Automated warehousing provider TGW
has implemented an integrated logistics solution for Danish multi-label fashion
retailer Bestseller.
Bestseller generates revenues of
more than 2.6billion Euros per year through its diverse range of fashion
products including clothing, footwear and accessories. It operates almost 3,000
shops across 38 countries and delivers to more than 12,000 independent
retailers in 53 markets across Europe, the Middle East and Canada. It recently
agreed terms to acquire UK based M and M Direct and also has significant stakes
in ASOS and Zalando.
The company previously operated
several warehouses and sought to improve efficiency by converting to a highly
automated process in order to coordinate all of its European logistics
activities from a single distribution centre.
TGW met Bestseller’s requirements
by implementing two different material flows within the same installation at
the distribution centre, near the Danish city of Haderslev. The first system provides
stores with pre-configured sets of products and the second allows for classic
store replenishment according to the orders from the individual stores.
The warehouse now holds up to
450,000 cartons in various sizes and dimensions. Cartons are stored
triple-deep, which allows for higher performance as well as safe and easy
access for maintenance via the wide aisles. 22 TGW Magito AS/RS machines
facilitate smooth storage and retrieval processes, supported by TGW’s Twister
load handling devices. At peak times about 4,000 cartons per hour are moved.
The entire system is optimised for
high performance and this includes the picking stations. On average, one
picking employee reaches a throughput of 293 order lines per hour with peaks of
up to 340 per hour at TGW’s ergonomically designed Putstations.
The arrangement of the stations
allows Bestseller to flexibly deploy its staff. Two workstations are arranged
in front of each other, which means that during off peak times one employee can
handle both stations.
To ensure that all the areas that
are served by employees correspond to ergonomic requirements, each TGW
Putstation can be adapted to the personal requirements of each picker. This
means that cartons with items to be picked arrive at the workstation at the
ideal height for each employee and in an inclined position so they can be
retrieved easily for better body alignment.
“A highly automated logistics
installation is something completely new at Bestseller,” said Harald
Stallinger, managing director at TGW Systems Integration. “Now, everything
happens in one distribution centre in Haderslev. And of course, for
Bestseller’s employees there is an improvement to their working environment as
they do not have to search for a desired item throughout the whole distribution
centre, it is automatically transported to them.”
With a regional office in Market Harborough, TGW Northern
Europe has designed and installed state-of-the-art, automated warehousing
systems for major companies including Wiley, Asda, Jack Wolfskin, VOW, and many
others.
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