Borders saves over $1 million with new packing/unpacking equipment
By Staff -- Modern Materials Handling, 6/1/1998
Borders Books and Music stores typically average 30,000 sq ft, and carry 150,000 titles. The receiving and storage area is usually tiny, but must accommodate 5000 inventory items. Loosefill created problems because of spillage while unpacking boxes and the need for storage of the packing materials.By instituting a new procedure, Borders reduced costs at both ends of its shipping process. DCs for Borders are operated jointly with Waldenbooks. Combined DC savings were $1.8 million, with 65% attributed to materials costs, 20% in labor, and 15% in freight.
Several of the retailers' managers worked with Charlie Shade, a consultant with FP International. He spent extensive time learning about the stores' unpacking procedures and space limitations. To meet the special requirements presented by Borders, Shade designed the FLO-VAC SRT.
It is an efficient unpacking unit with a grated top over a collection bin, an overhead storage bag, and a vacuum hose. Loosefill can be vacuumed out of an opened carton, leaving books and other shipped items inside, or an opened carton can be turned upside down on the SRT's grated top so loosefill spills through and books remain on top.
The unit automatically stores loosefill in the overhead bag for shipping out returns or for recycling. Borders plans to have a unit in each of some 200 stores.
FP International 800-866-9946
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