British retailer Next has deployed 250 Geek+ robots to a UK warehouse as it automates the picking and order sorting processes for its e-commerce operations.
The robots will operate across 45,000m2 of warehouse space at its Dearne Valley Pallet fulfillment center and will allow Next to process 16,000 units per day.
Liam Jenkinson, Site Manager at Next, said: ” 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.
Brian Lee, VP of EMEA Region at Geek+, said: ” 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.”
To meet growing demand, NEXT introduced 50 additional S20C robots earlier this year. It has also pushed the cut-off time from 6 pm to 10 pm while still meeting their NEXT day delivery promise, the company said.
