MoD targets huge savings with warehouse revamp

Automated materials handling solutions specialist TGW Logistics has completed the automated warehousing solution for the Ministry of Defence's new logistics hub, which has been officially opened alongside MoD Donnington near Telford by Defence Minister Harriet Baldwin.

Completed on time and within budget, the £83 million Defence Fulfilment Centre is an 80,000 square metre state-of-the-art facility consisting of two warehouses and a support building. It will store food, clothing, spare parts, general supplies and medical supplies for the UK armed forces. Streamlining the incumbent supply chain operation is expected to generate £500 million in savings by 2028.

The facility is managed by Kuehne + Nagel on behalf of Team Leidos, and includes a TGW automated tote storage and retrieval system with goods-to-person picking, which provides a picking rate of more than 1,000 items an hour.

TGW’s account director, Noel Blake said: “We are delighted to work with Kuehne + Nagel and Team Leidos, and to have been involved in the development of a facility that will help to ensure our armed forces receive the equipment and supplies they need, wherever and whenever they are needed.”