Skechers plans automated European logistics hub in Belgium
Skechers has chosen Knapp to deliver the automation for a new European distribution centre in Liège, Belgium. The facility will cover about 230,000 m² and provide more than 3.3 million storage locations, making it one of the largest automated projects in Europe’s fashion and footwear sector.
Construction and commissioning will take place in stages, with the full programme scheduled for completion by mid-2030. Operations serving European customers from the new site are expected to begin at the end of 2028. Once fully operational, the centre will be capable of processing up to 10 million pairs of shoes each month.
Automation designed around scale
The project responds to capacity constraints at Skechers’ existing European distribution centre in Milmort, also in the Liège province. Rather than expanding manual handling in parallel with demand, the new site is intended to centralise flows, reduce labour-intensive processes and create room for further growth.
Knapp’s design combines inbound and outbound material handling in one integrated system. Its core element is a large Evo Shuttle installation for carton storage. The concept also includes shuttle technology for replenishment and buffering, goods-to-person picking stations, automated pallet storage, conveyors and sorting equipment.
These components will be coordinated by Knapp’s KiSoft software, which is intended to give operators visibility across the distribution process. The system will support varying carton and product dimensions while allowing order volumes to increase without compromising availability or service performance.
Operational resilience beyond installation
The companies’ established relationship was one factor behind the decision, alongside the proposed system architecture and Knapp’s service model. Support will continue after commissioning through a Smart Maintenance programme combining predictive maintenance with an on-site Resident Engineering team.
For industrial operators, the project illustrates how automation investment is moving beyond individual machines. Storage, picking, software, sorting and maintenance are being designed as a connected operating model, giving a high-volume distribution network greater scalability and more consistent supply performance.
