Automated sortation is a critical element for efficient, high-throughput distribution operations. From e-commerce fulfillment to retail distribution, sortation systems automate identifying, routing, and handling items, cases, or pallets, helping reduce human error and manual labor. Properly selected and integrated sortation technologies enable distribution centers to:
ISD brings decades of experience integrating tailored sortation solutions that meet the specific throughput, product mix, and footprint demands of your operation. Our agnostic approach allows us to evaluate and integrate many technologies.
AMR Crossbelt integrates mobile robots with crossbelt sorters to move products efficiently. It increases layout flexibility and can scale easily. Operations use it in facilities with changing throughput needs.
AMR Tilt Tray combines autonomous mobile robots with tilt tray capabilities. It enables dynamic, scalable sortation. Used in facilities needing high flexibility and futureproofing.
Arm Sorter identifies and diverts items using mechanical arms. It improves handling speed and is ideal for lower-volume zones or fragile items. Typical uses include e-commerce or split-case picking lines.
Bombay Sorter drops lightweight items through trap doors. It provides dense sortation for polybags, apparel, or soft goods. Used often in fashion, jewelry, and accessories.
Case Sorter scans and routes cases to multiple destinations based on size or order. It increases automation in case handling and reduces manual sortation. Used in replenishment, shipping, or store distribution.
Crossbelt moves items across perpendicular belts for precise destination routing. It supports mixed item sizes and is excellent for high-speed sortation. Typically found in parcel sortation, apparel, and omnichannel fulfillment.
Garment On Hanger (GOH) handles garments without folding or packaging. It preserves item condition and improves handling. Used in fashion, luxury retail, and returns.
Gap Optimizer spaces products evenly before they enter sortation. It prevents bottlenecks and misreads by ensuring proper gapping. Common in high-speed shipping or pack-out lines.
Horizontal Carousels rotate bins with shelves horizontally to deliver items to an operator or, in the case of sortation, a location for the operator to place a case or tote of items. When all the cases and totes for an order have arrived at the carousel workstation, the operator is directed by lights to consolidate the totes and cases for shipment.
Linear Arm Sortation uses timed arm movements to divert products in a straight-line system. It increases speed and precision. Common in consumer goods, health, and beauty, and B2C shipping operations.
Loop Sortation features a circular track with carriers circulating products to their destinations. It maximizes floor space and allows for high-density sortation. Often found in apparel, returns processing, and large e-commerce hubs.
Narrow Belt Sorter uses a series of narrow belts to sort small or lightweight items efficiently. It offers modularity and high accuracy. Used in pick modules, pack-out areas, or returns.
Narrow Belt Sorter Wave combines narrow belt sortation with wave-based batching. It improves throughput in batch fulfillment. Popular in apparel, beauty, and seasonal product handling.
Pocket Sorter suspends and routes individual items via hanging carriers. It offers sequencing and buffering in limited space. Used in apparel, order consolidation, and omnichannel fulfillment.
Pop-Up Strip Belt Sorter features movable strips that rise and direct items swiftly off the main conveyor. This design enables rapid, precise sortation of goods, minimizing delays and handling errors. Its versatility makes it suitable for diverse product sizes and weights. Commonly deployed in fast-moving distribution centers and ecommerce hubs.
Putwalls – Manual allows workers to sort picked items into discrete order slots/cubbies on shelving racks. It supports efficient order consolidation. Warehouses use them to streamline orders with multiple SKUs often coming from multiple zones.
Putwalls – Automated Systems use advanced sortation technology such as robotics, mechanical diverters, and conveyors to automatically sort items into order slots/cubbies. This speeds up fulfillment and boosts accuracy, handling thousands of items per hour. Ideal for high-volume distribution and fast-paced ecommerce operations.
Sliding Shoe Sorter uses controlled shoes sliding across slats to guide products to the correct divert/destination. It handles a wide range of products with gentle handling. Used in omnichannel retail and parcel fulfillment.
Sweep Sorter diverts items using sweeping arms or blades, gently pushing them off conveyors. It provides simple, cost-effective sortation. Often used for lighter products like polybags or small cartons.
Tilt Tray consists of trays that tilt to slide products into destination chutes. It enables gentle handling at high speed. Common in apparel, parcels, and fragile item sortation.
Ready to find your solution? As a systems integrator, ISD continuously looks for leading technologies in both material handling and information systems paired with proven operational strategies. Our solutions range from simple to highly automated, earning us the
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