IronmongeryDirect has been supplying architectural ironmongery to builders, joiners and shop fitters for over 40 years and recently appointed Conveyor Systems Ltd to install an automated handling system into their business.
With over 13,500 quality products in stock and providing next day delivery of thousands of parcels every week to tradesmen all over the UK, the company is very proud of its reputation for customer service and is determined to maintain the very high standards by investing in handling efficiencies.
IronmongeryDirect had been reviewing the possibilites and options of introducing an automated materials handling solution into its new Distribution Centre in Basildon and as part of this project, a number of specialist companies were contacted and invited to tender. The amount of detail and track record of previous installations in a similar field led to Conveyor Systems being awarded the contract to undertake the project.
Alan Josiah Head of Service Delivery for IronmongeryDirect commented: “We were very impressed with the presentation we received from Conveyor Systems Limited (CSL) as they came up with some very innovative ideas and suggestions on how best to add Materials Handling Engineering (MHE) to our new operation.
We are looking at a high level of automated fulfillment over the next 3 years and this initial project, has been a most successful platform for us. The addition of a new compact 6m spiral, as opposed to an inclined belt conveyor to move product between floors in our Distribution Centre, makes cost effective sense by increasing the pick face area and improving speed of product movement. Orders are picked from store on the mezzanine floor and conveyed in tote boxes down to ground level to be located in live storage shelving. From here, orders are consolidated with items from the large ground floor area and transported on trolleys for packing and marshalled for despatch.”
To enable CSL’s new 6m spiral elevator to be easily installed through a hole in the new mezzanine floor, it was supplied in two halves to assist handling and installation, which is a standard feature to allow spirals to be fitted into restricted areas. Spiral elevators provide a smooth continuous flow and high throughput of product and with a standard reversing facility can feed either up or down from different floor levels, whilst occupying minimum floor space. They are also very versatile and reliable, transporting various product sizes, weights and shapes such as boxes, totes, shrink packages, trays, bags, containers etc.
Alan Josiah continued, “Having worked with larger MHE solution providers in previous roles at both Tesco and Ocado, I have been delighted in the attention to detail and the delivery of the project plan within timescales and budget by the team at CSL.”
“IronmongeryDirect is a business that provides high quality products from manufacturers such as Yale, Union and Ingersoll Rand for next day delivery, so it was important that we chose the right solution. Conveyor Systems Ltd is a company we would recommend and certainly would like to work with them again in the future.”
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