KNAPP is a global leader in automation technology for distribution and production value chains. Its 7,300 employees across 62 locations worldwide develop and deliver customised supply chain solutions, powered by advanced software including AI. The company’s systems promote the success of major brands across diverse industries and are supported by an extensive Customer Service network. Key clients in the UK include Alliance Healthcare, Boots, British Gas, Clarks, Day Lewis, John Lewis, M&S, Matalan, The Very Group, Well and Wincanton, most of which have resident KNAPP Customer Service teams.

Craig Rollason
Managing Director at KNAPP UK Ltd

Craig Rollason, Managing Director at KNAPP UK, spoke to Warehouse & Logistics News.

What are your best-known products, solutions and services?

KNAPP is renowned for its innovative fulfilment, transport and storage technologies, along with leading-edge software solutions. Our best-known products are the Pick-it-Easy Robot, the OSR Shuttle™ Evo store and the Central Belt System (A-frame). Close collaboration with KNAPP group member, Dürkopp Fördertechnik enables us to design and implement integrated solutions for both flat-packed goods and hanging garments.

Which industry sectors are your customers in and which ones are growing fastest?

We have customers in all industries – from retail, e-commerce and fashion to healthcare, wholesale, food and manufacturing. The sectors in which our sales are currently growing fastest are healthcare and fashion.

What sets your company apart as a supplier in your category?

At KNAPP, we describe ourselves as the ‘value chain tech partner’ of choice for leading brands. This means we are a technology partner for the entire value chain – all the interlinked business activities. We provide the right automation, information and services for every step in the chain. Of course, a key element of successful long-term partnerships is excellent Customer Service. As well as offering reactive field service, we have resident Customer Service teams at 19 client sites across the UK. They provide a data-driven, proactive approach to service management to maximise efficiency and uptime.

What are your most recent product or service innovations?

We’ve been developing our technology for direct-to-patient services in the healthcare sector. Our new D³ Daily Dose Dispenser enables fully automatic creation of patient-specific medication packs, with tablets being picked directly from their original blister packs into a new, personalised blister card.

Another recent innovation is that we’re making our MultiScan master data capture system available through short-term rental as well as outright purchase. Renting the system is ideal for smaller projects or enhancing warehouse data. As well as acquiring article dimensions and weight at the touch of a button, MultiScan can capture other data such as fragility and stackability. The solution records all the data needed to optimise the utilisation of storage space and the efficiency of fulfilment operations.

What are the major trends and developments affecting your customers, and how are you responding?

Many companies are struggling to attract and retain warehouse staff today, which drives the demand for intralogistics automation. Our solutions to help mitigate labour shortages include the award-winning redPILOT software. This uses machine learning to help warehouse operators balance use of available resources – such as systems, personnel, energy, space and materials – to eliminate bottlenecks and optimise operations. Our customer, M&S has been successfully relying on redPILOT at its Castle Donington facility for over a year now.

Although the rate of e-commerce growth has slowed, the market is still seeing investment. We are responding with flexible solutions for single-item fulfilment, such as AutoPocket™, the latest generation of our pocket sorter technology. This solution enables goods to be dropped off precisely and fully automatically without the pocket needing to stop or even slow down, further increasing speed and efficiency.

Sustainability continues to be a key trend and there is considerable interest in right-sized packaging solutions. To further support our customers in this area, we recently announced our strategic collaboration with Packsize. This follows successful joint projects in multiple Walmart distribution facilities in the US, which have reduced Walmart’s cardboard waste by over a quarter and more than halved its use of filler material.

Can you tell us about any recent customer contract wins or projects and how you helped the customer meet their challenges?

We’ve delivered several extension projects for existing customers in the UK this year, as well as implementing systems for new customers. We have a number of projects we are working on that incorporate either our OSR Shuttle™ as a picking system or our OSR Shuttle™ Evo in combination with AutoPocket™ technology to ensure rapid lead times and maximum flexibility. We are also implementing our Pack2Patient system for pharmaceutical clients including Day Lewis, Cohens and PCT. Pack2Patient offers automatic assembly of patient-specific orders, helping to mitigate the effects of labour shortages in DCs and freeing up valuable time for pharmacists.

How were business levels in 2023 compared to previous years?

The KNAPP group achieved a turnover of 1.96 billion euros in the business year 2022-23, an 18% increase on the previous year’s figure. KNAPP also moved up into the top five in the annual global ranking of logistics system suppliers.

Can you tell us about any areas where you’re currently making technical advances?

We continue to invest heavily in research and development. In the financial year 2022-23, the KNAPP group again invested around 5 per cent of turnover – some 74 million euros – in R&D. A particular area of focus is extending the use of artificial intelligence across our portfolio of solutions. Products currently powered by AI include Pick-it-Easy Robot, KiSoft Genomix (our self-learning software for managing master data), KiSoft Analytics (for real-time analysis and visualisation of client data) and redPILOT.

Do you invest in staff training and skills development?

We pride ourselves on investing in people to ensure that we attract and retain key talent. As well as funding externally recognised courses for a number of HR and Finance employees this year, we’ve provided management training for our IT and Customer Service resident teams. For the latter, ten employees have studied for the Level 3 Team Leading qualification and four have tackled the Level 5 Operations/Department Management course. Talent development through these apprenticeships has led to several promotions. In addition, our digital KNAPP Academy provides training on softer skills. Most recently, we launched an e-learning on Diversity and Inclusion, which received great feedback. Our employees also enjoy access to a great benefits platform, which includes a section on learning and development for a variety of personal and professional topics.

How future proof and flexible are your solutions?

Automating flows of goods and data enables optimisation of production and distribution operations. This brings real benefits when organisations have to deal with demand peaks such as Black Friday and Christmas. Automated logistics systems, analytics and AI combine to give warehouse operators unprecedented real-time information to aid decision making. Rapid order processing also allows later order cut-off times, which enhance the customer experience and help to grow market share. For example, the automation we provided to The Very Group at its Skygate DC in Derby means that orders can be ready for dispatch in 30 minutes or less.

What exhibitions can we expect to see your company exhibiting at in 2024?

We will exhibit at the Robotics and Automation show at the NEC (19-20 March), which is co-located with IntraLogisteX. On the international stage, KNAPP will exhibit at MODEX in Atlanta (11-14 March), LogiMAT in Stuttgart (19-21 March), CeMAT in Australia (23-25 July) and Logistica in Utrecht (5-7 November).

How would you sum up your company in three words?

We use four words: Value Chain Tech Partner.

KNAPP UK LTD

01865 965000

sales.uk@knapp.com

www.knapp.com

 

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