S&S Activewear partners with Körber Supply Chain Software and Geekplus on robotics deployment

S&S Activewear, a leading apparel distributor, has announced the expansion of its partnership with Körber Supply Chain and the deployment of Geekplus robotics solutions at three warehouse sites across the Americas. The collaboration enables S&S to optimize on-site staff, order quality and delivery efficiencies to meet the surging demands of a rapidly evolving market, S&S and Körber Supply Chain explained.

"Innovation is a core tenet of S&S’s decades-long history in the apparel industry. Advancing our warehouse operations with Körber and Geekplus’s robotics and automation expertise has been a natural and impactful evolution in our technology journey,” said Brian Beale, CTO for S&S. “Our customers deserve a seamless experience from order to fulfillment and we’re excited about the increased efficiencies we’re already seeing through our collaboration with Körber."

The partnership commenced with the deployment of 340 Geekplus robots at a single 750,000 sq. ft. S&S site in Lockport, Illinois, marking the largest collaboration in Körber's robotics portfolio.

“Warehouse solutions are a core area of Körber’s expertise, and we look forward to expanding our partnership with S&S,” said Sean Elliott, CTO and Acting CEO Software, Körber Business Area Supply Chain. “Our robotics offerings are designed to scale with the speed and size of business, optimizing warehouse operations so organizations can focus on value-driven activities to support the larger overall goals.”

A key aspect of this expansion is the implementation of Geekplus’s PopPick robotics solutions aimed at optimizing warehouse processes. These advanced robots play a crucial role in efficiently moving inventory stored in totes to pick stations, the companies added. The system is designed to support more than 4,500 lines per hour through 24 picking stations, and incorporates autonomous mobility and slotting of inventory.

“Our longstanding partnership with Körber has been crucial in bringing our revolutionary solutions to a wider audience,” said Randy Randolph, Director of Channel Partner Sales at Geekplus. “This deployment with S&S highlights the huge impact of our mobile robots in helping retailers meet the crush of e-commerce orders while improving quality and efficiency.”

Körber recently recognized S&S Activewear for its outstanding achievements in Facility Optimization with a Customer Award at the 2024 Elevate Conference.

Founded in 1988 and headquartered in Bolingbrook, Illinois, S&S Activewear is a leading technology-enabled distributor of apparel and accessories in the United States and Canada. S&S offers more than 80 brands, including basic garments to fashion-forward styles, with over 4 million square feet of warehouse space across North America.