A parcel sorting machine has been introduced at a sorting centre operated by Bpostgroup (Bpost) in Antwerp.
It is hoped the machine will transform Antwerp X from a regional to a national sorting centre, with the new machine reportedly more than doubling sorting capacity from 9,000 to 20,000 parcels per hour.
The machine is equipped with a modern 360-degree scanner, which is designed to scan the barcode even when it is located on the bottom or side of the parcel. The scanner registers the weight and size of each parcel, as well as the destination.
Jos Donvil, CEO, Bpost: ”Parcel volumes have still to stop growing and the peaks we hit during the end-of-year period grow year on year. To be able to handle the growth investing in a new sorting machine was essential.
“We have worked on this project for five years and we obviously set ourselves the target of hitting milestones ahead of the busy periods so we could support our customers in the best possible way.
“The investment in the Antwerp X sorting centre shows bpost’s ambition to be the preferred partner in e-commerce logistics, while also giving due consideration to the development and work environment of our employees.”
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Equipped with 160 chutes to transfer parcels in containers for 400 different destinations, the new machine is expected to handle much larger volumes, meaning the sorting centre can now serve addresses outside the Antwerp region.
What’s more, the machine is equipped with an automated brake function on the chutes to reduce the risk of damage to parcels. The four additional extendable input conveyers, which can be extended right into the truck, mean customers can drop off parcels in bulk at Antwerp X straight from the truck, eliminating the need for pallets or containers.
Larger formats can also be sorted using the machine, reducing the number of parcels requiring manual sorting.
During the busy end-of-year period, the PSM is expected to run at full capacity to meet the needs of all customers.
According to Bpost, parcels sorted per day are normally between 75,000 and 95,000; in peak periods this can range between 130,000 and 200,000.
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