ASOS invests in second pocket sorter from KNAPP

Online fashion retailer is investing in a KNAPP pocket sorter at its Berlin distribution centre.

The pocket sortation solution is combined with a hanging goods system. Each pocket has space for all the items as they would fit into a shopping bag.

The pocket sorter system uses an algorithm to sort randomly picked items into an exact sequence. Flat-packed and hanging goods are consolidated at one of 200 packing stations in the sequence needed for dispatch.

“At the pack stations, we only provide the items that belong to one individual customer order for picking from the pockets,” said executive vice president of KNAPP AG, Heimo Robosch. “The streamlining of all processes results in a reduction in costs as well as an optimized transit time, both crucial to e-commerce businesses.”

This investment follows the use of the pocket sortation system at ASOS’s UK distribution centre in Barnsley. The solution was engineered by KNAPP subsidiary, Dürkopp Fördertechnik in 2014 and has been continuously expanded over the years.