THG Ingenuity is to install 430 sorting robots at its Manchester warehouse facility, a move projected to increase operational capacity by 75%.
The ‘T-sorting robots’ – from Chinese robotics firm Libiao – are set to be operational in September, and primed to handle a spike in demand for THG’s e-commerce fulfilment arm THG Fulfil “as it onboards new brands and retailers ahead of the holiday season”.
The bots will provide THG Fulfil – whose clients include CDS Superstores (The Range & Wilko), Holland & Barrett, Cult Beauty and Coca Cola’s direct to consumer offering Your Coca-Cola – the capacity to output around a million units of product per day.
“We have always believed that fulfilment is a core driver of customer excellence and brand reputation,” said Tom Killeen, chief operating officer of THG Fulfil’s parent business THG Ingenuity.
“Our collaboration with Libiao further solidifies our commitment to providing brands and retailers with industry-leading, scalable automation solutions that optimise everything from pick and pack to final mile delivery, ultimately enhancing customer experience and driving loyalty.
“Our unique approach, which often sees 95% of all units sold moving through some form of automation, combined with our late next-day delivery cut-off times of up to 1am, is truly what sets us apart,” he added. “We are committed to investing in the future of logistics, while empowering our clients to meet and exceed evolving consumer expectations with unparalleled efficiency.”
THG employees will place products for delivery on a robot, which then takes it to the correct destination chute using the shortest, safest route. Libiao’s T-sorting robots have a sorting accuracy of up to 99.9% the company said, and sort for multiple destinations simultaneously finding the optimal pathway each time.
“Our compact, modular robots enable rapid plug-and-play deployment,” said Jason Zhang, VP of sales – Europe, Libiao. “With THG Fulfil as our UK distribution partner – leveraging their vast retail network and warehouse automation expertise – we look forward to expanding Libiao’s reach across new industries. At Libiao, our mission is to make the world more efficient, and this collaboration is a meaningful step toward that goal.”
As part of the partnership, THG Fulfil has become Libiao’s UK distribution partner enabling brands and retailers to access Libiao’s robotics solutions and benefit from THG Fulfil’s proprietary technology. Installation of Libiao’s robotics solutions in a warehouse can complete in as little as three weeks. “This short project cycle contributes to fast and high return on investment, resulting in a typical return period of less than three years,” THG Fulfil said.
A key benefit of the robotics rollout for THG is being able to extend its next-day delivery offering. Analysis of 40 million THG Fulfil customer orders in April found that 82% of all next-day delivery orders are placed after 2pm, and more than a quarter (27%) are placed after 10pm (up 7% versus 2024). Between 10pm and 11pm, a fifth (20%) of wellness and nutrition next-day delivery orders come from first-time customers, rising to nearly a quarter (23%) between midnight and 1am. This demonstrates “a clear incentive for both customers and retailers to extend next-day delivery order periods as late as possible” Killeen said.
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