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Stories studies

Smyths Toys

Efficient, eco-friendly ecommerce packaging

Numbers

100+

Stores in the UK and a thriving ecommerce business

70%

Of parcels packed by CVP Impack & CVP Everst

50%

Less shipping volume

Benefits
  • Multi- and single-items in one seamless flow
  • Positive environmental impact

  • Flexibility to scale with peak periods

  • Growth-ready efficiency

Sparck Technologies Smyth Toys packages
Sparck Technologies Smyth Toys
Challenges

Smyths Toys has over 100 stores in the UK and a busy website offering an extensive range of toys for all ages, from baby and preschool products to outdoor items and gaming.

The introduction of Sparck Technologies’ CVP auto-boxing machines is part of a major investment into state-of-the-art warehouse automation at the toy retailer’s Corby, Northamptonshire fulfilment centre, aimed at increasing capacity and improving sustainability. The move will see over 70% of orders packed automatically by Sparck’s CVP machines.

Stephen Kearney

Warehouse Manager
at Smyths Toys

“These packaging systems are highly flexible, capable of producing packages at speed, whilst being able to cater for single or multi-item orders with differing product profiles.”

Solution

Commenting on the decision to invest in high-speed fit-to-size packaging technology, Stephen Kearney, Warehouse Manager at Smyths Toys, says: “We believe in automation and have invested in advanced technologies where we can see it will bring significant results. We needed to increase throughput for our fast-growing online business and the most obvious means of achieving the performance required, particularly for peak, was to leverage the speed and efficiency of right-size packaging technology.

“Importantly, these packaging systems are highly flexible, capable of producing tailor-made packages at speed, whilst being able to cater for single or multi-item orders with differing product profiles,” he says. “We could also see how fit-to-size packaging would help us further improve our position on sustainability through optimizing package size and removing the need for void fill. Sparck’s CVP technology offered us the flexible solution that we were looking for.”

To optimize throughput and minimize waste all three CVP machines supplied to Smyths Toys have dual induct stations and double corrugate feeders for 600 mm and 800 mm card. Advancing environmental performance, paper tape is used for sealing packages, aiding the recycling of cardboard. Installation of the three machines took place in October 2022 in readiness for peak season.

Sparck Technologies cases company iForce logo

Jo Bradley, Business Development Manager for Sparck Technologies in the UK, says: “We are delighted to be working with one of Europe’s most respected toy retailers and we look forward to developing a close partnership with Smyths Toys, supporting its growth objectives for the future.”

With the capability to tailor-make up to 1,100 boxes per hour, for multiple or single item orders, the CVP Everest and CVP Impack packaging systems offer automated solutions for ecommerce operations challenged by increasing order volumes and growing demands for sustainable packaging solutions. With installations across Europe, the US and Canada, the CVP Automated Packaging Solutions effortlessly create, fill, fold and label each parcel in one seamless process – reducing package volumes by up to 50%, cutting cardboard usage by 30% and eliminating the need for void fill.

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