Sporting goods retailer Intersport has called in TGW Logistics Group to design and install an automated warehousing system to support its expansion in Poland.
Intersport has a retail turnover of 9.3 billion euros and more than 5,200 associated retailers in 38 countries. In Poland, the company currently operates 31 stores and is opening new stores at a rate of between two to five per year, as well as growing its e-commerce sales.
To accommodate this growth, the company commissioned a 2,600 sq m distribution centre in Cholerzyn near Krakow, to handle the storage and distribution of more than 50,000 SKUs, from small sports equipment to oversize goods.
TGW designed, installed and commissioned an automated storage and retrieval system that facilitates the replenishment of goods at picking workstations. 17,600 tote storage locations are served by three TGW Mustang mini-load ASR machines, each equipped with combi-telescopic load handling devices for double-deep retrieval of totes from the racking.
Due to the high storage densities, the automated facility occupies a footprint of just 600 sq m.
In addition to the automated warehouse, the centre also contains a 1,200 pallet space facility for the storage and picking of larger items.
Activity and inventory within both facilities is controlled by TGW’s CI_LOG warehouse management system, which is fully interfaced with Intersport’s SAP ERP system. Staff in the automated facility fulfil multiple orders simultaneously using system-directed pick-to-light technology, while hand held RF terminals are used to direct and record activity in the pallet storage operation.
