Robotics to power new DC for Amazon

The Tilbury fulfilment centre will be equipped with the latest and most advanced Amazon Robotics technology which launched earlier this year in the UK at Amazon’s fulfilment centres in Dunstable and Doncaster.

The robots slide under a tower of shelves where products are stowed, lift it and move it through the fulfilment centre. Robots help speed order processing time and reduce walking time by moving the shelves to employees, reducing the time taken to stow items for sale or pick them for new customer orders. They also save space, allowing for 50 per cent more items to be stowed per square foot.

John Tagawa said: “The Amazon teams are dedicated to innovating in our fulfilment centres to increase speed of delivery while enabling greater selection at lower costs for our customers. The introduction of Amazon Robotics is the newest example of our commitment to invention in logistics on behalf of our employees and our customers.”

Amazon introduced the robot technology used in its business by acquiring automated handling firm Kiva Systems in 2012 and has been developing it since.

Amazon is growing its UK fulfilment centre network as it expands to meet customer demand, increases its product selection and supports more third party Marketplace sellers with Fulfilment by Amazon.

The Fulfilment centre will be Amazon’s 13th in the UK.

1500 jobs

Amazon will later this summer begin recruiting for a range of positions for the Tilbury fulfilment centre, from operations managers to engineers, HR and IT roles to people who will handle customer orders. People interested in applying should visit www.myamazonjob.com/opportunities.

Permanent employees at the new fulfilment centre will receive competitive pay which rises to £9 per hour after two years’ service in the greater London area. All permanent fulfilment centre employees receive competitive pay and are given stock grants, which over the last five years were on average equal to £1,000 or more per year per person. Fulfilment centre employees also receive a comprehensive benefits package, including private medical insurance, a company pension plan, life assurance, income protection, subsidised meals and an employee discount. 

Amazon also runs an innovative programme called Career Choice that provides fulfilment centre employees funding for adult education, offering to pre-pay 95% of tuition and associated fees for nationally recognised courses, up to £8,000 over four years.

Charles Hammond, Group Chief Executive of Forth Ports said: “This is great news for the port and for the Thurrock area. We are delighted that Amazon will be based at London Distribution Park (LDP). By basing itself at London’s major port, Amazon will save time and money and capitalise on our prime south east location and our excellent, well established logistical connections to the UK market.”

Jason Dalby, Managing Director at Roxhill Developments, said: “This is excellent news for LDP. The strategic location adjacent to the port of Tilbury is a major asset for businesses and we welcome Amazon to the development. LDP is currently the largest ready to go industrial development site closest to the M25 on the market. We have already secured Amazon and Travis Perkins and we continue to see an increase in the number of businesses looking for distribution centres located in or near a busy port.”