Automated Sortation Systems
Automated sortation systems bring together barcode scanning technology, conveyor systems and bespoke software controls, to provide a high-speed reliable sorting solution. They eliminate the time and costs associated with manual sorting – loads are simply scanned and programmed logic either moves them onto the next area of the conveyor process, or sorts them into their relevant lanes for packing and dispatch.
Sorter Comparison – Pros Overview
| Feature / Benefit |
Cross Belt Sorter |
Popup Sorter |
Swivel Sorter |
| Best for throughput |
Very high (6,000–20,000+ pph) |
Medium (2,000–6,000 pph) |
Medium–High (4,000–8,000 pph) |
| Gentle product handling |
Excellent – controlled belt discharge |
Moderate – depends on product |
Good – smooth angled discharge |
| Handles mixed item types (bags + cartons) |
Excellent |
Limited |
Very good |
| High number of destinations |
50–200+ |
10–40 |
20–80 |
| Bidirectional sorting |
Yes |
Usually one-sided |
Yes |
| Layout flexibility |
Oval, linear, multi-level |
Inline systems |
Flexible angles |
| Scalability |
Modular, easy to extend |
Limited by conveyor layout |
Modular sections |
| Maintenance complexity |
Higher complexity |
Simpler |
Moderate |
| Capital cost level |
High |
Medium |
Medium–High |
| Best application |
Large e-commerce and parcel hubs |
Carton-only distribution |
Mixed parcel distribution |
Cross Belt Sorter – Premium High-Performance Option
Strengths:
- Highest throughput available
- Extremely gentle handling
- Can sort to both sides
- Handles polybags, cartons, irregular items
- Very high destination count
- Ideal for large e-commerce / parcel hubs
Typical Use Case:
National fulfilment centres, parcel carrier hubs, large omni-channel DCs.
Popup Sorter – Cost-Effective Carton Sort
Strengths:
- Lower capital cost
- Simpler mechanical design
- Good for uniform cartons
- Compact inline integration
- Lower maintenance complexity
Limitations:
Not ideal for polybags or unstable loads.
Typical Use Case:
Retail carton distribution, case handling.
Swivel Sorter – Balanced Middle Ground
Strengths:
-
Good speed and accuracy
- Gentler than popup
- Handles mixed cartons + soft packs
- Better for multi-angle layouts
- Lower CapEx than cross belt
Typical Use Case:
Mid-sized e-commerce, 3PL operations.
Why Choose Keymas?
- UK-based automation & software experts
- Proven experience in warehouse optimisation
- End-to-end support—from design and integration to service and upgrades
Scanning, weighing, print and apply and sortation
As part of our modular system other options such as inline weighing and print and apply can be added as needed. If your project requires 5 sided scanning or adding labels automatically onto the items then we can tailor the system to work for your needs.