Schemmer’s XTL project was featured in the Saturday, November 22, Omaha World Herald.

XTL Inc., a Philadephia-based logistics firm, won approval on Friday, November 21 from the Iowa Economic Development Authority for tax incentives worth up to $1.2 million for a planned $63 million, fully automated, “lights-out” warehouse facility in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

XTL still has to receive rezoning approval from the Council Bluffs City Council for the 185,000 SF facility on a 51-acre site at the northwest corner of Highway 275 and South 24^th Street. The company’s rezoning request includes an amendment to the zoning ordinance that would allow a maximum height of 125 feet for parcels of 50 acres or more. The current ordinance allows for structures up to 50 feet high.

The highly automated warehouse facility will be equipped with robots that are capable of loading, stacking and retrieving pallets. An automated facility features various automated robotic applications that scan and track inventory and retrieve stored goods. Lighting in the “lights-out” facility is only needed for safety or periodic inspections. Robotics used in warehousing operations boast nearly perfect accuracy when fulfilling orders, but are very pricey. The equipment has to be used at least 20 hours a day to justify the costs.

The attempt to secure the XTL project has been a regional effort as part of the Greater Omaha Economic Development Partnership and could be completed by mid-January if everything goes as planned.

Schemmer is providing the building and site design services for the project.

To read the article, “Tax incentives OK’d for $63M Council Bluffs ‘robotic’ warehouse” in its entirety, click here.