Spectra Logic and Geyser Data have launched a tape-as-a-service archive deployment in London, the first European location available through the Geyser Data portal.

The site is live and available immediately for customers archiving long-term data. Users can now choose London alongside an existing archive location in Los Angeles.

The move extends the companies’ tape-based archive offering into Europe as demand grows for lower-cost long-term storage for cold data that is rarely accessed but must be retained for extended periods. The London site gives customers another regional option for keeping archive data closer to their operations.

Spectra Logic provides the tape library infrastructure and archive technology behind the service, while Geyser Data supplies the software layer and cloud platform through which customers access storage. The service uses an Amazon S3-compatible interface, allowing organisations to connect archive storage to established cloud workflows.

Regional Expansion

The companies are targeting organisations that want the economics of tape storage without operating tape libraries on their own sites. They are also seeking to attract hosting providers that can deploy archive infrastructure in local markets and offer the service through Geyser Data’s platform.

The structure is designed to create a broader network of provider-operated archive sites across regions. Local operators run the infrastructure, while customers access it through the same portal.

The London deployment is hosted in a Digital Realty facility, providing a carrier-neutral interconnection environment and connectivity options for archive workflows, hybrid environments and large data transfers.

The expansion comes as some businesses reassess the cost of keeping large volumes of inactive data in mainstream cloud archive tiers. While cloud archiving can reduce the need for on-site hardware, retrieval, egress and application programming interface charges can make long-term costs harder to predict.

Some organisations still use their own tape libraries to control archive spending. Spectra Logic and Geyser Data are positioning their service as a third option that combines off-site tape infrastructure with cloud-style access.

According to the companies, the service is aimed at both existing tape library users and businesses more accustomed to cloud storage. The main selling point is a cloud-based archive copy with pricing designed to avoid unexpected retrieval-related costs.

Nelson Nahum, Chief Executive Officer of Geyser Data, said the London launch showed the model could expand into additional markets through local providers.

“London is an important milestone because it demonstrates that tape-as-a-service can scale into new markets through a growing provider ecosystem. Organisations are looking for archive infrastructure that is purpose-built for long-term cold data retention with predictable economics. At the same time, service providers want a practical way to deliver those capabilities locally. Expanding to London gives customers more geographic choice and validates that this model works,” said Nahum.

Storage Costs

The use of tape in modern archive systems reflects a broader effort in the storage industry to separate frequently used data from data kept mainly for compliance, backup or historical reference. Tape remains widely used for deep archive because of its low media cost and long storage life, despite slower retrieval speeds than disk-based systems.

By wrapping tape infrastructure in a service model with an S3-compatible interface, providers can present it in a form that more closely resembles public cloud storage. That may appeal to companies that want to keep existing software tools and processes while moving archive data to a lower-cost medium.

Nathan Thompson, Chief Executive Officer of Spectra Logic, said service providers were looking for infrastructure that could support archive services in local markets.

“As demand for long-term data retention continues to grow, providers are looking for reliable infrastructure that can support archive services in their regions. Our tape library platforms and S3-compatible archive technologies power the underlying infrastructure that makes these deployments possible and give providers a proven foundation for delivering scalable cold data archiving,” said Thompson.

The London site is the latest step in Geyser Data’s international rollout. The company recently announced a partnership in Brazil that is expected to lead to another archive deployment, adding to a provider network that now spans North America and Europe.

Customers using the Geyser Data portal can now archive data in either London or Los Angeles.

THG Fulfil has deployed 430 Libiao Robotics sorting robots at one of its facilities, increasing daily sortation capacity to 625,000 units.

The system was integrated with its warehouse management system in 35 days and reached target volume within a week. The project used a Robotics-as-a-Service model instead of a large upfront capital investment.

At the site, sortation capacity rose from 250,000 units a day to 625,000 units a day. Throughput also increased by 11,151 units an hour, 34% above the initial target.

The deployment includes 14 induction stations and 80 Libiao 3D sorters, enabling dynamic sorting across 3,840 destinations. In total, 430 robots were introduced to support batch picking and sortation.

The system is delivering 99.9% sort accuracy and 99.9% uptime. THG Fulfil added that the change has reduced staffing needs by 45 full-time equivalent roles at a daily volume of 200,000 units.

Labour pressure

The investment comes as eCommerce operators face pressure from rising order volumes, demand volatility and labour costs, particularly during peak trading periods. Retailers and logistics providers have increasingly turned to warehouse automation to reduce dependence on seasonal labour and handle higher throughput requirements.

THG Fulfil said its previous constraints were in sortation and batching, where capacity limits and fixed infrastructure created bottlenecks. The company serves brands across beauty, nutrition, fashion, electronics and housewares.

The rollout has also enabled later delivery cut-off times, supporting next-day delivery cut-offs as late as 1am.

Global reach

THG Fulfil operates as part of THG Ingenuity and provides fulfilment and courier management services for eCommerce brands. It works with more than 250 courier partners across 195 countries.

THG Fulfil is also an official distributor of Libiao Robotics, giving clients direct access to the supplier’s automation systems. The arrangement links its fulfilment operations with a commercial role in distributing the same technology.

Libiao Robotics specialises in sorting systems for warehouses and distribution centres. These systems are designed to help operators handle large volumes of parcels or units by automating repetitive sorting tasks that would otherwise require more floor space or labour.

For THG Fulfil, the project marks a shift towards a more modular approach to warehouse automation. Using a service-based commercial model allows the company to add or adjust robotics capacity in line with changing order patterns rather than tying expansion to permanent fixed equipment.

The figures point to a focus on lowering cost to serve while improving handling speed and order accuracy. These metrics are closely watched by eCommerce brands, especially in categories where promotions, social media demand spikes and late ordering patterns can produce sudden surges in volume.

At a single facility, the new system has delivered 99.9% accuracy and 99.9% uptime, increased capacity by 150%, and reduced staffing needs by 45 full-time equivalent roles at a daily volume of 200,000 units.

Evri has opened a new fulfilment centre in Barnsley, investing more than GBP £4 million in the site.

The 265,000 sq ft facility is less than 100 metres from Evri’s existing Barnsley hub, allowing parcels to move directly from fulfilment into the delivery network on an hourly basis.

The site is expected to create more than 150 local jobs and is intended to serve both small and medium-sized businesses and larger retailers seeking later order cut-off times and faster dispatch.

A key feature is an order cut-off time of 11.59pm for next-day delivery. Parcels can move from order stage to picking, packing and entry into the delivery network within an hour.

The centre will also support same-day dispatch seven days a week and Amazon Prime distribution. Barnsley is the latest addition to Evri’s fulfilment network, following an earlier site in Basildon and operations on the US East Coast, in the Netherlands and in Oman.

The investment expands a fulfilment business that has recorded double-digit annual growth since launching in 2021. Evri is aiming to link warehousing and parcel handling more closely as retailers seek later shopping cut-off times and faster delivery.

Local expansion

The opening adds to Barnsley’s logistics and technology base as the town is promoted as the UK’s first ‘Tech Town’. Evri linked the development to local growth and inward investment, with job creation forming part of the project.

Located beside Evri’s largest operational site, the fulfilment centre gives the group a concentrated base for storage, picking, packing and immediate transfer into parcel sortation. The proximity reduces handover time between warehouse operations and linehaul distribution.

For smaller online sellers, later cut-off times can help narrow the service gap with larger brands that already operate extensive logistics networks. Evri said the new Barnsley site is intended to give thousands of SMEs access to next-day services that would otherwise be harder to provide at scale.

David Saenz outlined the company’s position on the launch.

“The launch of this purpose-built fulfilment facility, designed to meet the needs of the shopper of today and tomorrow, will bring exciting opportunities to some of the UK’s most loved brands as well as our country’s deep reservoir of small and medium-sized companies.

“We’ve paired cutting-edge fulfilment technology with a direct connection to the Evri Group’s well-established and fast-growing domestic and international networks, meaning whatever the business need, we have a solution,” said David Saenz, Chief Commercial Officer, Evri Group.

Evri did not disclose expected throughput for the new centre. It said the Barnsley operation would strengthen links between its fulfilment arm and its wider domestic and international parcel network.

Customer view

One existing customer said the shorter timetable from order to network entry could directly affect delivery promises.

“Evri has been an ideal partner to support our growth, and we’re thrilled about the new Barnsley fulfilment hub.”

“The ability to order at midnight, have the package in their network within an hour and be delivered the next day will be amazing for our customers,” said Amy Wilshere of Furocity, a sports nutrition and energy drink brand and Evri fulfilment customer.

Evri Group brings together Evri, DHL eCommerce UK, Coll-8 and UK Mail. The group says it handles more than 1 billion parcels and a further 1 billion business letters each year, while the Evri brand itself delivers around 900 million parcels annually.

The Barnsley project reflects how parcel operators are investing in fulfilment sites close to core hubs to shorten delivery windows and win more retail volume. It also highlights the growing overlap between warehouse services and parcel distribution in the push for later ordering and next-day delivery.