Tire Rack Selects Dematic For Automated Distribution Facility

Dematic Corp., one of the leader in logistics automation solutions, systems and service, has been selected to provide an automated conveying and sortation order fulfillment system for The Tire Rack, one of the largest consumer direct source for tires, wheels and performance accessories.

The new 300,000 sq. ft facility, near Reno, NV, is slated to go live later this summer. It is the third automated distribution center in the past five years for The Tire Rack in which Dematic is supplying the conveying and sorting solution to service The Tire Rack's growing internet and catalog sales operation.

The Dematic solution includes special conveyor belting and pushers for sortation and direct loading into trailers. Extendable receiving and shipping unloaders have a platform at the loading/unloading end that raises and lowers to keep workers at an ergonomically comfortable elevation. "Many of The Tire Rack's products, such as tires and wheels, are heavy and difficult to handle," said Dan Dixon, chief logistics officer at The Tire Rack. "The Dematic solution will allow us to create a better work environment for our employees and also provide for efficient sorting and shipping of tires with no scuffing or damage to the tires in the process. The Dematic solution was the best combination of safety, price and performance."

For The Tire Rack, being able to offer the same level of high performance in their supply chain as customers get with their products made expanding their partnership with Dematic a logical choice. "Dematic has led the way in delivering high performance, high quality solutions for the supply chain for almost 70 years, so they know what they are doing," continued Dixon. "Our business depends on our supply chain and a supply chain goal of The Tire Rack is to provide one to two business days delivery of every customer's purchase. With this new facility and with Dematic, we'll be able to accomplish that."

"Being able to offer innovative supply chain automation solutions to companies like The Tire Rack is what Dematic is all about," said Rob Bork, Dematic's VP Business Development and Sales. Our overall solution approach offers customers multiple options when it comes to managing their supply chain. I look forward to continuing our long partnership with The Tire Rack and to providing solutions to help them grow."

About The Tire Rack
The Tire Rack, family-owned and headquartered in South Bend, Indiana, is America's largest independent tire tester and consumer-direct source for tires, wheels and performance accessories. The team of 90-plus Test Drivers test tires from every major tire manufacturer on the company's state-of-the-art, 10-acre test facility. The findings are then posted on the company's website, www.tirerack.com, where consumers can make an educated decision on a tire, wheel or performance accessory purchase. The Tire Rack has also collected results from more than 124,000 consumer surveys representing over two billion miles of real-world tire data, the largest known cache of such information anywhere.

Since 1979, The Tire Rack has grown from a single-point retail store in Indianapolis to encompass over 1.5 million square feet of warehouse space in five states. A diverse and broad in-stock inventory from 16 major tire and 31 wheel brands can be delivered anywhere in the country in two days or less. A national network of more than 4,800 independent Recommended Installers are available to service customers' local installation needs.

About Dematic Corp.
Based on a rich tradition of over 70 years of worldwide industry expertise in creating logistics results and more than 10,000 systems installed worldwide, Dematic Corp. is the world's leading supplier of logistics automation solutions, systems and service.

Beginning with Rapistan's rich history from gravity conveyors to automated, modular conveyor and sortation solutions, Dematic now offers a full range of engineered and highly configurable system solutions that optimize warehousing and distribution operations. With Dematic, companies can reduce distribution costs, maximize overall logistics efficiencies, and increase the operating speed of their supply chain.

Dematic is a global company with operations in 22 countries around the world. Its North American headquarters is located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. For genuine Rapistan conveyor system parts, or more Dematic information, visit www.dematic.us

SOURCE: Dematic Corp.