Feature: Logistics
£11m automation investment meets boom in demand New system boosts efficiency at £60m plant
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logistics provider is to spend £11 million bringing in state-of-theart automation systems to its facility at Corby. Europa Warehouse, part of the Europa Worldwide Group, is working with German company psb intralogistics GmbH to implement the new automation technology at its plant in Plantation Lane. Europa completed the £60 million facility last year, doubling its logistics portfolio. Now Europa is preparing a major investment in automated systems - the first at one of Europa’s facilities. The new technology will create increased efficiencies for Europa’s customers, including e-commerce and blue chip online retailers most of which have experienced vast growth following the e-commerce boom. The new automation includes the use of goods-to-person technology
to eliminate time-consuming and unproductive activities, said Europa Warehouse logistics director Maria Torrent March. “After a whirlwind year in 2020 where resources within logistics companies were pushed to their limits, we are delighted to announce a major investment into automation at our largest warehouse in Corby,” she added. “The new technology will allow us to fulfil our commitment to our customers, improving efficiencies to cater for the increase in demand.” Europa Warehouse provides services including e-commerce fulfilment, production services, inventory management, packing, labelling, special deliveries, final assembly, quality control and critical parts management. The anticipated efficiencies include an automated storage and retrieval system enabling Europa to pick up 136,000
Europa Warehouse expects efficiency improvements from the new technology installed at its Corby facility
bottles per day. System productivity will be enhanced with a rotapick station which improves pick rates and the new selektron warehouse control system will remove errors and allow pick speed and accuracy to be monitored centrally.
Ms Torrent March said: “Most importantly, automation will allow Europa Warehouse to provide a streamlined service, giving us the ability to better plan and predict the flow of goods, assisting our customers in the ever-growing
demand for e-commerce and support the developing consumer trend of next day deliveries.” psb’s business development manager Peter Light said: “Our intelligent automated manufacturing and distribution technology solutions will transform how Europa fulfils its customer’s orders. The concept is proven and reliable.”
Rhenus: The driving force that keeps business moving WAREHOUSING
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erving Northamptonshire from our Corby depots since 1975, Rhenus Logistics (Corby) Ltd operates through four warehouses totalling over 35,000 pallet spaces. We provide distribution, customs bonded, e-commerce, pick and pack and are proud recipients of the BRC AA (Food Grade Storage) certification - the highest grade available. We are experts in the long- and short-term storage of food-related products, working with household names such as Itsu Groceries. Our 440,000 sq ft site in Corby - located in the UK’s “golden triangle of logistics” - is within a four-hour drive of 90 per cent of the UK’s population, allowing us to react quickly and serve customers throughout the UK and beyond.
Being part of the Rhenus Group - a leading global logistics service provider with a turnover of €5.4 billion, 820 locations worldwide and 33,500 employees - means we offer complete global, end-to-end logistics solutions, tailored specifically to your needs.
TRANSPORT
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n addition to our extensive warehouse capabilities, we run our own fleet of 18T and articulated vehicles and trailers. Because we have our own fleet, we provide flexible, time-sensitive delivery options for shipments throughout the UK. For smaller pallet deliveries we offer costeffective solutions as part of our Palletforce network membership, while our relationships with the UK’s top parcel carriers mean your parcels are also covered.
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Looking for bespoke warehousing & logistics solutions?
01536 446173 ENQUIRIESCORBY@UK.RHENUS.COM
Get in touch today and our industry experts will find the right solution to fit your needs
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Business Times
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September 2021
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