Lane Automotive in Watervliet, west of Grand Rapids, a global aftermarket racing and high-performance automotive parts and accessories company, upgraded its warehouse system with the installation of Exotec’s Skypod system.
The move is meant to help automate Lane’s distribution operations in North America. The system has been fully operational since Dec. 19, 2023, and was integrated by Conveyco and Exotec.
“The seasonal nature of our business generally sees its peaks between March and June, and prior to Exotec and Conveyco’s complementary automation solutions, this volume could stress our operational capacity” says James MacEachern, COO of Lane Automotive.
Lane carries a selection of more than 660 brands, stocking more than 100,000 specialty automotive parts in its Watervliet facility alone. This requires a system capable of efficient and accurate multi-channel fulfillment. The company chose to deploy Exotec robotics to manage its inventory and improve the speed and accuracy of its pick, pack, and ship operations.
With purpose-built robotics, Lane Automotive now is able to “future-proof” its fulfillment operations for its growing business and customer base. Specifically, the company deployed 62 robots, five picking stations, and 59,600 storage bins in its Michigan distribution center.
After deploying the Skypod system, the facility expects to realize a sixfold increase in throughput, deliver faster turnaround times, and cement an industry-leading customer experience.
Exotec’s Skypod system is an automated goods-to-person system that uses robots able to reach a height of 39 feet to enable high-density inventory storage. The system helps automate manual physically intensive tasks and reduces the order fulfillment time by driving efficiency throughout the warehouse.
“As a company that is steadfast in its passion for its customers’ success and the products it distributes, we had to identify the right goods-to-person robotics and integration partners that could easily integrate with our existing automation and distribution ecosystem to help transform our operations for years to come,” says David Meadow, chief information officer for Lane Automotive. “Exotec and Conveyco not only delivered on this transformation, they were key partners in our distribution automation journey.”
