Batch picking and sortation system for online department store Wehkamp
Wehkamp, the online department store in the Netherlands, is a customer of Vanderlande Industries since 1989 when they ordered the first cross belt sorter of Vanderlande Industries. Their batch picking and sortation system has been running successfully since then in their DC in Dedemsvaart. The system enables Wehkamp to deliver 5 mio. orders per year within 24 hours from a total assortment of 55.000 articles.
Order picking is executed by pick car and done in batches. The batches are grouped into one big batch before forwarded to packing. From a conveyor system the flow is inducted to a cross belt sorter by two induct belts. On a peakday the sortation capacity is around 80.000 items. The cross belt sorter can sort items to 4 different areas with chutes. After being sorted into the chute and released the operator packs the items and transfers the order to a despatch conveyor. This conveyor forwards orders to the shipping area and orders are sorted with a shipping sorter to their postal region.
An important characteristic of the online business is a high percentage returns. This return flow of 30% of the shipped items is also handled in the DC in Dedemsvaart.
