The contract to design and install automated material handling systems at Marks & Spencer’s national distribution centre in Bradford has been awarded to KNAPP.
 
The DC – which is due to go live in Spring 2016 – will feature a high level of automation for goods-in, decanting, storage, picking and dispatch, with KNAPP’s OSR ShuttleTM technology forming the heart of the intralogistics systems. This automated storage and retrieval system, which features transport shuttles on every level of the store, will serve KNAPP’s ergonomically designed Pick-it-Easy workstations.
 
“We are absolutely delighted to have been selected by M&S for this contract,” said Craig Rollason, managing director of KNAPP UK. “The new facility in Bradford will feature state-of-the-art warehousing technology and we very much hope that this project will be the start of a long and mutually beneficial partnership with M&S.”
 
The contract also includes the provision of a team of resident KNAPP engineers on site at the DC to ensure system availability through comprehensive preventative maintenance routines and immediate response to any issues.