Since the beginning of 2007 paper merchant Antalis has been rationalising its warehouse truck fleet to standardise on just two suppliers, one of which is Atlet. During this time Atlet has delivered more than 70 trucks to various sites throughout the UK.
“We want our suppliers to be partners and our relationship with Atlet is excellent,” says Robert Potter, central distribution & service manager at Antalis, which has 19 sites in the UK including the 250,000 sq ft HQ and central distribution centre at Interlink, Coalville and facilities in Leeds, Livingston and Dartford.
A review of operations towards the end of 2006 led Antalis to identify a requirement for two suppliers. The first result was that during 2007 Atlet supplied 35 trucks for use at Interlink, almost half the total number currently on site, low and mid-level order pickers, powered pallet transporters and a specially designed battery changeover solution. A further 36 trucks have been supplied to the other sites.
The supply chain model employed by Antalis means that the Interlink central distribution warehouse is critical to the company’s ability to meet its delivery targets and the performance of the other sites. The majority of items in the warehouse are paper, card, packaging or foam based products. Most items are stored in conventional pallet racking but the nature of the business means that fast moving stock lines and oversized items are often bulk or block stacked. Picking is normally completed at first or second level using the low and medium level order pickers in conjunction with the powered pallet transporters. Reach and high level order picking trucks are used for general handling and replenishment.
