Bar coding company ExPD Limited
has been instrumental in helping Littlewoods, one of
the UK's leading catalogue shopping operations, to speed
up handling of its packages doubling output by introducing
industrial scanners, the HoloTrak IS8300.
The
installation of the industrial scanners was undertaken by
EXPD Online Systems based in Bedfordshire, in conjunction
with Littlewoods applications engineers. This division of
ExPD specialise in conveying and sortation systems designed
to meet the growing demand for higher throughput with greater
accuracy and in installing and commissioning a complete range
of bar code products.
The
introduction of the IS8300 means that Littlewoods distribution
facility, based in Oldham near Manchester, is now capable
of handling over 50 million packages per year. Originally
equipped with hand held scanners the centre has increased
productivity by almost double and is now able to handle 1,500
packages per hour in comparison with the 800 per hour that
the hand-helds could manage. Given the high throughput of
packages being processed through the distribution centre,
the number of hand-held scanners and scanner cables being
damaged was quite significant, but having the HoloTrak's
mounted above the conveyors, the problems have been rectified.
By
converting from a hand scanning manual process to a more
automated conveyor scanning system, Littlewoods is also realising
the training of their work force has been simplified.
Dave Biggin, Project Manager, Littlewoods, commented, "We
are delighted with the results of the Metrologic scanning equipment.
We have moved our operations on to a different level of speed,
accuracy, and reliability. This additional order will enable
us to remove the last of our hand held scanners and we will
then standardise our operations using Holotrak scanners."
Chris
Denton, Managing Director of EXPD Online Systems, says "By
reacting quickly to the request by Littlewoods for an evaluation
of the HoloTrak IS8300, we were able to work with our supplier,
Metrologic, to fulfil their requirements for a comprehensive
scanning solution"