FEATURE LIFT TRUCKS
PRINTING FROM THE FORKLIFT increases employee productivity
What are the benefits of installing mobile label and receipt printers in warehouse vehicles and which requirements should be followed by users in order to optimise workflow?
R
educed costs and increased profitability and flexibility are top
priorities in supply chain management. Modern technology solutions turn industrial trucks into mobile workplaces and enable a faster and more exact completion of tasks. Against the background of global supply chains, decreasing delivery times and cost pressure, companies across all industries face the challenge to optimise their processes. Especially in warehouse management there is a huge potential for increasing the productivity of employees and reducing costs.
PRINTING DIRECTLY AT THE FORKLIFT One example is the use of printer solutions that are used for the packaging and labelling of products and other items including component parts or shelves. Virtually every product has to be labelled when it enters the warehouse; is repackaged and sent to an interim storage facility; and before dispatch. Mobile printers make a major
contribution to simplifying the work in the warehouse. Mounted on warehouse vehicles such as forklifts, mobile printers can produce labels, parcel stickers and receipts whenever and wherever they are required so they can be attached to the right items immediately. Faulty labelling can be eliminated almost completely.
REQUIREMENTS FOR FORKLIFTS Since space is often restricted and environmental conditions are challenging in the warehouse or on the loading dock mobile receipt and label printers must meet several important requirements. Only then can transport and logistics companies gain the maximum benefit from these technologies, optimise their workflows and improve cost efficiency. The following tips help warehouse managers to select the most suitable printing solutions for their requirements.
Robustness is trump: the environments in
which forklifts operate can be extremely challenging. Likewise the printers that are installed within must be capable of withstanding impacts and vibrations and very high and low temperatures or humid conditions. Cast metal housings have
S8 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015 | MATERIALS HANDLING & LOGISTICS
proven themselves exceptionally rugged in real world applications and offer reliable protection for the technology. Printing in the smallest corner: space is at
a premium in industrial trucks so printers have to be compact. Moreover, the installation must be done flexibly according to the given space: additional mounting options such as mounting plates are suitable for this task. When users select a mobile printer they have to be careful that it can be installed in its normal position as well as vertically on the wall or even upside down while complying with the installation guidelines and safety regulations. No action without energy: since forklifts are always on the go printers must operate without energy through the wire. A voltage transformer should be used to connect the device to the forklift's own
Mobile printers in industrial trucks should be as small as possible and offer a high level of performance
power supply and eliminate the need to exchange or charge batteries at a central station thereby disrupting work routine and reducing productivity. It prints and prints: mobile printers in
industrial trucks should be as small as possible and offer a high level of performance. For example, depending on the size of the label the MP Compact4 Mobile Mark II from Datamax-O’Neil by Honeywell can process rolls of up to 1,000 labels. Simpler to manufacture, large rolls are less expensive and do not have to be replaced as often. This reduces the number of interruptions and improves employees productivity. Ready-to-use in no time: many
warehouse employees have to wear leather or rubber gloves while working. To make replacing label rolls as easy as possible the printer must have large levers for opening covers, flaps that can be operated even while wearing gloves. A simple paper feed mechanism eg in
Since space is often restricted and environmental conditions are challenging in the warehouse or on the loading dock mobile receipt and label printers must meet important requirements
the form of a slit at the side of the device simplifies the process. Ideally, staff should be able to replace rolls without opening flaps or removing covers and replace wearing parts without the need for special tools. Simple and rapid integration of the printers into existing infrastructures is helpful. Take a long view: any customer
considering the purchase of a mobile printer solution should ensure that its overall operating costs are as low as possible. The buyer should be certain that the product and spare parts will be available for several years. Comprehensive service, maintenance and support should be available so that any faults can be eliminated quickly. This helps prevent time-consuming replacement of defective units at headquarters, lost working time, the resulting financial losses and impaired customer satisfaction. Transport and logistics providers can already benefit from many different technologies that clearly support their employees in completing their tasks.
Datamax-O’Neil T: 0115 968 3797
www.datamax-oneil.com
/ MATERIALSHANDLINGLOGISTICS
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