Quadient wins packaging and locker contracts

Quadient has won contracts to supply an automated packaging system to a major UK retailer and to partner with a leading US company for parcel lockers.

In the UK, the technology group will supply retail giant, Frasers Group, with its latest CVP Everest fit-to-size automated packaging system – capable of tailor-making 1,100 right-size ecommerce packages per hour. Frasers Group will use Quadient’s most advanced automated packaging system to build exact-sized packages for individual ecommerce orders, single or multiple items, across its premium brands.

The packaging system is to be installed in early 2021 at Frasers Group’s distribution centre in Shirebrook, Derbyshire. Three separately branded cardboard feeds to the machine will enable the retailer to pack multiple brands in one seamless flow.

The CVP Everest is a high-speed automated packaging solution. The system measures, constructs, seals and labels each parcel in a seamless process – reducing package volumes by up to 50%, cutting cardboard usage by 30% and eliminating the need for void fill. As the CVP Everest makes each package specifically to the size of the individual order, the customer experience is enhanced and trailer volumes are massively reduced – saving transport costs and CO2 emissions.

Michel Piotrowski, Head of Automation at Frasers Group, explained: “The customer experience is of critical importance to us and the quality, sustainability and performance of the packaging we use plays a major part in the customer’s perception of our brands. The CVP Everest delivers on our principal goals – to reduce waste by producing packages that are perfectly sized to the order, to use sustainable packaging materials and to improve vehicle utilisation by getting more packages into a vehicle, which in turn reduces our CO2 emissions.”

Jo Bradley, Business Development Manager for Quadient in the UK, said: “We are delighted that Frasers Group has decided to adopt our most advanced packaging system, the CVP Everest. Environmentally aware consumers are increasingly choosing to buy from retailers that demonstrate their commitment to the environment. Making each package the exact size needed to firmly hold and protect the ordered items ­cuts down on wastefulness of materials and the high carbon-cost – and financial cost – of transporting air.”

Canon offers Quadient parcel lockers

Meanwhile, in the USA, Canon Solutions America has collaborated with Quadient to offer Parcel Pending by Quadient smart lockers. The printing company will offer the lockers as part of its ‘mailing and fulfilment’ portfolio.

The automated, electronic locker system is a convenient solution for deliveries to universities, corporations, and more, the two companies explained. The easy-to-use interface enables users to track parcels and notify recipients of delivery in real-time. Package pick-up takes seconds, and lockers can be accessed 24/7 for convenient self-service pick-up.

Parcels are securely stored within the lockers and require a custom PIN entry code to open. For a minimal-touch experience, users can also scan the barcode provided in the parcel pick-up notification. For any returns made to the smart locker, the process is just as simple – creating a convenient, user-friendly process.

“With current safety and security concerns across university campuses during this pandemic, we are seeing Parcel Pending by Quadient smart lockers being used as distribution hubs for not only packages but also mail, IT assets like laptops, university bookstore pick-ups and returns, library books and other items,” said Christopher O’Brien, executive vice president, Parcel Pending by Quadient. “We are proud to partner with Canon Solutions America whose corporate commitment directly aligns with ours, to ensure that college and corporate campuses have safe, efficient and even revenue-generating smart locker systems.”

For universities specifically, this package retrieval solution promotes safe distancing by eliminating the need to wait in long, crowded lines to pick up packages. It also helps to declutter campus mail centers with easy storage. To further promote the security of packages, an automatic log is kept of every drop-off and pick-up for full chain-of-custody visibility, enabling powerful data insights to help enhance student and faculty experience on campus, while sturdy steel lockers keep their contents safe.

To help accommodate corporations and organizations of any size, Parcel Pending by Quadient smart lockers are customizable and can be adjusted based on the space and needs of each individual location. Institutions can even add their logo to the lockers for a more personalized touch.

Canon Solutions America, Inc. can also provide a tailored integration to match any organization’s specific requirements. Utilizing the web portal, users will have full visibility into locker use, dashboard personalization, and full Business Intelligence (BI) reporting capabilities.

“We are pleased to offer our customers a safe, easy-to-use solution to help manage the overwhelming influx of parcels, especially amidst COVID-19,” said Peter P. Kowalczuk, president, Canon Solutions America, Inc. “We’re hopeful that this automated workflow will help organizations maintain social distancing and improve the overall customer experience.”