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Business, and indeed industry itself, is constantly reacting and evolving, driving the race to discover new ways to gain a competitive advantage. While the focus is often on the ‘what’ - the physical products that come to market - Big Box Group Managing Director Iain Gillard says the way technology is integrated is equally as vital in helping businesses achieve a more profitable future.
supply chains a
Digital catapult leaDs charge to fortify
new £20 million uK-wide initiative has been launched to tackle challenges faced by the uK’s manufacturing
supply chains in the wake of the pandemic. a £10m award from uK research and innovation
and the Made smarter innovation programme will be combined with £10m investment from the private sector to accelerate commercial integration of advanced and emerging digital technologies across manufacturing supply chains over the next four years. Made smarter’s Digital supply chain innovation hub
is led by Digital catapult in collaboration with the high Value Manufacturing (hVM) catapult, national physical laboratory (npl) and twi. the programme partners will work with technology
providers, research organisations and academics up and down the country to develop a globally competitive, resilient and sustainable digitally enabled ecosystem of uK companies, uniquely positioned to solve the myriad challenges faced by today’s manufacturing supply chains.
new autoMateD hanDling DeMonstration centre
are obvious. picking, moving and sorting with robotics can help improve efficiencies and, ultimately, the bottom line. But there is more to it than that, says gillard. “Businesses face challenges every
a
single day. often, they want quick, cost- effective solutions to solve it. Depending on what the challenge is, racking, handling equipment, a robot or even an entire building can plug that gap. “however, we pride ourselves on
delivering smarter solutions — making sure they are fit for purpose but also designed to improve the situation beyond what’s in front of the client.” Big Box group has been providing
innovative solutions to a variety of businesses, from sMes to blue chip companies, since its formation over twenty years ago. its ability to solve complex issues is driven by an analytical and technological approach that is both proactive and creative. with a wide range of cutting-edge and high-
performing products to hand, Big Box group can integrate exactly what is needed, allowing any type of business - from manufacturing and warehousing to online fulfilment - maximise their return on investment. gillard says: “we see the
technology demonstration centre. the 800 square meter facility – which is located at
t
the same site as toyota’s Midlands business centre on the Meridian Business park, leicester – will provide a permanent showcase for the toyota autopilot range of automated guided vehicles (agVs) as well as the company’s semi-automated radioshuttle technology for the storage and retrieval of palletised loads from high density racking systems. in addition, visitors to the centre can also discuss
toyota’s turnkey automated system design expertise.
toyota-forklifts.co.uk
oyota Material handling uK has announced the opening of a dedicated automated handling
challenge, which we can solve, but we also see the opportunity by looking at the bigger picture. the opportunity to help our clients achieve a better return on investment can often be found in analysing the way they do things, how they use their space and the technology they already have. “we can deliver market-leading
technology. we can give our clients the solution they’re looking for. But the real difference is felt in how it’s all integrated. we look at the bigger picture, and look deeper at the operation, which means we strip things back and examine the challenge from different angles. that’s often when we discover areas where a client can make further gains.” when a client came to Big Box group
requesting more racking, iain and his team analysed the existing racking within the warehouse and proposed they reconfigure the space by making their aisles narrower to create a more streamlined and efficient operation, which maximised the footprint of the entire building. “sometimes, the solution isn’t as
complex or as expensive as the client believes,” says gillard. “it just needs a bit of smart thinking. we’ll take the time to listen, to really understand the issue at hand. that’s how we can deliver an effective solution while also creating opportunities the client never knew they had.” this approach allows Big Box
group to provide a unique take on a challenging situation. everything they do is to add value and offer an advantage — all the while making their clients lives easier and simpler.
gillard says: “the tech and the products
are one thing, but the creative approach and the integration to know they’re exactly what’s required is the thing that really drives efficiencies and long-term profit. “ultimately, it’s all about getting the right
fit and, through our trusted partnerships and innovative approach, we’re perfectly placed to create smart and efficient integrated solutions.” Big Box Group
E:
enquiries@big-box.uk
utomation has seen strong growth over the last 18 months and its advantages
aDDing Value through sMart solutions
www.big-box.uk T: 01430 449986
factory&hanDlingsolutions | july/august 2021 5
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