February 2002

Freemans, part of the Otto home shopping group, says it has "revolutionised" the returns picking operation at its distribution centre in Peterborough by introducing a system that allows returned stock to be placed randomly into barcoded, mixed-stock totes. The computer controlling the system keeps a record of the tote allocation, allowing instant retrieval when the items are needed.

The new system is built round 140 aisles of Linpac's Apex Longspan shelving, and was developed by Linpac Materials Handling and Linpac Storage Systems. It replaces a storage bin-based returns handling system, in which stock had to be placed in unique static locations.

The co-existence of plastic and cardboard containers is seen as a key attraction of the new system. Altogether 70,000 plastics totes and up to 70,000 cardboard cartons are used.

 

The 120,000 sq m Peterborough warehouse processes 100,000 items a day for 30,000 orders, and handles up to 40,000 returns.