The Challenge
Garment handling in large distribution centers is traditionally manual, slow, and labor-intensive. Workers hunt through warehouses or move entire trolleys to induct and retrieve garments—especially painful for fashion resale or rental where every item has a different SKU. Most DCs still rely on one-level racking while trying to handle millions of garments. Labor shortages and seasonal peaks make scaling difficult.
The Solution: GOH Hive
As Chief Scientist and Director of Engineering at Planiform, I led the architecture and delivery of GOH Hive™—the first fully automated single-pick storage and retrieval system (AS/RS) designed specifically for garments on hangers (GOH). The system is powered by smart robots that work with the warehouse execution system (WES) to store and retrieve individual garments with precision.
How it works: Operators scan each item; GOH Hive robots indicate storage slots (including garment thickness). One type of robot navigates through multi-level racking via elevators to pick individual garments; a second type receives up to 30 hangers and delivers them to operator workstations. Software plans routes to avoid traffic and enable smooth flow. The system can run autonomously overnight for next-day order preparation. Pick stations integrate with pouch sorters or other downstream systems.
Key Innovations
- Single-pick ASRS for GOH: The only AS/RS capable of storing and retrieving unique SKUs of garments on hangers at scale—critical for e-commerce and omnichannel retail.
- Dual-robot design: Pick robots + transport robots maximize throughput while optimizing cubic space from floor to ceiling.
- WES integration: On-premises server coordinates between WES and robots over Wi-Fi for real-time orchestration.
- Scalability: Add levels and/or robots to increase capacity; works with any hanger type.
The Impact
The system is 10 times faster than traditional manual picking (from ~100 to ~1,000 units per hour per operator). It reduced labor costs by an estimated 60% and increased throughput by 40% in deployment. I built the software and automation departments from scratch to support GOH Hive and future Planiform innovations. Planiform’s first installation was for a major fashion retailer with both e-commerce and brick-and-mortar presence.
Resources
- Planiform: GOH Hive product page
- Planiform: GOH Hive technical sheet (PDF)
- Robotics 24/7: Planiform ASRS for garments boosts throughput by factor of 10
- Beckhoff: Clothing AS/RS boosts throughput 10× (GOH Hive)
- Supply Chain 24/7: Planiform ASRS garments
- Planiform: Dr. Hooman Mazin named Chief Scientist