SDI Group UK’s network of more than 60 service and maintenance engineers now support many sites across the UK for key customers including TNT, Primark, ASDA, TK Maxx, Monsoon, Matalan, WH Smith and QVC.
Monsoon
The 256,000 sq ft Distribution Centre in Wellingborough handles clothing, footwear and accessories for Monsoon and Accessorize stores within the UK. The automated materials handling solution was designed and installed by SDI Group UK and went live in October 2007.
SDI Group UK provides a complete maintenance solution at the Distribution Centre for both automation equipment and site infrastructure. Full-time engineering support is provided to cover a three-shift operation to minimise any unplanned stoppages. Scheduled work takes place in strict maintenance windows to ensure that operational downtime is less than four hours each week.
Matalan
The 320,000 sq ft Distribution Centre in Corby serves more than 70 Matalan stores in the south of England, handling a diverse range of clothing and non-clothing ranges. Towards the end of 2005, SDI Group UK completed the installation of a high throughput automated storage and sortation system for both hanging garment and boxed goods.
SDI Group UK provides a flexible maintenance programme that has three engineers and an apprentice working at the site at all times. The service covers the maintenance needs of the installed storage and sortation solution and an existing high-bay automated storage and retrieval system, as well as site infrastructure. Utilising clever scheduling the engineering team reduces operational impact by maintaining equipment during planned periods of downtime.
WH Smiths
The 230,000 sq ft Distribution Centre in Swindon handles books, CDs, DVDs, Videos and all stationery products for onward delivery to stores. The automated sortation solution – not originally installed by SDI Group UK – utilises 15 induct stations with 600 output chutes and is capable of processing up to 30,000 items per hour.
SDI Group UK provides a full maintenance programme for all material handling equipment at the facility, with a technical manager and six engineers covering a 24-hour, five-day operation with additional weekend support where required. This dedicated team has also project-managed necessary refurbishment work including software upgrades for the sortation equipment, as well as scanner upgrades and conveyor changes.
Primark
The Primark National Distribution Centre in Lutterworth, Leicestershire, handles boxed and hanging goods for the retailer’s stores across the UK. The one million sq ft, three-building facility, houses a complex automated solution – installed by SDI Group UK in 2006 – that has a mixture of components including, pallet conveyors, carton conveyors, goods on hangers conveyors, shuttle cars, a tilt tray sorter and loading and unloading booms.
SDI Group UK provides 24/7 cover using a dedicated 11-strong engineering team, which provides total planned maintenance of all automated systems and immediate response to any unforeseen breakdowns. Since working at the site, the maintenance team has enhanced the original design of the hanging system, allowing greater throughput with less downtime for the customer, as well developing a number of cost saving initiatives for Primark.
