Kiabi, an apparel manufacturer based in northern France, has selected Dematic to provide a fully automated picking system. Dematic, a US-based firm, design and build automated solutions for organisations in the manufacturing, warehousing, and distribution industries.
The contract requires Dematic to install a system initially consisting of ’12 multi-shuttle lanes equipped with ergonomic goods-to-person (GTP) stations and a cutting-edge handling system’ in one of Kiabi’s facilities.
The site is in the French town of Lauwin-Planque and covers over 215,000ft2. Dematic will use its technology to supplement the existing system of automation installed by Manhattan Associates when the warehouse opened in 2009.
Alain Bussod, President of Dematic France, believes this is an opportunity for the company to demonstrate its ability to “integrate and interface with tools already in place on the retailer’s logistics flagship”.
Work on the new omni-channel order preparation unit is scheduled to begin immediately and is set to be completed in 2024.
Marine Pomart, Kiabi’s Supply Chain Director, believes the new system will have a significant impact on supply chain efficiency, saying: “This new installation means that we can increase our preparation and distribution capacities five-fold for our web and local collections in Northern Europe.”
