GXO Deploys 127 Robots in Venlo, Netherlands to Automate Guess Fulfillment
en.Wedoany.com Reported - GXO has deployed Exotec's Skypod robotic system at its Venlo, Netherlands facility to provide automated support for the fulfillment operations of global fashion brand Guess.
This automation solution is not a standard system deployed as-is, but rather one jointly designed by GXO and Exotec around Guess's specific operational needs. As the system integrator, Exotec brought all components into a single automation platform.
In terms of hardware, the facility is equipped with 127 robots, 60,000 rack locations, 8 goods-to-person picking stations, and 200 meters of conveyor lines; the conveyor network connects storage, picking, and shipping areas, with specialized equipment handling different stages of the process.
In terms of throughput capacity, the system can handle 40,000 to 70,000 items per day, with peak throughput of up to 2,200 order lines per hour. It is designed to cope with the high SKU counts, seasonal fluctuations, and changing customer requirements of fashion logistics.
Inbound logistics and value-added services are managed by GXO in Venlo for Guess, involving quality control and garment preparation; outbound distribution covers retail stores across EMEA (Europe, the Middle East, and Africa) and Asia. E-commerce fulfillment for the Benelux market is also growing.
Storage and retrieval are handled automatically by the Skypod system, with goods delivered to operators at goods-to-person stations for picking. Reducing manual picking workload is one of the project's goals, while the facility must also be capable of accommodating future growth without a complete operational redesign.
Fulfillment automation in the fashion industry is particularly challenging due to rapid product line turnover and significant demand fluctuations between seasons. The Venlo facility's daily throughput can climb from approximately 40,000 items to a peak of 70,000 items. According to GXO, operational predictability and efficiency have improved since the system was put into use.
The facility serves Guess's retail distribution in EMEA and Asia, with additional capacity reserved for e-commerce volumes. GXO believes this project demonstrates that warehouse automation can be configured to a specific customer's operational characteristics rather than applying a one-size-fits-all template.
