As a system integrator, TGW (www.tgw-group.com) take over planning, production, implementation and maintenance of distribution centres – including everything from mechatronics to control systems and software. TGW’s core industries are fashion and apparel, groceries and industrial and consumer goods.
TGW continue to invest in innovation, with a focus on artificial intelligence, software and robotics. These technologies are also the basis for maximum automation of the processes in logistics centres that are most difficult to staff adequately.
A state-of-the-art distribution centre must feature the right degree of automation to ensure that the requirements for quick delivery can be fulfilled and peaks are covered. But the degree of automation and application vary. Companies have different resources and skills at their disposal. That’s why TGW is individually tailoring its solutions to the needs of every customer. The more insight TGW has in historical data, business data and personnel levels, the better they can run a simulation that meets the planned investment and labour needs.
A nice example is the new distribution centre of Hachette UK, the UK’s leading trade publishing group, which has invested in a new central distribution centre in Didcot, Oxfordshire. The two distribution centres previously used were merged into the new Hely Hutchinson Centre (HHC). HHC is one of the most advanced distribution centres in Europe. Cutting-edge automation technology and modern systems provide first-rate services to customers and publisher clients. Shorter lead times and lower transport and operation costs are only a few of the many advantages of the new HCC.
The new solution supports this omni-channel profile with a combination of full case and split case picking methods. Generally, any title can be ordered as a full case or split case. Goods from split case picking are shipped in packages, returnable totes and automatically erected cartons.
Split case picking of single books is fully managed using a TGW FlashPick® (GTP) solution. Five storage aisles, each equipped with a fleet of TGW Stingray shuttles supply required source totes to one of ten “PickCenter One TS” workstations. These enable one-to-one ergonomics: empty order cartons and totes are automatically provided at the PickCenter One TS stations and, once they are filled, directed towards the outbound sortation area to be consolidated with other cartons and totes for the same shipping destination.
TGW Warehouse Software manages all picking and timely coordination of split case titles and copies them to Hachette’s JDA WMS in order to create picking lists and report back details on the contents of finished order cartons and totes.
A five-year Lifetime services contract further guarantees high-system availability. The solution at Hachette is maintained and supported by seven TGW on-site residential engineers, who provide flexible three-shift operational support 312 days per year.
More information on TGW and Hachette UK: www.tgw-group.com/en/case-studies/hachette-uk-distribution
Interested in seeing how TGW can help your distribution centre to meet the unpredictable? Meet the TGW team at IMHX, booth 5E71.
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