Forklift helps boost trailer turnaround times January 1st 2008 When logistics services
provider, Euro
Continental, of
Northampton wanted to expand its
storage business, it turned to
Translift Bendi to help it gain the
best use of limited storage space
and to achieve improved lorry
turnaround times.
The solution was based on
narrow aisle racking designed
around the Bendi forklift. Some
models of this pivot steer, or
articulating forklift, can work in
aisles of just 1.6m wide.
Euro Continental handles about
75 lorries a day, including doubledeck
trailers and 7.5t versions, so
the operation is dependent on a
fast turnaround.
The Bendi is said to be as much
at home working outside on rough
yards as on smooth warehouse
floors. This dual functionality
means a Bendi can take a pallet
load straight from a lorry and into
the narrow aisle storage racking.
James Edstrom, Euro's logistics
project manager, estimates that the
Bendi saves 30min unloading a
40ft trailer compared with a twotruck,
double-handling operation.
The gas-powered BG 40 Bendi
can lift 1600kg to 3.5m and works
in aisles just over 2m wide to allow
handling of outsize pallets. Guided
by paper pick lists, drivers bring
pallet loads down from levels of up
to 6m to replenish order picking
faces at ground level.
The truck has side shift and
flashing safety beacon. Load vision
when interfacing with racking
beams, is good and there is no
rear end swing to damage racking.
Drivers received on-site training
over two days and quickly warmed
to the Bendi. More articles from Translift Bendi Limited: |