combines two different systems for large and small parts intralogistics. The centerpiece is a three-aisle high-bay pallet warehouse in silo design with an impressive size of 115 meters long, 22 meters wide and 40 meters high. It includes three automatic pallet stacker cranes, each with two double-deep telescopic forks. Another feature of the storage system is the automatic handling of system pallets as carrier pallets for finished goods.

The pallet conveyor technology enables the connection of various functional areas, including incoming goods, the high-bay warehouse, the central picking of components for production, the storage of finished goods and outgoing goods for dispatch. The storage and retrieval capacity of the system is around 100 pallets per hour.

The AutoStore® system works in parallel with the high-bay warehouse. The grid of the intelligent cube storage system takes up around 85 square meters and offers space for 3,000 containers. Fully automated storage and picking is carried out by three robots from the "Red Line" series via three connected conveyor ports. In addition, a service platform with an overhead crane system mounted underneath and an electric chain hoist for a combined workstation in order picking was installed.

The complex material flow is supported by various software solutions: The system control and visualization for the storage and retrieval machines; the conveyor technology and the Autostore system receive their orders from the HiLIS Warehouse Management System from HÖRMANN Intralogistics, which synchronizes the two automated storage areas and optimizes material flows for the combined picking workstations.

HÖRMANN Intralogistics was responsible for the entire project management to ensure smooth implementation. Lifetime services will come into effect after handover, guaranteeing long-term operational reliability.

As with Hoval, automation with a fully automated multi-solution system will enable manual storage and picking processes to be optimized, resulting in greater efficiency, competitiveness and flexibility.

"We are delighted that Hoval trusted us to implement this challenging project," says Thomas Köhler, Sales Project Manager at HÖRMANN Intralogistics. "Our expertise and many years of experience enable us to develop customized material flow solutions. We are convinced that the new system will optimize Hoval's warehouse and logistics processes and ensure an efficient and smooth supply chain."

"HÖRMANN Intralogistics impressed us in the tendering phase with its overall package for the future-oriented project in Istebné," recalls Dr. Vadim Tcharnetsky, Head of Indirect Procurement at the Hoval Group. "We are delighted to be increasing our capacities in the heat pump market with an established and technically experienced partner."

The ePlant is the Hoval Group's largest production facility. With a capacity of up to 32,000 heat pumps per year, it makes a significant contribution to meeting the demand for sustainable energy solutions. The project is part of a long-term corporate strategy to flexibly expand production capacities and actively shape Europe's energy transition.

About Hoval
Hoval is one of the leading international companies for heating and indoor climate solutions. With more than 75 years of experience and a family-oriented team culture, the group of companies succeeds time and again in inspiring with extraordinary solutions and technically superior developments. This leadership role obliges the company to take responsibility for energy and the environment, which it meets with an intelligent combination of different heating technologies and individual indoor climate solutions.