Innovative interfloor belt conveyor system helps Superdry
Materials handling specialist, LB Foster, has designed and manufactured interfloor belt conveyors together with an innovative dunnage belt and chute system for Clipper’s new Burton on Trent distribution centre (DC).
The Burton DC handles the full range of multichannel distribution solutions for SuperGroup’s famous brand, Superdry. Its floor space of 350,000 sq ft is supplemented by a further 200,000 sq ft of mezzanine on three floors. Almost all of the products stored are flat packed in cartons and therefore an interfloor belt conveyor was required to move the cartons from the ground floor to and from the three tier mezzanine.
There was also a requirement for a dunnage belt and chute system which would remove all of the waste cardboard from each floor and transport it outside the building to a compactor.
Phil Houghton is the Business Implementation Manager for Clipper in charge of this project, he invited a number of companies to tender for this important materials handling contract before awarding it to LB Foster.
“There were three key factors that influenced my decision to appoint LB Foster Materials Handling – cost, specification and previous knowledge,” he explains. “This is the third major project that the company has completed for Clipper so I was confident that they would be able to give us the right level of support.
“This was a very aggressive installation with a short time span so our suppliers had to be very fluid. LB Foster demonstrated their flexibility, working closely with our mezzanine supplier, making design changes and resupplying drawings as required.
“I’m more than satisfied now that the conveyor and dunnage systems are fully installed – it has been a great project,” concludes Houghton.
