Skechers has appointed Knapp to automate a new European distribution centre in Liège, Belgium. Covering approximately 230,000 m², the facility is planned to contain more than 3.3 million storage locations and will rank among Europe’s largest automated fashion and footwear logistics projects.
The site will be commissioned in stages, with completion expected by mid-2030. European supply from the new centre is due to begin at the end of 2028. At full operation, the facility is designed to handle up to 10 million pairs of shoes per month.
The investment follows capacity pressure at Skechers’ existing European distribution centre in Milmort. Knapp’s integrated design will connect inbound and outbound flows through Evo Shuttle carton storage, replenishment and buffering shuttles, goods-to-person stations, automated pallet storage, conveyors and sortation equipment.
KiSoft software will coordinate the processes and support different carton and product dimensions. The system is intended to provide the scalability needed for growing order volumes while maintaining availability and service performance.
Knapp will also support the facility after launch through Smart Maintenance, combining predictive maintenance with an on-site Resident Engineering team. The companies’ long-standing relationship and the proposed service model were among the factors behind the award.
A multilingual professional experienced in Europe, Canada, and China, Herbert has developed invaluable networks in the automotive and energy industries. He has led high-profile projects involving ENBW, Mercedes-Benz Group, Siemens Group, and the Fraunhofer Institute.