OWEGO, NY, 10-FEB-03 -- Lands' End Inc., a leading direct merchant of clothing, luggage, gifts and specialty items for both home and corporate promotions, has selected Lockheed Martin to move into the second phase of its packing sorter system project at the merchandiser's order fulfillment center in Dodgeville, WI. Phase 1 of the system was completed in the fall of 2002, and successfully used throughout the company's peak ordering cycle at year's end. The system provides Lands' End increased capacity as well as the ability to consolidate single- and multiple-item orders for more efficient packing and shipping. Lockheed Martin provided the overall design and implementation of the sortation system during this initial phase, which included computer controls, a high-speed cross-belt sorter, conveyor and automatic and semi-automatic packing systems.

We were very pleased with Lockheed Martin's performance on the first phase of what we call our 'Extreme Sorter,' said Randy Peterson, vice president of engineering for Lands' End. Lockheed Martin took on a very difficult project and worked to an aggressive schedule to meet our peak processing needs. They supported us through peak and we have every confidence that the next phase of the project will be handled just as well.

The overall system is designed to process 10,800 items per hour. Phase 1 provided the base functionality and throughput of 4,800 items per hour, and Phase 2 will increase the system's throughput to 7,800 items per hour. Phase 3, expected to be awarded later in 2003, will achieve the full 10,800 items per hour capacity, Peterson said.

Lockheed Martin will expand capacity of the system by adding additional automated packaging lines as well as increasing the overall throughput of the sortation loop during the second phase of the project, which is scheduled for completion by late summer.

We are pleased to help Lands' End meet its growth needs through our expertise in complex material handling and sortation system design and implementation, said Brian Tanton, vice president Material Handling and Identification Solutions for Lockheed Martin Distribution Technologies.

Lockheed Martin Distribution Technologies, Owego, NY, designs, produces and integrates mail automation, material handling, recognition, information processing and online postage systems for postal services, package delivery operations, corporate mail centers, baggage handling and distribution, fulfillment and manufacturing centers worldwide. Distribution Technologies is a unit of Lockheed Martin Corporation, Bethesda, MD.