Knapp supplies logistics solution at Clarks’ DC

Published: January 30, 2012

Shoe supplier Clarks, has announced that the material handling systems at its new logistics facility in Hanover, Pennsylvania, will be supplied by warehouse automation provider, Knapp.

The new distribution centre will be located opposite the company’s current facility, with the logistics solution designed and installed by Knapp Logistics Automation Inc, the Austrian group’s US subsidiary. This order follows on from a successful collaboration with Knapp since the company installed the handling system at Clarks’ worldwide headquarters in Street, Somerset, in 2005.

The materials handling system will use technology capable of handling volumes of up to 50 million pairs of shoes annually to support growing demand from customers and retailers in the US. The new building – which will be 451,000 square feet (almost 42,000 square metres) and approaching 25m in height – is expected to be occupied by the end of 2012.

To ensure efficient operations and ergonomic material handling from unloading through to shipping, the new facility will feature the latest Knapp technology. At the core of the new handling system will be Knapp’s OSR Shuttle system, used for goods-to-person picking, buffering, storage and sequencing. This solution offers an optimal combination of storage density, speed and reliability, making it ideal for Clarks’ current and growing business demands.

Commented Len Bucher, Vice President of Logistics for Clarks NA: “During the design and selection process, Knapp’s innovative solution combined with their willingness to work with the Clarks team were key items that allowed them to differentiate their company from other vendors.” Josef Mentzer, chief operating officer for Knapp Logistics Automation Inc, said: “Based on a uniquely different concept, our solution utilised Knapp’s extensive engineering expertise and broad technology portfolio to create a flexible, progressive system to support Clarks’ order processes and future growth.”