James and James selects BS Handling Systems

James and James is a third-party logistics (3PL) business set up for multiple small clients. Its UK fulfilment centre is located in Brackmills, Northampton, central England’s logistics hotspot—close to both national courier hubs and international airports.

With over 350 clients, the operation handles a wide variety of products, from phone cases to wine and cosmetics to yoga mats.

“The company moved into this facility in 2020,” says Stuart Ruchman, Head of Operations at James and James. “With over 600,000 sq. ft. of space, it gives us a solid platform to drive the business forward. “Initially, sortation was manual. But as we attracted more clients and volumes increased, we recognised the need to automate.”

Consultants’ recommendation

“Once we decided to proceed with the automation project, we spoke to our logistics consultants who recommended BS Handling Systems as an experienced and reliable partner.

“From the outset, we hit it off with the BS Handling team. Given our own logistics knowledge, we led the design process. Their experience was invaluable, and we created a solution that allows for future expansion. “The solution included three conveyor lanes in the packing area feeding packages onto the sortation system. Items are indexed automatically to create space between each one.

“Each package then passes through a tracking station where it’s measured, weighed, photographed and scanned to determine its chute.”

Business as usual during installation

“One major challenge was installing the system with minimal disruption to our manual operation. With limited space, this required careful planning and accurate scheduling. BS Handling handled this well, and there was very little disruption.

“The installation took around eight weeks. Once our team was trained, it was clear what a huge benefit it would deliver. The sorter can handle up to 2,500 items per hour—four times the capacity of the manual system. We are now looking forward to putting it to the test during Black Friday and Christmas.”

Smooth installation and commissioning

Phil Taylor, Key Account Manager at BS Handling Systems, explains, “Everything went to plan. Aside from the usual last-minute adjustments, there were no major obstacles. The team at James and James were helpful and easy to work with throughout installation and commissioning.

“We specified a CU Sort modular belt system from Conveyor Units and included the SICK tracking unit which measures, weighs and photographs each item.

“Due to space restrictions and the need for pedestrian access, we had to raise the infeed conveyor and sorter higher than usual. This required adjusting chute angles and constructing a steel support frame for the SICK station. Any vibration would result in inaccurate weight readings.

“We also built a raised walkway parallel to the sorter for easy access to the packing benches and sorter.

“The sorter met all key parameters: increased throughput, space efficiency, cost savings, and handling a wide variety of packages.”

Attracting new clients

Ruchman adds, “The sorter has been a game-changer. We can now process four times as many orders an hour, save on labour, and have better visibility of orders throughout the process.

“We’re proud of our investment in the Northampton fulfilment centre and happy to give potential customers a tour. The sorter is a great selling point.

“Seeing the operation first hand gives them confidence that James and James will handle their storage and distribution needs accurately and efficiently. The sortation system and conveyors have raised performance and accuracy and will help us handle peak periods.

“I’d have no hesitation in recommending BS Handling Systems to anyone looking for a forward-thinking, friendly and professional integrator. They always deliver what they say they will.”

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