Toolbank look to Conveyor Systems to streamline order picking process
Toolbank, one of the UK’s leading distributor of hand and powered tools, take pride in the wide range of its stock profile and the high levels of availability and customer service. With increasing sales and a determination to maintain its promise of next day delivery, Toolbank appointed Conveyor Systems Ltd to streamline the labour intensive order picking process and flow of product from stores located on three floor levels, through to packaging and despatch from their NDC at Halesowen.
After considering a number of options that would provide versatility, flexibility and future proofing, CSL presented its system proposals using their latest 3D CAD service that enables the customer to evaluate design concepts in terms of throughputs and product sortation.
Tote handling conveyor
The new system was designed to reduce manual handling, improve order picking efficiency, and increase productivity by enabling staff to place products directly into totes for transportation to a central packing area. On the upper floor, slower-moving items are picked into totes and moved via a powered roller conveyor for batch picking. Totes from both the upper and middle floors use the same conveyor system, optimizing space. On the middle floor, regular product lines are picked into totes and placed on the conveyor, which runs alongside the mezzanine.
Ground floor orders are picked and placed onto a 12m inclined conveyor, merging with the middle floor conveyor. CSL also installed offices and a mezzanine to create a dedicated packing area. Completed orders are transported by a zero-pressure accumulation conveyor to the packing area, which accommodates up to 16 personnel.
After packing, orders are sent to a spiral elevator that transports them to the ground floor for marshalling and sorting by van route. CSL collaborated with Toolbank to minimize disruption during installation.
Phil Corby, Logistics Director for Toolbank, praised CSL’s energy-efficient, flexible system, highlighting its user-friendly controls and reliability. Following the success of this installation at the Halesowen NDC, Toolbank plans to install similar systems at other locations.
