Yusen Logistics UK opened a 1.1m sq ft warehouse near Northampton with robots and a four-way conveyor system. Site general manager Brian Luck says the system is being deployed outside China for the first time. The site has 150 staff and could employ 500–900 as it expands.
The setup is designed to bring goods to staff for picking, with people and robots working together, Luck said. Managing director David Evans said the industry’s skill needs are changing, with more technician and engineering roles, and that robots still depend on people.
The centre will mainly handle business-to-business deliveries, primarily for electronics manufacturers, and also offer home delivery. A quarter of its space is for temperature-controlled pharmaceuticals. Yusen describes the centre as sustainable, citing solar panels and rainwater harvesting, and hopes to use the delayed Northampton Gateway rail freight interchange. Nearby villagers campaigned against the park over traffic congestion and risks to green space and wildlife.
