City Link to automate Coventry hub
City Link, the UK’s express parcel carrier is investing in a new state-of-the-art automated sortation system at its hub in Coventry. The new system, representing a seven figure investment, is being supplied by Caljan Rite Hite Ltd. It will increase throughput at the national hub by up to 50%, enabling the business to flex up to meet the demands of e-commerce traffic growth.
The automated system will occupy less than a quarter of the floor space at its 150,000 sq foot hub with no impact on the current manual sortation or cross docking operation – which are key to City Link’s operational flexibility, allowing bulkier freight and fragile items to be processed alongside standard items.
Installation of the new equipment is due to commence in May and the system will become fully operational in early July. And once completed, the operation will still operate a caged, flexible and secure sortation but will also have improved throughput, fewer mis-sorts, better tracking information and an improved volumetric measurement capability. To further increase flexibility City Link’s sortation system has been designed to allow the processing of larger freight, up to 1.5m in length, through an innovative double deck design.
Security will also remain paramount, as each item goes through the sortation process an image will be taken, supplemented by a 360 degree security camera which provides a total view of every consignment as it goes through the system.
City Link’s Processing & Linehaul Director Bob Powner commented: “This is a massive step forward for City Link and one which for me is one of the most exciting operational developments we have made in recent years.
“Not only will it enable us to further improve the security and reliability we provide to our customers on a daily basis, but it will also provide us with flexible additional capacity at peak periods, when the pressure of consumer volumes can mean carriers aren’t always able to meet the year-round service expected by their business customers.
“Having the ability to provide our customers with both an automated and manual sortation system is a powerful proposition and one which will place us at the forefront of the parcels delivery marketplace.”
This development comes just 12 months after City Link’s acquisition by Better Capital and is the latest in a series of enhancements which are designed to improve the business’s service and proposition to its customers. These include the launch of the ‘On Our Way’ service, an improved International offering, enhancements to customer reporting & parcel tracking and major investments in all aspects of the company’s IT infrastructure and vehicle fleet.
