Vanderlande Industries is one of the world’s top suppliers of integrated logistics systems for the automation of warehouses and distribution centres, and offers flexible and scalable solutions that allow companies to grow and diversify. These include the PICK@EASE high performance ergonomic order picking workstation.
Vanderlande’s growing client list includes Amazon, Tesco, Argos, Tommy Hilfiger, Nike and RS Componants. They have completed over 1,000 successful projects in recent years in a wide range of industries such as food, non-food, footwear, apparel, parts and components, automotive, pharma, 3PL and e-commerce. Vanderlande’s automation solutions focus on the client’s entire goods flow from goods receiving, storage and order picking up to shipping and the related information flow, and include warehouse management systems and warehouse control systems, order picking and order fulfilment systems, automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS), sortation systems and conveyor and internal transport systems.
For businesses considering making an investment in warehouse automation, but are new to this technology, it can seem a complex area. But as experts in the field Vanderlande’s message to visitors to IMHX 2013 is straightforward – “Give us five minutes to show you the five benefits of warehouse automation.” Vanderlande’s expert team will be happy to talk to you at IMHX or any other time about how their automated warehouse solutions deliver the winning combination of reduced operational cost, effective space utilisation, improved accuracy, reduced throughput time and better ergonomic working conditions for employees.
David Hyslop, Managing Director of Vanderlande UK, spoke to Warehouse & Logistics News.
Warehouse & Logistics News – First of all, David, as Managing Director of Vanderlande UK, what is your role in the company day to day? Are you personally involved in developing solutions for customers?
Yes I am personally involved, although I am supported by a team of experts. I am responsible for all aspects of sales, system design, project implementation and after sales service for Warehouse Automation and Parcel & Postal projects in the UK and Eire.
WLN – How do you sum up the Vanderlande proposition? What sets you apart – why buy a warehouse automation solution from you, as opposed to one of your competitors?
We sell solutions, not just products. And all or our solutions are customized. We work with our customer to find the most suitable solution. For us this is a process in which we work closely with the customer.
WLN – What’s your approach to developing an integrated solution?
We develop our solutions as a part of a team with customers and we have the ability to listen and identify the underlying business needs. We keep our customer involved during the process. That starts with listening and understanding our customer’s process and all the available data. Then we come up with a few different global solutions. And finally we decide together which one we will work out in detail. This forms the basis for our reputation as a preferred partner for warehouse automation.
WLN – How are you set up to service the needs of customers for warehouse automation solutions? Do you have different teams for each industry sector? Do you cover UK projects from here, or do you bring in people from offices in other countries?
Each sector has its own team. In the UK we have a local team for sales, project management and service. Of course we can always call on all the expertise available at our headquarters in Veghel, the Netherlands, where Vanderlande’s new technology is developed. Our software is designed ‘in house’ in our Dortmund office.
WLN – What conveying, sortation, controls and other products do you supply specifically for use in automated warehouse systems?
We offer everything, from receiving to shipping and everything in between. We offer varied products to make the right solution, including the controls of our systems. Crossbelt- and linesorters, ASRS with miniloads and shuttles, different solutions for order picking like automated case picking, goods-to-man solutions like our PICK@EASE and also zone pick systems. Of course we offer conveyors as well. And last but certainly not least we have our own WMS and WCS-solutions.
WLN – Can you tell us about the PICK@EASE high performance ergonomic order picking workstation? What benefits does it deliver?
PICK@EASE delivers a performance of up to 1,000 order lines per operator per hour, operator learning curve of only 15-30 minutes, full Pick-Pack (pick-to-carton) capabilities, optimal ergonomics based on horizontal order picking (1 level), ideal height for the operator by height adjustable platform, constant productivity level through fatigue free working, high accuracy and safety by pick-to-light displays, detection light grids and a touch screen.
WLN – Do you integrate specialist internal logistics products for particular items from other manufacturers in your solutions, or can you supply all the necessary products yourselves?
We do integrate products from other manufacturers, such as robots and pallet cranes. For this we work with our preferred partners. And last year we acquired Beewen, a well-known German manufacturer of ASRS solutions. Beewen is our competence center for ASRS solutions, but part of the R&D also takes place at our Veghel HQ.
WLN – Do you supply your products to other manufacturers for integration in their materials handling solutions?
Yes, we can and do.
WLN – Coming back to warehouse automation, who else are the key people on your UK team?
The key people are Noel Blake, our Business Development Manager for Food & Fashion, Mike Codd, our Business Development Manager for Parcel & Postal and major retailers, Paul Anderson our Service Manager, Chris Sipika and Stuart Munday, our senior project managers, and last but not least Jenny Farr, our Health, Safety and Quality Manager.
WLN – Where is Vanderlande UK based? Do you cover the whole UK?
For Warehouse Automation and Parcel & Postal we are based in Birmingham. From here we cover the whole UK and Eire. We also have an office in London covering airport baggage handling projects.
WLN – I know as a company you talk about taking five minutes to communicate the five benefits of automated warehouses. Can you quote actual figures?
Yes, we can. An automated warehouse/distribution centre gives you order picking productivity of up to 1,000 lines per man hour: order picking accuracy of up to 99.99%: tripled throughput per m2 in your warehouse: and a 15 minutes learning curve for new operators. As a result operational costs descend. Solutions like our PICK@EASE have been designed in accordance with the latest ergonomics European norms and guidelines, in close cooperation with Dutch research institute TNO. The German TÜV has validated TNO’s assessment for PICK@EASE.4 and certified the ergonomics claims and sustainable performance.
WLN – What’s the procedure for getting a quote from you?
At first we get in touch in with the potential customer. This is a pro-active approach. We also take part in tenders. If this all goes well, we first identify the requirements, in close cooperation with our customers. Step two is to design different concepts. These are not very detailed, but are the basis for the decision whether the project has a suitable business case for our customer. In step three we work out the details of the then chosen concept with a CAD-drawing, a calculation simulation and a project plan. If the customer is satisfied with our bid, the last step in this process is agreeing a contract.
WLN – How long does it take to see a return on investment with your systems?
That depends on how big it is. For a smaller one it can take as little as a year, but a big system can take up to four to five years.
WLN – You talk about your systems being flexible and scalable as businesses change. How flexible and scalable are they?
A good example would be a system based upon our Microshuttle. Each Microshuttle system can grow with the business and throughput of the customer. A system with 12 levels can start with two shuttles, keeping the initial investment low. As throughput requirements increase, shuttles can be added individually until the maximum lift capacity is reached. But it is not only about the scalability of the products or the systems. We also offer smaller solutions for smaller businesses. These solutions can then be expanded as the business grows.
WLN – Do you supply full maintenance support?
Yes, we do. At different customer sites we also have a service team on site, so that’s a possibility a customer can choose as well.
WLN – Can you tell us about the companies you have worked for? Do you publish customer case studies?
We work for a number of companies around the globe and also in the UK, for example NEXT, Tesco, Argos and many more. In the Parcel & Postal business we have worked for Royal Mail, DHL, FedEx and Yodel. We do publish case studies.
WLN – Many companies have already invested in warehouse automation. Should they now be thinking of Version 2.0? Can you help them upgrade?
Yes we can, and we do. For instance we put new controls on cranes. And at Fabory recently we replaced older cranes by Vanderlande’s own Beewen cranes. We are very well capable of executing a complete retrofit.
WLN – Turning to IMHX, what will you be showing on your stand at the show?
We will have a non-moving Microshuttle there, with a video to show how well it works. We focus on video footage at the IMHX because it is a very good way to show our systems and solutions to our visitors in a short time. After all, we promise to show the benefits of warehouse automation in just five minutes. If visitors would like to know more, we can of course tell them more and show them more. Or we can make an appointment for after the exhibition. We are always keen to hear about the challenges our customers have within their business.
WLN – Will you be showing any new products and developments at IMHX?
We have good footage to show our Microshuttle and other new load handling devices, but also of our PICK@EASE for example. For Vanderlande Industries this workstation is proven technology. We have implemented quite a few over recent years, and have newer versions coming soon.
WLN – How ‘green’ are your automated warehouse solutions? Will you be presenting anything about this at IMHX?
Our Microshuttle is green, because it uses less energy. But we also have a conveyor that is Cradle2Cradle certified. We will be able to describe these developments on the stand at IMHX.
WLN – I appreciate the emphasis at IMHX will be on warehouse automation, but I understand you also have a significant parcel and postal logistics business. Can you tell us briefly about that, for our readers who are interested in this side? Will you be presenting this side of the business at the show?
Yes, we have a crosssorter mock up there and like I said, we did big projects for companies like DHL and Yodel. For IMHX visitors who are interested, we also have a video available and Mike Codd, our Business Development Manager for Parcel and Postal will also be there.
WLN – How important are shows like IMHX to your company and its strategy?
They are very important. Especially the big ones like IMHX. They offer us a great opportunity to show who we are and what we do.
WLN – The big question: why should a busy professional from the logistics industry take a day out of the office to visit your stand?
That’s the great thing about our proposition at the IMHX! He doesn’t need all day! It takes him just five minutes. If he is convinced of our solutions, we can always plan a more detailed meeting with him when it suits him.
WLN – Looking at the wider picture, what do you see as the biggest pressures on users of automated warehouse solutions?
Of course e-commerce is a big factor. That just continues to grow. This puts new demands on companies, they make their customers promises like next or even ‘same day delivery’. That requires a lot from the logistics department. Automated Warehouses can help with that. Also today’s warehouses and distribution centres face a lot of challenges: increasing labour costs, less available space and frequent small orders with short delivery times. It’s a constant search for solutions that reduce operational costs, generate higher productivity, optimise space utilisation and enable high service levels.
WLN – Finally, where do you see the UK market for warehouse automation and Vanderlande as a company going from here?
The future is bright for our industry. The financial crisis has just reinforced the idea that you need to innovate to survive and to be excellent in your logistics operations. Companies who innovate tend to use automation and then they have the best metrics such as cost per case or throughput per square metre. The next few years will be tough for many companies, but Vanderlande will continue to offer creative solutions so that we can help our customers to grow, and we in turn will grow with them.
Tel: 0121 770 1888
email: info.uk@vanderlande.com
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