30% increased production capacity with Compact Lift
When StepLock in Västerås, Sweden continued its strong growth, a clear challenge emerged: the existing production area was no longer sufficient. By investing in four vertical storage lift systems from Weland Solutions, the company was able to fully utilize the building’s ceiling height, free up valuable floor space, and create room for 12 new assembly workstations. The result was an increase in production capacity of more than 30 percent, without expanding the facility.
Production space limited growth
For the past 15 years, StepLock has maintained steady annual growth of 10–15 percent. However, as operations expanded, it became increasingly clear that the existing production area was no longer sufficient.
Components were stored in traditional shelving racks only two meters high, utilizing just a limited portion of the building’s available height. At the same time, the need for additional assembly stations continued to grow.
– The value is created at the assembly benches. We would rather have more assembly stations than storage racks, says Jonas Bergvall, Purchaser at StepLock.
The company faced a strategic choice: expand the building or rethink how their warehouse space was being used.
The right solution after a reference visit
Following an evaluation process in which a reference site visit played a decisive role, StepLock chose to invest in four Compact Lift Single units. By moving storage from floor level to vertical storage in a facility with a seven-meter ceiling height, the company created a compact and efficient warehouse solution without expanding the building. Key decision factors included fast picking with high accuracy, integration with the SAP S/4HANA ERP system and local presence and service support.
The solution was installed in August 2024, and the warehouse was fully digitized. Orders are sent directly from SAP to the lift systems, where operators work with barcode scanners and pick guidance via displays and LED light indicators.
– We send the orders from SAP directly to the system. The operator scans the delivery note, and the lift systems start automatically, says Jonas.
The result: 30% higher output in the same facility
The results came quickly. By storing more than 130,000 items vertically instead of on the floor, StepLock increased the number of assembly stations from 38 to 50. This corresponds to an increase in production capacity of more than 30 percent, without leaving the current premises. Material handling is now managed with high precision. The picking process is both faster and safer, with clear guidance directly to the correct item location.
– The VLM’s display tells you what to pick, and the LED strip shows the exact location. This makes picking both faster and safer, explains Jonas.
More efficient warehouse and scalable growth solution
In addition to higher capacity, StepLock has also streamlined its internal material flow. Previously, three people were often needed to manage the flow of goods; today, two are sufficient.
– The third person can instead support production, which creates more value, says Jonas.
The investment has therefore not only freed up space, but also reallocated resources to where they create the greatest benefit. With the vertical lift systems from Weland Solutions, StepLock has created a solution that enables continued growth in its existing facility for many years to come. At the same time, the system is flexible and can be expanded or relocated if needed.
– We have bought ourselves several more years in this building. And the day we move, we can bring the VLMs with us and extend them further upwards, concludes Jonas Bergvall.
Publication date: 2026-04-27
