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ORDER PICKING G
eek+, the global leader in mobile robots for logistics, and NEXT, the British multinational clothing, footwear and home products retailer, have announced the success of their automation
collaboration in NEXT’s Dearne Valley Pallet fulfilment centre. In 45,000m2
of warehouse
space, 250 Geek+ robots handle both goods-to- person picking and order sorting processes for NEXT's e-commerce operations. Faced with high demand and operating in the
volatile fashion industry, NEXT decided to streamline its processes and scale up efficiently to meet new customer requirements. To achieve this goal, they have sought efficient solutions including selecting Geek+ as their robotic warehouse automation partner. The hybrid “Pick-and-Sort” solution is the result of the successful co- development process between the two companies. Liam Jenkinson, site manager at NEXT, says:
"Working with Geek+ has been a positive experience for us, both from the start and with the ongoing support provided. The flexibility offered by Geek+'s picking and sortation system is critical to our operations, and the integration between our Warehouse Management System and Geek+'s Robot Management System is seamless. As our business continues to expand, we are planning to extend the warehouse and replicate the success of this project in the new space." The process begins with the Geek+ P800 picking
robots, which retrieve the pallets from the pallet transfer area and move them to the storage area for picking. Once a picking order is initiated, the robot transports the rack to a multifunctional workstation that is utilised for both the picking and sorting procedures. Once the picking is completed,
the operator deposits the item onto the S20C sorting robot. The S20C robot then transfers the goods to the designated chute for the depot, while the parcel heads downstairs for packing. The flexibility of the Geek+ solution enables NEXT to manage a wide variety of products that differ in size, weight, and velocity of sale. With this solution, NEXT can process 16,000 units
per day. According to NEXT, the efficiency of the automated process is twice that of manual picking. Brian Lee, VP of EMEA Region at Geek+, says: "NEXT is a visionary customer that placed their trust in us. We are proud to have fulfilled our promise and provided NEXT's warehouse with our intelligent and flexible warehouse automation solutions. We are eager to replicate it in more warehouses across the UK, Europe, and around the global." This improved efficiency has not only enabled
NEXT to handle a record volume during the last Christmas season without requiring additional labour, but it has also allowed them to push the cut-off time from 6 pm to 10 pm while still meeting their NEXT day delivery promise. One of the advantages of the Geek+ solution is its scalability. To meet their growing demand, NEXT introduced 50 additional S20C robots earlier this year.
Geek+
www.geekplus.com
GEEK+ HYBRID “PICK-AND-SORT” SOLUTION STREAMLINES ORDER PROCESSING FOR NEXT
50 JULY/AUGUST 2023 | FACTORY&HANDLINGSOLUTIONS
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