Automated Logistics Infrastructure for European Footwear Distribution

The expansion of footwear and apparel retail requires high-density material handling systems capable of managing millions of inventory units while minimizing manual intervention. Skechers collaborates with KNAPP to develop an automated European distribution centre in Liège, Belgium. This facility addresses operational constraints at existing logistics hubs, accommodating sustained growth in regional sales volume and maintaining long-term supply chain efficiency.

Technical Solution and Division of Responsibilities
The facility integrates automated storage, retrieval, and transport subsystems controlled by the KiSoft software suite. KNAPP provides the core technical architecture, including an Evo Shuttle system configured for carton storage across more than 3 million locations, a secondary shuttle system for replenishment and buffering, automated pallet storage, and conveyor and sorting systems. Skechers defines operational throughput requirements, dimensional parameters for packaging, and inventory management protocols.

Material flow automation relies on standardized communication interfaces connecting goods-to-person workstations with the central warehouse management system. KiSoft algorithms optimize inventory placement, order sequencing, and carrier routing to ensure deterministic throughput times. The installation incorporates predictive maintenance modules supported by on-site resident engineering teams to monitor mechanical wear parameters and electrical loads continuously.

Deployment and Implementation
Implementation occurs at a 230,000 square metre site in Liège, Belgium, utilizing a staged commissioning schedule leading to operational commencement at the end of 2028 and full completion by mid-2030. The project integrates with regional transport networks to supply the European market from a single centralized location. Engineering teams coordinate structural load verification, automated guided vehicle path mapping, and phased integration of the conveyor network without disrupting active supply chains.

Applications and Operational Impact
Target applications encompass high-volume wholesale and retail footwear distribution, supporting a projected throughput of up to 10 million pairs of shoes per month. Concrete technical use cases include automated carton buffering, dynamic sequencing for retail store replenishment, and high-density vertical storage utilization. The primary operational benefit is the reduction of manual handling costs and the ability to process volatile order volumes while maintaining system availability through integrated redundancy and diagnostic telemetry.

Edited by Sucithra Mani, Induportals editor – adapted by AI.

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