Flowtech offers next-day delivery of more than 26,000 product lines. When it planned to enlarge its existing warehousing facility to provide a new 7,000sq m. international distribution centre at Skelmersdale, Lancashire, its key objective was to offer an even faster service on delivery of stock items. Next-day delivery became a literal promise – on-line orders for stock items received up to midnight were to be delivered the next day.
This new target, plus a range of other initiatives designed to improve and speed up response to customer requirements, dictated that the logistics systems must be super-efficient and totally reliable.
Rack-N-Stak recommended the new Still MX 15-3 order picker/stacker machine to operate in the high-bay racking stores, with the STILL EK-12 high-level order picker for the general warehouse areas. A Still FM Rider reach truck and HP hand pallet truck supplement the order picking activity in the general warehouse areas, including the goods inwards and despatch areas.
When the order picking equipment for the expanded warehouse came to be specified, it was clear that its role would be pivotal in enabling Flowtech to honour its next-day order delivery guarantee. Rack-N-Stak’s ability to supply on hire a Still MX15-4 order picker/stacker immediately, while the MX 15-3 was on order was a major factor in Flowtech selecting Still. This hire machine proved so successful that Flowtech decided to keep it permanently, and it was purchased along with the MX 15-3 and the EK-12.
