On line for success

WH SMITH ONLINE, multi-channel retailer, has chosen Logan Fabricom to
provide a goods in and picking materials handling system for its new online distribution centre in Cowley, Oxford, a facility which is enhancing the company’s direct fulfilment capabilities.
The company’s move to the new distribution centre follows rapid growth in customer orders received via WH Smith Online’s new shopping channels such as WH Smith on Open interactive television, Telewest, BT’s Easicom ‘phone system, WAP ‘phones and through the introduction of online shopping in WH Smith stores.
The new system, which went live in May this year, is handling the immediate fulfilment of online customer orders, many of which will arrive the following day. Logan Fabricom worked to a very tight timeframe, from receipt of order to successful delivery and installation of the system. According to Stuart Rivett, WH Smith Online operations director, the new facility will expand and improve the overall service to ‘NH Smith Online customers. He says, “Online customers expect lightning fast delivery, which is why we have invested in systems that will meet their
expectations. Our ultimate goal is to provide our online shoppers with the same feeling of satisfaction they would get if they walked into one of our high street stores and walked out with the book or product of their choice. We have been most impressed with the performance of the system and Logan Fabricom and feel the support we have received will help us achieve our targets.” The new warehouse, which will initially stock over 25,000 stock titles of books, CDs and videos, features state-of-the-art radio frequency technology including finger ring scanners and hands-free scanners, which are designed to increase productivity and accuracy within the fulfilment process. The available warehouse space will. increase stocking and shipping capacities to more than 12 times the current level.
Logan Fabricom was commissioned to supply and install a system that could handle a wide range of items, including CDs and books and multiple orders in plastic tote boxes measuring 615 mm x 420mm x 100mm and weighing up to around 10 kg. The Logan Fabricom solution was delivered in four discreet sub-systems – goods in to consolidated store; goods in to stock store; picking of bulk orders to packing and picking of single item
orders to packing. Featured are a range of standard Logan Fabricom conveyors incorporated into an ergonomically agreed two-tier arrangement, which was fully tested at Logan’s factory in Hull. The company’s in-house controls division, FCA, supplied a fully integrated PLC-based controls system using Mitsubishi PLCs with an E100 text display unit mounted on the door of the control panel to provide operators and maintenance staff with fault indication. In addition, a portable hand-held control station can be plugged into the control system at various points around the conveyors to give manual control.
The system also incorporates an automatic build-back shutdown, so that if operators are not available to deal with goods as they arrive along the conveyors the system automatically stops and restarts when the backlog clears.
Blll Valentine, business development manager, Logan Fabricom, adds, “‘NH Smith Online also receives full back up support for the system as it has no technical staff located at the new distribution centre. The support package includes recommended on-site spares, annual service visits and full back up, including on-site attendance within four hours if required.”