Sports fashion retailer JD Sports has taken delivery of an automated packaging system at its new distribution centre in Derby, following the “successful” installation of a similar solution in Rochdale.
In 2021, the retailer invested in machinery to automatically create made-to-measure boxes for online orders at its 616,000ft² distribution centre at Kingsway Business Park in Rochdale, Greater Manchester.
Now, a similar solution will be implemented in JD Sports’ 514,000ft² fulfilment centre in Derby. While the machine in Rochdale – Sparck Technologies’ CVP Impack – can pack 500 boxes per hour, the new system that’s arrived in Derby – the CVP Everest – is “capable of creating and boxing 1,100 single or multiple-item orders per hour”.
Paul Stokes, head of automation and engineering at JD Sports, said: “Having experienced the speed, reliability, and performance of Sparck Technologies’ CVP Impack machine at our Rochdale distribution centre, we are confident that right-size boxing technology is a key capability for the future – offering major benefits in fulfilling e-commerce orders in a cost-efficient and sustainable way.”
Sparck Technologies claims that its automated packaging systems reduce package volumes by up to 50%, cutting cardboard usage by 30%, and eliminating the need for void fill.
Using machines like these to create tailored packaging can deliver serious benefits to a company’s logistics operations. Firstly, it means that less packaging materials need to be used which reduces costs as well as wastage. Reducing the environmental impact of packaging is a key part of the JD Group’s ESG strategy.
Secondly, by making sure that each box is no bigger than it needs to be, more space can be freed up in transit so, ultimately, fewer trips should have to be made to distribute orders. Again, this cuts costs through a reduction in the necessary fuel consumption while also reducing carbon emissions.
The JD Group has set a target of reducing Scope One, Two and Three emissions by 67.2% in 2035/36 from a 2019/20 baseline.
The first-ever Robotics & Automation Awards will be recognising innovation in the use of robotics and automation in packaging applications through the Innovation in Packaging Automation category. Interested in attending this unmissable event for the robotics and automation sectors? Book your table now!
