Feature Lift trucks Trucks optimise storage density
Logistics service provider, Expect Distribution, is enjoying a number of operational benefits following the introduction of Flexi articulated forklift trucks at its facility in Bradford
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stablished in 1988 as Pennine Parcels, rebranding as Expect Distribution in 2006, Expect operates some 250,000ft2 of ware- housing and distribution space across three sites in Yorkshire.
The facilities – one at Halifax and two in Bradford – provide storage for a diverse variety of products ranging from medical supplies and food stuffs to industrial equipment.
The sites also act as hubs where loads are marshalled as part of Expect’s role within the Palletline pallet distribution network. Expect Distribution is the largest inputter of freight into the Palletline network and was the first haulier to put a million pallets through the system. The facility adjacent to the M606 in the Odsal region of Bradford is the most recent of Expect’s three sites to open. It was needed to cope with the growing demand for the company’s services and combines 54,000ft2 of high quality warehousing space with a very busy cross docking operation and the company’s head office functions. When planning the layout of the stor- age cube within the Odsal warehouse, Expect opted to maximise the available space by specifying a narrow aisle stor- age system served by Flexi Narrow Aisle articulated forklift trucks. “We were committed to narrow aisle storage but because a large part of our business involves cross docking it was important to select a truck that could function efficiently and safely in all areas of our warehousing operation,”
explains David Storrie, Expect Distribution’s head of warehousing. “We also needed trucks that would allow us to optimise storage density while at the same time permit fast and efficient individual pallet accessibility - which can become a problem with many other forklift based high density storage systems,” he adds.
Pallet capacity at the Low Moor unit is 7,000 with pallets stored six high in the racking.
Following a period of close consul- tation between key personnel from Expect and the warehouse planning team at Flexi Narrow Aisle, 2.0 metres was agreed to be the optimum aisle width for the project. While Flexi trucks can pick up and turn pallets in aisles as narrow as 1.6 metres wide, in applications like Expect where high throughputs need to be achieved and faster travel speeds are required, the speed at which a truck can safely operate in the aisle- ways is more important than the need to narrow the aisleways.
But, even when setting the aisles 200mm wider than the minimum width, the Flexis were still more space efficient for Expect than conventional moving mast reach trucks – an option the company had also considered. As this site is a multi-user facility, Expect does not have pick faces within the racking – the Flexis either pick full pallet loads or, if part picks are required, the trucks drop a pallet from its storage location and deliver it to a marshalling area where orders are
Flexi Narrow Aisle articulated forklifts has allowed Expect Distribution to maximise storage in a safe and efficient way at its Bradford facility
Flexi Narrow Aisle T: 0121 557 6242
www.flexi.co.uk Enter 357
Retail site gets the silent treatment
as a result of complaints from local residents about the noise levels of out of hours deliveries. The BT Lifter Silent is designed for applications requiring quiet handling of goods as noise levels from the truck do not exceed 60 decibels (dBA), which is approximately the same volume as two people talking in a normal tone of voice.
A Keeping the Romford store operating from 7am until 10pm six days a week requires deliveries
outside of regular business hours. Varn Ullyart, head of assets ASDA says: “Toyota had the ideal product to enable deliveries to take place during unsocial hours without compromising the wellbeing of local residents.” Trevor Whitehead, contract manager for Toyota assessed the situation at Romford and recommended the BT Lifter Silent. “After the truck was demonstrated it became apparent that the BT Lifter Silent virtually eliminated the noise issues which were previously causing problems.” The BT Lifter Silent is equipped with high-quality rubber steering wheels and powerthane bogie wheels for whisper-quiet operation.
As with other trucks in the BT Lifter range the BT Lifter Silent comes with a 99-year guarantee on forks and frame. Toyota Material Handling
T: 01977 711025
www.toyota-forklifts.co.uk Materials Handling & Logistics JULY/AUGUST 2012 Enter 358
sda’s new 50,000ft2 retail site at Romford which is located in a residential area near a apartment block has been equipped with a BT Lifter Silent from Toyota Material Handling
made up, before returning the load to its location within the store. All of the pallet put away and picking within the racking is under- taken by the Flexis while the job of unloading and loading incoming and departing trailers in the yard is shared between the Flexi articulated trucks and a fleet of 2.5 tonne LPG powered counterbalanced trucks. “The Flexi’s ability to unload incoming trailers like a counterbal- ance machine and serve our narrow aisle racking means we have been able to reduce double handling and make optimum use of our forklift fleet and labour resource,” says Storrie. “The Flexi trucks have allowed us to reduce aisle widths to maximise stor- age capacity while maintaining a safe and productive operation that allows fast and efficient pallet put away and retrieval cycles.” A fleet of four-wheel, electric-pow- ered Flexi EURO VNA trucks is in operation at Premier Point, Expect Distribution’s Odsal site.
John Maguire, sales and marketing director of Flexi Narrow Aisle, says: “We are delighted to be working with Expect to provide a solution for the company’s materials handling needs. The Flexi truck is popular among logistics service providers who need to maximise storage density and require safe and efficient throughput.”
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