Harrods has appointed SSI Schaefer to fit-out its new 240,000 sq ft distribution centre at Thatcham near Newbury.
The retailer is currently relocating its entire warehouse operations to Berkshire from its existing site at Osterley in West London. It aims to be fully operational at the site, known as TVDC by mid-2012.
The new warehouse will hold some 10,000 product lines while many more SKUs will be cross-docked and delivered to the Knightsbridge store continually throughout the day from its convenient location off the M4.
SSI Schaefer has installed narrow aisle pallet racking, and is designing, supplying and installing am integrated and automated storage, handling and picking system.
The system will comprise a four aisle mini-load cranes system, transport, replenishment and picking conveyors, automated goods to man workstations with pick by light technology, medium item shelving, man up order picking in very narrow aisle pallet racking to 12 metres, unique big ticket high bay racking integrated with special large product order picker machines, process area workstations for inbound stock handling and outbound store preparation, 10,000 store delivery totes and handling equipment.
Simon Finch, deputy director, distribution at Harrods, said: “From the outset of this project we were looking for a turnkey supplier that could project manage the entire fit-out of the warehouse, and we found this in SSI Schaefer. Their expertise in systems integration, design, installation, delivery and on-going service and maintenance support proved to be a winning formula for such a relocation project of this size.”
SSI Schaefer has been given responsibility for implementing SAP’s latest warehouse management software, EWM (Extended Warehouse Management) at the new centre.
