S&S Activewear strengthens Korber collaboration, expands Geekplus robotics deployment
American apparel wholesaler looks to enhance warehouse efficiency
S&S Activewear (S&S), a wholesale apparel company, announced the expansion of its partnership with Körber Business Area Supply Chain and deployment of Geekplus robotics offerings at three warehouse sites across the Americas.
The collaboration enables S&S to optimize on-site staff, order quality and delivery efficiencies to meet the surging demands of a rapidly evolving market, according to the companies.
Integration has improved S&S performance
“Innovation is a core tenet of S&S’s decades-long history in the wholesale apparel industry,” said Brian Beale, CTO for S&S. “Advancing our warehouse operations with Körber and Geekplus’s robotics and automation expertise has been a natural and impactful evolution in our technology journey. Our customers deserve a seamless experience from order to fulfillment and we’re excited about the increased efficiencies we’re already seeing through our collaboration with Körber.”
The partnership commenced with the deployment of 340 Geekplus robots at a single, 750,000 sq. ft. S&S site in Lockport, Ill., marking the largest collaboration in Körber's robotics portfolio.
“Warehouse technology is at the core of Körber’s expertise, and we look forward to expanding our partnership with S&S,” said Sean Elliott, CTO and acting CEO, Software, Körber Business Area Supply Chain. “Our robotics solutions are designed to scale with the speed and size of business, optimizing warehouse operations so organizations can focus on value-driven activities to support larger business goals.”
A key aspect of this expansion is the implementation of Geekplus’s PopPick robotics offering, aimed at optimizing warehouse processes. These robots play a major role in efficiently moving inventory stored in totes to pick stations. The system incorporates autonomous mobility and slotting of inventory, facilitating an efficient flow within the warehouse environment.
Since the inception of the partnership, S&S Activewear has witnessed impressive successes, according to the companies. The system is designed to support more than 4,500 lines per hour through 24 picking stations, and has proven its effectiveness in enhancing speed and efficiency in warehouse operations as well as order fulfillment and quality assurance.
“Our longstanding partnership with Körber has been crucial in bringing our revolutionary solutions to a wider audience,” said Randy Randolph, director of channel partner sales at Geekplus. “This deployment with S&S highlights the huge impact of our mobile robots in helping retailers meet the crush of e-commerce orders while improving quality and efficiency.”
