Due to enter the warehouse automation market in early August, 4Automation, has already secured its first project. The enterprise, established by a consortium of automation specialists, will be upgrading and extending a picking operation at the Leicester-based distribution centre of APAC – a leading UK importer and distributor of floristry, wedding, party and horticultural products. 
Operating out of a purpose built 120,000 sq ft facility, accommodating over 11000 stock lines, APAC handle more than 300,000 items per day at peak, distributing mainly to UK supermarkets, large multiple retailers, growers, garden centres and to the wholesale trade. APAC also ships products to Europe. Due to a growing product range and expanding customer base, APAC has had to increase its warehouse capacity by installing a new 4-floor mezzanine structure to augment their pick operation. With stock stored on each floor of the mezzanine, 4Automation has been tasked with upgrading APAC’s existing conveyor system and extending it by installing a carton conveyor solution, belt conveyors and a custom lift.
“Our customers rely on us to provide an efficient and accurate pick service,” said APAC’s Kevin MacKay. “Across the large range of products and stock holding that we have, this means that we need to move goods around our warehouse as efficiently as possible. We selected 4Automation for this project as they not only responded quickly to our initial online enquiry, they understood our requirements, in particular being able to work to a very tight timeline. They were also competitively priced.”
The upgrading and extension of APAC’s picking operation is scheduled to take place in August.
Commenting on the project, 4Automation’s marketing director, Shaun Graham, said: “We are delighted to be working with APAC on this project. Given the throughput of products at their DC, the efficiency of their picking operation is vital. We’re really looking forward to installing our solution, increasing their productivity and being part of their ongoing success.”
To find out more about 4Automation visit: https://www.4automation.co.uk/
