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Tag: loading

Pallet Trucks for Loading/Unloading

Posted on by David Priestman

With the T16 P to T20 P models, Linde Material Handling (MH) is launching two new compact pallet trucks with a foldable operator platform. Offering 1.6 and 2.0 tons load capacity, respectively, and a width of just 720mm, the vehicles are designed for use in a wide range of applications and are ideally suited for working in confined spaces. Thanks to speeds of up to 8.5 km/h, gradeability of up to 20 percent, and new comfort and safety features, they enable efficient fast transportation of goods over short and medium distances as well as loading and unloading operations. The pallet trucks are available with a choice of either lead-acid or the latest generation of lithium-ion batteries. Fleet management and connectivity ensure productive operation and effective service.

“Confined spaces present a particular challenge when it comes to loading and unloading trucks as well as in adjacent goods distribution areas,” says Peter Klug, Product Manager Warehouse Technology Germany at Linde MH. “When operating between closely-spaced pallets on the truck loading area or along unclear routes through cargo handling zones, drivers need to have their equipment one hundred percent under control. Accordingly, they appreciate compact, ergonomic vehicles that enable them to work safely and quickly,” explains Klug. With the Linde T16 P and the Linde T20 P, there are now two newly developed vehicles available for the fast movement of goods at the truck ramp and over short to medium transport distances. “The foldable platform allows employees to drive the truck, which saves time and energy. Wherever pallets must be manoeuvred with centimetre precision, the platform and side bars can be folded back up in no time at all,” explains the product manager.

In the Linde portfolio, the Linde T16 P and T20 P models are the link between pedestrian-only vehicles and the recently introduced, high-performance models with foldable or fixed stand-on platform: Their performance is designed to meet the requirements of light to medium-duty applications, while at the same time featuring premium comfort and safety equipment. Additionally, the new trucks are available with various energy options and state-of-the-art on-board electronics and connectivity equipment.

Customized for specific applications

The 1.3 kW three-phase AC motor accelerates the vehicles to a maximum speed of 8.5 km/h; however, speed limits can also be set via various parameters. In difficult situations, the automatic booster effect provides higher torque when additional power is needed, e.g. when driving out of a pothole or pulling out a foil-wrapped pallet that is stuck in the truck. On slopes, the pallet trucks have plenty of reserve under their non-deformable engine hood thanks to gradeability of 15 percent (Linde T16 P) and 13 percent (Linde T20 P) when loaded, and 20 percent when unloaded. Furthermore, the electric steering system allows smooth and precise control even under full load, while the five-point contact configuration with a centred drive wheel and sprung castor wheels keeps the unit stable during transport. Optional integrated onboard chargers free drivers from having to rely on fixed charging stations.

Increased comfort and safety

Additionally, the trucks offer further optimizations with regard to safety and comfort. The sideguards, which keep the operator safely within the chassis contours, are more robustly designed and padded on the new models. The special Linde tiller head now has an activation angle of 65°, which is convenient for drivers with shorter stature. The stand-on platform has been enlarged to 663mm and, with a height of 162mm, allows easy access for the driver. Suspended and made of non-slip rubber, it also dampens vibrations and shocks, thus creating the basis for fatigue-free working. A new option is the metal accessory bar, to which work lights, scanners or the Linde Blue Spot can be attached. Another equipment option is the load guard which prevents the load from sliding toward the operator.

Linde Material Handling GmbH, a KION Group company, is a globally operating manufacturer of forklift trucks and warehouse trucks, and a solutions and service provider for intralogistics. With a sales and service network that spans more than 100 countries, the company is represented in all major regions around the world.

Maximising loading efficiency for air cargo in Kenya

Posted on by David Priestman

Joloda Hydraroll, world leader in loading and unloading solutions, has partnered with Sai Raj, a fibreglass moulder, vehicle body manufacturer and conversion specialist in Kenya.

For Sai Raj’s long-standing customer, AirFlo Kenya, Joloda Hydraroll has supported the development of a new air cargo trailer that can be loaded and unloaded far more efficiently. Joloda says the process is faster, safer and doesn’t require forklifts.

Bespoke Solution

AirFlo Kenya is a specialist provider of logistics solutions for perishables, such as fresh cut flowers, vegetables, and fruits. In early 2022, the company approached Sai Raj with the request to build a new air cargo trailer to transport pallets from the warehouse facility to Airside operations at Nairobi airport, where they would be unloaded onto the aircraft. AirFlo Kenya wanted to make the loading and unloading process safer and more efficient compared with traditional loading and unloading practices reliant on forklifts or pallet trucks.

Sai Raj decided to partner with Joloda Hydraroll to create a bespoke rollerbed vehicle to meet the brief. Joloda Hydraroll’s Pneumatic Roller Track (PRT) solution utilises rise and fall rollerbed technology, and is integrated into the trailer’s floor, customised to fit its length.

Efficiency Gains

The addition of Joloda Hydraroll’s solutions and loading/unloading expertise has enabled Sai Raj to build and deliver its first air cargo trailer – named Cargotuff by Sai Raj – to AirFlo Kenya. With it, operators can transport up to four ULDs at one time, with the ability to load and unload in a simple and speedy manner. The rollerbed floor is pneumatically operated, meaning air cargo can simply be rolled in and out of the trailer without the need for forklifts.

Amar Bahra, Director at Sai Raj, explains: “We got in touch with Joloda Hydraroll because their customer service was extraordinary, and the pricing was competitive. We thought the installation stages were going to be complicated, but we were made to feel at ease. The installation was complete in just three days, which allowed us to keep operational downtime to a minimum.”

Since its delivery in May 2022, the trailer has been in use daily. The team at AirFlo Kenya have found that loading and unloading the trailer is now much quicker. With the rollerbed loading solution, the process is also safer as the pneumatic rollers are automatically lowered when the trailer is in transit.

New Revenue Opportunities

Working with Joloda Hydraroll has opened new avenues for Sai Raj. “By working with Joloda Hydraroll, we can now provide new solutions to other supply chain businesses; and we have already started to have these conversations,” says Bahra.

Additionally, with the logistics market in Kenya experiencing accelerated growth, Bahra sees this project as a sign of things to come: “We’re proud to provide such a solution in Kenya – it’s been a very positive journey for us. There’s a lot of scope for growth in logistics in Kenya, as well as throughout Africa, and by partnering with Joloda Hydraroll, we already have a head start in meeting such demands.”

Arjan Nobel, Global Sales Manager, Joloda Hydraroll, concludes: “We’re thrilled to have supported Sai Raj –  our first customer in Kenya, Central East Africa – with its new air cargo trailer. Kenya, like many countries in Africa, has a growing and demanding logistics market, exporting masses of horticultural produce into Europe.

“Doing so quickly and efficiently is reaching new heights of importance – and this is where the loading and unloading process in particular can make a big difference. The addition of Joloda Hydraroll’s Integrated Rollerbed Loading System means the air cargo trailer can be loaded/unloaded with ease. The whole process is safer and faster, helping to reduce the time that perishable cargo is in transit.”

Improved dock utilisation with Ancra Systems

Posted on by David Priestman

Automatic loading and unloading goods into standard trailers without modifications is becoming the new standard within logistics, as it greatly improves dock utilisation. Ancra Systems is in a leading position to offer the most comprehensive package for standard and  customisable ATLS solutions (Automatic Truck/Trailer/Container One-shot Loading & Unloading Solutions). With 30 years of experience, Ancra Systems has successfully installed more than one thousand ATLS systems in a wide range of industries in the past 10 years.

If you have high-volume inbound or outbound, standard palletised goods, slip-sheeted or Euro palletised goods, and need to reduce the inefficiencies, speed up truck turnaround time at the dock, save labour and equipment cost, improve worker ergonomics and avoid goods damage, , that can all be achieved with Ancra Systems. With its Non-Modified ATLS solution, the overall loading or unloading cycle can be reduced from ± 30 minutes to just 7-8 minutes enabling a single dock door to handles up to four full trailers per hour.

Ancra Systems offers two types of Non-Modified ATLS solutions – Skateloader and Loadrunner Plus.

Skateloader system for loading palletised or slip-sheeted goods

The Skateloader system was developed and engineered for the automated loading of non-modified trailers/trucks/containers. When no trailer modifications are required, the Skateloader is the ultimate solution for one-shot loading of standard palletised goods or slip-sheeted goods for outbound transport. It’s an ideal solution for a busy production facility or a distribution centre shipping to multiple end-users.

The total loading process only takes approximately 7-8 minutes (depending on the required height adjustment and alignment). Because there is no corresponding system in the trailer, the Skateloader has special functionality for loading. It is equipped with a scanning system controlled by dedicated software to ensure the correct alignment of the loading system with the trailer.

It is able to follow the trailer’s height which changes continuously while moving weight from the dock into the trailer, thus ensuring a flawless loading process. The system deposits the pallets on the floor of the trailer in a controlled way, without any friction to the pallets and its cargo.

The Skateloader can be seamlessly integrated into any automated production or warehouse system. The Skateloader system increases efficiency by 400%, compared to traditional forklift truck loading. The shorter truck turnaround time at the dock is accomplished while creating a safer work environment, for employees and product.

Loadrunner Plus System for loading & unloading Euro palletised goods

The LoadRunner Plus was developed and engineered for automated one-shot loading and even unloading of Euro pallets, consistent pallets or racks with no bottom boards into non-modified standard truck/trailer/container.  It’s a refined solution for one-shot loading and unloading goods for inbound or outbound transport.

The LoadRunner Plus can load (and even unload) 33 euro pallets (short side leading, three pallets side-by-side) in one-shot automatically. Even partial loading is possible with all Ancra’s Non-Modified ATLS Solutions. And as there is no queue pressure between the individual pallets, product damages during the loading (or unloading) cycle are also avoided.

It can easily be applied at existing sites, whether you have docks or without docks.

All Ancra’s Non-Modified ATLS solutions can be pre-loaded by the buffer stations as well as by AGV or forklift trucks.

Click here to watch a video of Skateloader

Hörmann dock leveller offers flexibility and safety

Posted on by David Priestman

With the most recent ONS retail sales survey showing a 32% growth in on-line sales during 2020, retail distributors and operators are looking for even greater flexibility and speed when loading and unloading of all types of fleet vehicle. The innovative HTLV-3 dock leveller from Hörmann provides the safe solution, with a unique 3-part telescopic lip making it suitable for standard trailer sizes including euro-trailers, right down to smaller vans.

The installation of a HTLV-3 dock leveller is a cost effective and space-saving solution, reducing the need for separate loading bays for lorries and vans. It been specifically designed and developed to operate either across the full telescopic lip as a conventional dock leveller or with the extension of just the middle section to accommodate smaller vehicles and vans.

For the loading and unloading of vans the HTLV-3 has been manufactured with an intelligent and patented hydraulic system. Fitted with two hydraulic cylinders, which allow the dock leveller to follow the movement of the loading surface of the van during loading, the HTLV-3 reduces the transference of weight from the leveller onto the back of the van. This combined with the positive positioning of the leveller at every point of the loading operation, results in a safer working environment for loading operatives and protects the vehicle from harsh loading forces.

For lorries, the HTLV-3 is operated across its whole telescopic width without any compromise in performance and safety standards when compared to a standard dock leveller. Fully extended the HTLV-3 provides an impressive maximum rated load of 60kN, whilst a maximum load of 20kN applies when the leveller is operating with just the middle section extended.

Paul Tulley, Key Account Manager at Hörmann UK, comments: “The HTLV-3 dock leveller is just one of the innovative loading bay solutions on offer from Hörmann. Whilst there are other products available on the market that facilitate the loading and unloading of different sized vehicles, Hörmann is the only manufacturer to offer a solution that has been designed specifically for this requirement.

“Not only does the HTLV-3 offer flexibility, but it also ensures that operators can maximise their loading capacity in terms of performance, whilst not compromising safety considerations.”

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