CDW
UK Logistics and Technology Centre
16,000
Storage locations with up to 64,000 items stored
300
300 Totes per hour
12
12 Metres picking height
99%+
Order picking accuracy
Milestone Projects Ltd
Milestone Projects Ltd is a UK-based independent warehouse automation integrator founded in 2022, bringing together decades of experience in construction, engineering, and supply chain transformation. With a distinctive end-to-end approach that combines strategic consulting, project execution, and after-sales support, Milestone delivers tailored solutions for clients across retail, e-commerce, manufacturing, healthcare, and airport logistics.
CDW Corporation is a Fortune 500 multi-brand technology solutions provider supporting 250,000+ customers across the US, UK, and Canada. In the UK, CDW operates a dedicated fulfilment centre for distributing electronic devices - including laptops, smartphones, and PDAs - to enterprise, public sector, and retail clients.
To future-proof its fulfilment capabilities and optimise warehouse utilisation, CDW partnered with Milestone Projects, a UK-based systems integrator known for delivering complex warehouse automation projects across industries. Together with Hai Robotics, the team deployed a 12m-high customised HaiPick system, enabling CDW to maximise storage capacity within a compact footprint.
In this video, you can see how CDW leverages Hai Robotics technology to optimize their operations.
Project Challenges
The UK logistics centre was experiencing operational constraints due to manual processes. Key challenges included:
- High labour demands and rising costs
- Limited space utilisation within a tightly constrained warehouse footprint.
- Restricted scalability, making it difficult to adapt storage density to growing SKU variety and rising order volumes.
CDW selected Hai Robotics after engaging at a trade show and recognising our proven success with Milestone Projects. We delivered a bespoke 12-metre tote-handling configuration - customised specifically to meet CDW’s space and density requirements.
Our Solution
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Automation area: 600 sqm
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Robots: 11 HaiPick A42TD-L-E1 ACRs (12m picking height) + 4 chargers
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Workstations: 2 inbound conveyors and 2 outbound conveyors
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Tote: 600x400x300 mm
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Storage capacity: 16,000 storage locations with up to 64,000 items stored
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Throughput: 300 Totes/hour
System Highlights
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Tailored 12m Vertical Storage Configuration The HaiPick System was customised to reach 12 metres in height, one of the tallest tote-handling setups in Hai’s portfolio at the time, enabling CDW to optimise vertical space without increasing the warehouse footprint.
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Compact and Efficient Layout Deployed within just 600 sqm, the system provides around 16,000 storage locations using standard 600×400×300mm totes, supporting high storage density with minimal disruption to existing operations.
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Labour-Saving Automation The automated solution significantly reduced the need for manual picking, streamlining workflows and freeing up warehouse space for value-added services.
“This has been Hai's tallest ASRS deployment in Europe so far. With 16,000 storage locations and throughput of up to 300 totes per hour, the system enables us to store up to 64,000 items efficiently within a compact footprint.” —Barry Harber, Director of Supply Chain UK & International at CDW
“This project allowed us to not only deliver a large-scale automation solution but also establish a lasting partnership with our client. Beyond implementation, working with Hai ensures that our onsite Maintenance Technicians continue to receive hands-on guidance and proactive support well beyond the official project handover.” — Louise Hughes, Customer Success Manager at Milestone Projects
“Working with Hai Robotics allowed us to integrate a high-density tote-based system tailored to the client’s footprint and performance requirements. This technical partnership helped us validate our project strategies and methodologies from concept to go-live.” — Jared Storey, CEO at Milestone Projects
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