Calendar Club, Europe’s biggest calendar seller, is now using a conveying solution from CI Logistics, a Leicester-based materials handling specialist. The system will help the firm increase its output to 100,000 calendars a day during the peak season prior to the Christmas holidays.
Calendar Club’s new warehouse and distribution centre in Exeter received a custom design for its operational needs. The 129,407 sq. ft. building features an automated conveyor system with four 30m long roller conveyor picking lines with dunnage belts above. These are connected to the main conveyor in order to deliver all products to the despatch location. Extra despatch points are available and can be used in the future to continue increasing output on an as-needed basis.
This design offers Calendar Club conveyor operators a way to pick the products they need from either side of the four picking lines. The operators can quickly dispose of wrapping and empty boxes by placing them onto the dunnage belts above each conveyor line. The enhanced package disposal process has increased productivity and allowed operators to achieve the new output objectives.
At the request of Calendar Club, the new conveyor system design from CI Logistics includes some of the company’s existing conveyor system. CI Logistics had the expertise to understand where new parts were needed and how the systems could be integrated to accomplish all the operational goals. While Calendar Club operators installed the conveyors, it was the CI Logistics team that commissioned it as well as designed the conveyor system’s control mechanisms.
In explaining the improvements made by CI Logistics to the Calendar Club distribution process, Gee Barrett, Calendar Club’s Warehouse Manager, noted, “We had been using a conveyor in our previous warehouse, but it was only partially motorised and lacking in scope for our new operation.”
A number of factors led to the selection of CI Logistics from the four companies that tendered for this project. Barrett explains, “We had already formed a strong relationship with them from a previous installation they had completed for us. They demonstrated that they really understood what we wanted – not something standard or off the shelf, but a bespoke system.”
However, it wasn’t just the relationship and understanding of the project that won the day. CI not only offered Calendar Club very cost effective and favourable financial terms, but also it was able to meet a very tight schedule which included working over a bank holiday period.
Barrett continues, “We installed the conveyors ourselves and then CI Logistics came in and commissioned it for us. They also designed the control system for the entire operation which works perfectly. We can even add extra despatch points if necessary, because they have built in sufficient future proofing.
CI logistics has worked hard to give us exactly what we want. It’s a good company with helpful staff who are always willing to offer advice when we need it.”
October 2011
About CI Logistics:
Headquartered in Leicester, UK, CI Logistics is a market-leading supplier and manufacturer of quality materials handling, conveyor systems and storage systems. The company supplies equipment, including overhead conveyors, floor conveyors, garment conveyors and storage systems to an international customer base. CI Logistics also has an in-house electrical controls design and build service to develop innovative solutions for all material handling challenges. For more information, visit www.conveyors.co.uk.
About Calendar Club:
Launched in 2003, Calendar Club is a retail operation that specialises in 2,700 types of calendars and related merchandise. The retailer focuses its sales efforts on the Christmas season through 300 temporary Calendar Club shops and shopping mall kiosks throughout the UK as well as through its online store. For more information, visit www.calendarclub.co.uk.
Address: CI Logistics, 43 Wenlock Way, Troon Industrial Area, Leicester
LE4 9HU
Tel: 0116 276 1691
Web: www.conveyors.co.uk
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Leapfrog Marketing on 0116 278 7788 or email jane@leapfrog.uk.com