Manufacturer makes major investment into AI warehouse
A £15m investment has been made by Workwear Uniform Group (WWUGL), to create a fully-automated warehousing and distribution system.
Boasting £100m annual turnover, WWUGL was formed in 2021 after Direct Corporate Clothing (DCC) acquired Incorporatewear to become the largest independent workwear, uniform and personal protective equipment business in the UK.
The AutoStore technology is set to rapidly increase the speed that items are picked and dispatched and in turn will improve the quality of customer service and significantly reduce carbon emissions.
The first phase of the development has been completed at the group’s Oldbury headquarters and forms part of an investment programme which aims to double turnover over the next five years.
Previously, the two businesses occupied three logistics sites totalling 180,000 sq ft of space.
WWUGL has developed one of those sites at Oldbury into a super hub and appointed Dematic as the development partner. 60 robots are now working from nine picking stations.
Sam Sohal
Sam Sohal, CEO of WWUGL said: “We are investing in new technologies and innovations to drive our industry growth, whilst reducing our carbon footprint.
“Not only does this unique development help us as market leaders by providing our customers with the best possible delivery of goods, but it also allows us to get the maximum use of space and still have room to double our business with a new system that is more efficient and accurate in our overall stock management.
“In addition, the AutoStore system will reduce our CO2 footprint and energy consumption to help meet our goal of being carbon neutral by 2025.”
The project’s second phase, which includes software functionality and connecting conveyor, is due for completion in the second quarter of 2024.
