SDI Group, the global integrator of automated materials handling systems, is currently installing capacity-increasing garment handling systems in two significant projects for Matalan – one of the UK’s leading clothing and homeware retailers.
At Matalan’s new 575,000 square feet Galaxy Distribution Centre, located in Knowsley Industrial Park in Merseyside, SDI is installing a T500 trolley system. Meanwhile, at an existing 320,000 square feet Matalan DC in Corby, Northants, a ‘4-inch trolley’ Goods on Hanger (GoH) system is being installed as part of a project to increase capacity from 1 million to 7 million units of storage.
The multichannel Galaxy DC will be located next to Matalan’s new headquarters currently under construction – the retailer will move there from its current Skelmersdale office during 2015.
The T500 hanging garment trolley system, named after its centrally suspended 500mm trolleys, which can carry up to 35 kg along an extruded aluminium rail, will serve both store replenishment and order fulfilment for ecommerce. It will run from receiving into storage then through to a 200 store lane sorter and finally into dispatch for Matalan’s retail stores. Stock to fulfil ecommerce requirements, will be sent to an ecommerce processing area.
In addition to supplying and integrating its garment handling system into hanging garment racking from another supplier, SDI Group is providing low-level pick controls and an upper-level Warehouse Control System (WCS) to direct Matalan’s product from receiving to despatch. The system will also interface to Matalan’s Warehouse Management System (WMS).
The ‘4-inch trolley’ Goods on Hanger (GoH) system being installed at Corby is extending SDI’s original GoH installation. Again, it is being integrated into a storage structure from another supplier and SDI is also providing a WCS, which is being interfaced with Matalan’s host WMS. Unlike the Galaxy project, in Corby SDI is installing its system into an existing operation. It is working closely with Matalan to ensure there is no disruption to the retailer’s workflow and productivity. Handover was expected in May for Matalan to begin operating in the summer.
“We are extremely proud to be working closely with Matalan to ensure the successful completion of these important projects, which will facilitate their exciting business growth,” said Gordon Smith, CEO of SDI Group. “Having supported the Corby site for 7 years, with a flexible maintenance programme, our team is excited about meeting the challenge of extending our original GoH system while also providing new garment handing capability at Matalan’s brand new Galaxy multichannel DC – both using our leading Warehouse Control System technology.”
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