Vanderlande Automates New Kmart Logistics Center in Sydney

The Australian retail giant Kmart has commissioned Vanderlande to automate its new logistics center in the Moorebank Intermodal Precinct in Sydney. To meet the high demands of one of the country’s most recognized retail brands, Kmart is relying on FASTPICK – Vanderlande’s powerful goods-to-person system for order fulfillment.

(Veghel) The Kmart Group serves millions of customers each week through more than 450 Kmart and Target stores in Australia and New Zealand, as well as through its digital channels. With an eye on long-term growth, Kmart is pursuing a consistent omnichannel strategy to address challenges related to labor shortages, increasing order volumes, and rising customer expectations.

The collaboration with Vanderlande underscores Kmart’s commitment to increasing operational efficiency and sustainably strengthening the supply chain. The new omnichannel center, covering an area of 100,000 m², will be equipped with the FASTPICK solution, which combines the automated storage and retrieval system ADAPTO with ten ergonomic goods-to-person workstations.

Significantly Increase Picking Speed

The goal is to significantly increase picking speed, flexibility, and efficiency, seamlessly integrating both store deliveries and online order processing in a central fulfillment center. A high-speed cross-belt sorter will also be used for store distribution, precisely handling cartons and polybags.

Additionally, autonomous guided vehicles (AGVs) and Toyota’s very narrow aisle (VNA) forklifts ensure smooth pallet transport and space-saving storage. The entire operation is controlled by Vanderlande’s VISION warehouse management system, which intelligently coordinates all processes. This creates a scalable and future-proof solution tailored precisely to Kmart’s requirements.

Investment is an Important Step

“The investment in Moorebank is an important step in modernizing our supply chain and simplifying operations in our stores,” emphasizes Phillip Irvine, General Manager – Next Generation Supply Chain at Kmart. “Ultimately, it’s about providing even more value to our customers – that is our central goal.”

Vanderlande is also excited about the close partnership. “We are proud to support Kmart in optimizing its supply chain and preparing it for the future,” says Jordan Thrupp, Managing Director Australia at Vanderlande. “The close collaboration with the Kmart team was crucial in implementing the ideal solution. We are committed to continuing to support Kmart’s success.”

Successfully Manage Growing Store and Online Businesses

Stephan Heessels, Executive Vice President Warehouse Solutions at Vanderlande, adds: “This project demonstrates our commitment to efficient, scalable systems. With FASTPICK, we offer leading retailers like Kmart the flexibility to safely manage rapidly growing store and online businesses.”

Foto: © Vanderlande