S&S Activewear Leans on Robots for Warehouse Automation
S&S Activewear is getting a little help from its robot friends, leaning on automated solutions to tackle warehouse operations. Through an expanded partnership with Körber Supply Chain, the distributor has introduced Geekplus robotics solutions at three Americas warehouse sites. S&S says leaning into this technology allows it to optimize on-site staff, order quality, and delivery in a demanding market.
“Innovation is a core tenet of S&S’s decades-long history in the apparel industry,” said S&S Chief Technology Officer Brian Beale in a press release. “Advancing our warehouse operations with Körber and Geekplus’ 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.”
Seamless Fulfillment
The deployment of 340 Geekplus robots at a 750,000-sq.-ft. warehouse in Lockport, Illinois, marks the largest collaboration in Körber’s robotics portfolio. This includes Geekplus’ PopPick robotics solutions, which help move inventory stored in totes to pick stations. The system incorporates autonomous mobility and slotting of inventory, promoting seamless, efficient workflow within warehouses.
“Warehouse solutions are a core area of Körber’s expertise, and we look forward to expanding our partnership with S&S,” added Sean Elliott, chief technology officer and acting CEO of software, Körber Business Area Supply Chain. “Our robotics offerings are designed to scale with the speed and size of business, optimizing warehouse operations so organizations can focus on value-driven activities to support the larger overall goals.”
The system, able to support over 4,500 lines per hour through 24 picking stations, has proven valuable for S&S. The distributor recently received a customer award from Körber at the 2024 Elebate Conference for the company’s “outstanding achievements in facility optimization.”
“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,” said Randy Randolph, director of channel partner sales at Geekplus.
With demand for efficiencies at an all-time high and a struggling labor force, S&S Activewear isn’t the only wholesaler leaning on robotic solutions. Promotional product and apparel distributor alphabroder and apparel manufacturer BELLA+CANVAS have both implemented robotics into their warehouse workflows to help with fulfillment and order picking.
From AI and design to business management and print production, there’s plenty to explore on the topic of automation for the apparel and printing industry.
