ndc.jpgThere were smiles all round when top executives from the five key businesses involved in the construction of The Co-operative Pharmacy’s new National Distribution Centre took part in a traditional ceremony to dig the first sod at the Meir Park site in Stoke recently. Firmly established as the UK’s third largest pharmacy chain, with around 800 branches, The Co-operative Pharmacy is investing around £15 million in the project. The Austrian-owned automated warehouse solutions specialist, Knapp, will be providing all internal logistics in the new facility, which is around four times the size of The Co-operative Pharmacy’s existing facility in nearby Wolstanton.

The 190,000 sq ft National Distribution Centre, due to open in the second half of 2009, will allow The Co-operative Pharmacy to deliver to all of its UK branches from the same depot for the first time. John Nuttall, Managing Director of The Co-operative Pharmacy, commented, “I am delighted work is now underway on what, for us, is a very exciting development. This is a major investment and underlines our commitment not just to developing our business but also to the Stoke-on-Trent area.”

Knapp, acting as general contractor and systems integrator, will be responsible for the realisation of the National Distribution Centre’s highly automated materials handling system, which will feature miniload AS/RS, A-Frames, extensive conveyor systems and robotic palletising, all under the control of Knapp’s ‘KLASS-X’ control system.

Commented Knapp UK’s Managing Director, David James, “We are absolutely delighted to be chosen by The Co-operative Pharmacy as its partner for this prestigious project. It is very gratifying when an existing customer chooses to continue their partnership with us and we look forward to many more years of successful co-operation.”

KNAPP UK Ltd
Mr David James, MD
Tel: 01844 202149
Email: david.james@knapp.com

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