Metro Supply Chain is poised to enhance its logistics capabilities with the planned opening of a new 230,000-square-foot automated distribution centre in Brampton, Ontario, targeted for spring 2026. This expansion forms a key part of the company’s broader strategy to boost flexibility, automation, and customer service within retail and e-commerce sectors.
The Brampton facility will feature an AutoStore goods-to-person automation system, integrated by Bastian Solutions. This system represents a significant advancement in warehouse technology, utilising warehouse robots to increase storage density and speed up order fulfilment. The site will also be equipped with automated conveyors, high-capacity packing stations, and high-density, very narrow aisle (VNA) racking, which together create a highly efficient and scalable operation. Installation of the automation technologies and racking is scheduled to begin in fall 2025.
Metro Supply Chain’s investment in this technology reaffirms the company’s commitment to leveraging smart digital solutions to drive superior business outcomes. Chris Fenton, group president and CEO of Metro Supply Chain, emphasised that automation enhances service flexibility and accuracy, helping the company remain at the cutting edge of supply chain innovation. He highlighted that the Brampton facility underscores their focus on delivering exceptional value while supporting sustainable growth.
This new centre follows the successful 2022 launch of Metro Supply Chain’s first goods-to-person automated site in Bolton, Ontario. Industry data from the Bolton facility indicates that the AutoStore system boosts picking efficiency by a factor of five compared to traditional methods and reduces training times for new staff by 80 per cent. The system’s design increases order accuracy, speeds up processing times, improves inventory visibility, and offers the scalability to handle fluctuating demand peaks—both seasonal and unexpected.
Sustainability considerations also figure prominently in Metro Supply Chain’s automation efforts. The AutoStore technology optimises space within the warehouse, significantly reducing the facility’s footprint, and lowers energy consumption through efficient robot operations. Bastian Solutions’ integration of the system with automated conveyors and packing stations creates a streamlined process that supports environmental goals without compromising operational throughput.
The company’s continued investment in highly automated fulfilment solutions is part of a wider $100 million plan to upgrade several of its distribution centres, focusing on e-commerce capabilities. Their Bolton facility, dedicated to apparel and footwear sectors, has already demonstrated the benefits of automation in providing rapid, reliable multi-channel fulfilment.
Overall, Metro Supply Chain’s new Brampton distribution centre exemplifies the growing industry trend towards automation and digital transformation in logistics. By combining innovative cubing storage systems with sophisticated conveyor and packing technologies, Metro Supply Chain is positioning itself to meet increasing customer demands efficiently and sustainably, while maintaining agility in a competitive supply chain landscape.
Source: Noah Wire Services
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