Next plc has developed rapidly in recent years. New business areas, growing sales channels, increased requirements and rising demand in the eCommerce market. Next therefore aimed to improve its warehouse efficiency and save on staff and decided to make its existing DC “Elmsall Drive” system more efficient. Split Tray” became “AutoPocket^®”: the solution is specifically designed to simplify the complex requirements of high throughput warehouses and reduce the processing time of customer orders. This ensures smooth and fast delivery to the end customer.

The diverse challenges in the post and parcel industry with regard to the size, weight and shape variance of the items to be sorted push conventional flat sorters to their limits. The use of an AutoPocket system significantly expands the range of items that can be sorted. Cylindrical, light and bulky parcels and packages can be safely transported and sorted in the AutoPocket.

At the height of the e-commerce boom, Matalan took a decisive step forward. In 2020, the company commissioned its first DFT EcoPocket^® pocket sorter, creating the technological foundation for its future transformation. Just ten months after the contract was signed, Matalan launched its first fully automated system in 2021: a milestone that significantly boosted efficiency and reinforced confidence in comprehensive automation.