Automation specialists, Swisslog, has been awarded the prestigious Technical Innovation prize at the 2014 UK Warehousing Association Awards, for its AutoStore solution.
The awards committee praised Swisslog for its ‘bold and innovative response to the changing market place’ where space is increasingly at a premium and traditional ways of thinking have produced only minor improvements.
AutoStore is manufactured by Jakob Hatteland Logistics of Norway and Swisslog is the only supplier with a worldwide distribution agreement. Going against the accepted wisdom, AutoStore turned the issue ‘inside out’ – positioning semi-autonomous robots on top of a storage cube to ensure optimal storage density. The subsequent ultra-efficient use of space, flexibility and reliability has made AutoStore the most innovative automated installation on the market today. James Sharples, managing director of Swisslog UK believes the award is further recognition of Swisslog’s position as an innovative player in the market.
Said James: “We’re proud to have won this UKWA award against stiff competition. We are already well known for our quality and reliability, so we strive not only to provide innovative solutions to the market, but also to ensure that these are tried, tested and competitive for our customers.”
AutoStore features as one solution within Swisslog’s Click&Pick portfolio, designed to provide a range of omni-channel capable, multifaceted systems that can be customized to the specific needs of retailers. The portfolio guarantees high pick rates, accurate order fulfilment, efficient returns and precise inventory management.
AutoStore’s innovative technology is completely different to anything else on the market, providing maximum storage capacity within the smallest footprint, whilst retaining intelligent, fast and ergonomic picking capabilities. Today an increasing number of people from all age groups are shopping online, fundamentally changing the role of the major retailer and the way they fulfil customer orders. Thanks to the flexibility it provides, AutoStore has already become the order fulfilment solution of choice for market leaders in the UK and overseas.
“We see more and more customers choosing Swisslog,” adds James, “and we are confident that this will continue going forwards. Customers like to see innovation but are naturally cautious of the risks associated with new ideas. Whilst this specific technology is a huge innovation for the industry, interested companies are already able to see it in action and speak to our customers about it.”
Swisslog’s effective ways of measuring the results of their services and customer satisfaction were also praised with a nomination in the Customer Service category.
“Our Customer Service operation is the backbone of our business,” concludes James. “We pride ourselves as being an organisation built around outstanding levels of customer service, so we were also delighted to be praised for our work in delivering maximum productivity and minimum downtime.”
Held at London’s Dorchester Hotel, the Association’s 15th annual Awards for Warehousing recognises excellence amongst the sector’s leading lights, with up to 400 members and guests also in attendance.
UKWA’s chief executive officer, Roger Williams, commented: “We are grateful to all those companies that entered this year’s Awards for Warehousing. The high number and quality of the entries we received underlines the professionalism that runs through the modern logistics industry.”
Emma Daniels
Head of Marketing (EMEA)
Tel: 01527 55 1600
Email: emma.rawlinson@swisslog.com
Comments are closed.