New Zealand-based apparel label AS Colour is to support the company’s significant business growth with an advanced materials handling installation in its new Auckland distribution centre.
Founded in 2005 in Auckland and operating in NZ, Australia and California, AS Colour produces apparel products for the wholesale and retail markets, with a number of retail outlets located in NZ and Australia.
“Following recent continued growth, AS Colour has outgrown its existing DC and made the decision to move to a new facility,” explained managing director and founder of AS Colour Lawrence Railton. “As part of our evolution into a new DC, AS Colour also wanted to optimise our warehouse operations by boosting productivity and efficiency when handling the high number of SKU we deal with.”
Working with Scott Kerr at Kerrect Logistics, AS Colour evaluated a range of automation options before choosing a tailored Dematic Multishuttle Goods-to-Person (GTP) System for its new DC, which provides high-density tote storage and high sequenced order picking productivity.
“AS Colour wanted to find a way to pick orders faster with minimal touches, in order to minimise product packaging and presentation challenges caused by handling the same product multiple times,” said business development manager at Dematic Seth van Dijk “The system we have tailored for AS Colour is based on the goods-to-person methodology, where the storage and delivery of products to fulfil orders is automated through the use of the Dematic Multishuttle high-rate storage and retrieval system.”
High-speed picking
Using the Dematic Multishuttle Goods-To-Person (GTP), AS Colour products are stored in totes in a secure high-density environment until they are retrieved and delivered in orderline sequence to operators at four ergonomic workstations. This significantly improves productivity by eliminating non-value-added time spent on tasks such as travel, and manually locating and retrieving stock.
Managed by Dematic iQ Warehouse Control System software, the installation features a two-aisle Dematic Multishuttle GTP system, with double-deep storage for 19,425 totes across 18 levels and 36 bays. It also features automated order tote delivery to 4 x 1:1 workstations as well as order tote take away to a dedicated conveyor sorter and packing area.
“In addition to the productivity, efficiency and high-density benefits the Dematic installation will bring to our new facility, we will also gain much more visibility into our warehouse operations,” added Mr Railton. “The new system will deliver real-time information, which places us in a better position to monitor and optimise our picking and replenishment productivity rates.”
The new AS Colour DC is due for completion in the first half of 2021.