Toyota Material Handling has revealed an upgrade to its North American parts distribution centre located at its Indiana headquarters, with the introduction of the AutoStore goods-to-person storage solution.

AutoStore was integrated with Toyota’s systems by Bastion Solutions, part of Toyota Automated Logistics, and represents Bastian’s one hundredth such installation.

Toyota Material Handling vice president of aftermarket operations Bret Bruin explains: "This AutoStore integration will allow us to deliver parts to customers across North America faster than ever before, ensuring their forklift fleets are up and running when they need them most”. 

The AutoStore integrates cutting edge robotics, automation and artificial intelligence into Toyota’s operations.

“The innovative system leverages vertical storage, maximising unused space within the PDC,” Toyota Material Handling says. “While the facility typically stocks an average of 55,000 stock-keeping units (SKUs), the new system dramatically increases storage capacity—from 40,000 to more than 128,000 storage locations.”

Meanwhile, Toyota Material handling UK (TMHUK) has announced work is set to start on construction of the new purpose-built Fleet Management Centre “to support” its growing UK rental and used equipment business.

The centre will be built on the Melton Mowbray estate which houses Toyota’s existing Fleet Management Centre and is expected to take 18 months to complete.

TMHUK’s director of rental & used sales and rentals, Stuart Reilly explains Toyota has been on the site since 2000.

“Year-on-year growth has seen us operationally complete in excess of 12,000 trucks per annum and it’s time for an upgrade,” Reilly adds.