Alliance Entertainment LLC claimed that it is the largest distributor of physical media worldwide. OPEX Corp. this week said it has installed its new Sure Sort X Automated Sorting System at an Alliance Entertainment warehouse in Kentucky. The warehouse automation offers speed, efficiency, a compact footprint, and versatility in handling sorting jobs of different sizes.
Alliance Entertainment is a worldwide distributor of music, movies, toys, collectibles, and consumer electronics. The Plantation, Fla.-based company serves a vast network of resellers and retailers.
“As the leading distributor of physical media, we are constantly seeking ways to improve our operational efficiency to meet growing market demands,” stated Warwick Goldby, chief operating officer of Alliance Entertainment.
“Our product matrix has increased significantly as we diversify, and we now offer toys, accessories, collectibles, and electronics in addition to vinyl records, DVDs, Blu-ray and video games,” he added. “While we have multiple product-specific sorters, the Sure Sort X has the ability to handle all of our product lines, including larger product configurations that previously had to be sorted manually,”
Alliance Entertainment said implementing Sure Sort X advances its already robust supply chain. This allows it to meet increasing demand with greater speed and flexibility.
OPEX Sure Sort X handles a range of items
Based on its Sure Sort system, OPEX said it designed Sure Sort X to provide a reliable and robust way to handle nearly all customer-sortable products, including smaller, larger, and heavier items than Sure Sort.
“We designed Sure Sort X based on feedback from customers,” explained Drew Stevens, vice president of business development and marketing at OPEX. “We take pride in creating the best customized solutions for every one of our partners in addition to best-in-class training and customer support to help companies deliver on their goals.”
Both Sure Sort systems are automated putwalls designed for peak efficiency, according to OPEX. They use advanced iBOT sorting robots to quickly sort a wide variety of SKUs in a single pass.
The vertical design of Sure Sort with iBOTs allows a smaller footprint in the warehouse. This ensures that Sure Sort and Sure Sort X are versatile, scalable, configurable, and cost-effective, OPEX said.
Alliance Entertainment gets up and running
OPEX said it provides clients with expert training and support every step of the way. The system can handle products 60% smaller, nearly 20% larger, and up to four times heavier than the company’s previous Sure Sort system.
“The system was up and running in about two months,” said Goldby. “It was so well thought out. The OPEX team provides a lot of training, support, and handholding to help make things smoother.”
“Sure Sort X is able to handle 90% of our inventory, based on product size, streamlining our fulfillment operations and helping us maintain our market leadership across physical media, toys, and electronics,” Stevens added.
For nearly five decades, OPEX said it has worked closely with clients to develop customized, scalable systems. The Moorestown, N.J.-based company creates systems for document, mail, and warehouse automation.