Feature Logistics
Moving paper reels safely and efficiently A
A complete overhaul of its storage facilities including a switch to Jungheinrich materials handling equipment has improved operational efficiency across all of Anton Group’s intra-logistics processes
nton Group is a fast moving, highly responsive business spe- cialising in the production of vari- able image data print and direct mail. In recent years the group has invested in excess of £50 million in equipment to create an ultra-advanced operation. Part of this sizable spend was directed at an overhaul of the storage facilities and materials handling equipment in operation at the group’s 165,000 sq ft site. Daily pick and pack and dispatch operations are under- taken as well as rapid response print and mailing campaigns. These are often time critical and require signifi- cant paper stocks to be held to ensure production can commence at any time of day or night or at weekends. By reconfiguring the warehouse around a narrow aisle layout the com- pany has increased pallet capacity at the store to 4762 while a switch to Jungheinrich materials handling equipment has improved operational efficiency across all of Anton’s intra- logistics processes.
Paper reels measuring around 1000mm wide and 1400mm in diame- ter are ‘chimney’ stacked up to 8 reels high on the floor of the goods-in area while pre-cut paper sheets arrive on pallets and stored within the racking. Incoming paper reels are unloaded from trailers using a combination of gas-powered counterbalanced trucks from the Jungheinrich TFG range and block stacked using counterbalance and reach trucks. Anton has six TFG counterbalance trucks in its fleet – one of which has a reel clamp fitted. On-site safety was a key driver in Anton’s decision to invest in
Jungheinrich trucks at its Laindon site and the fact that the TFG counterbal- ance range has been designed to be inherently stable - without the need for additional electronic stability sys- tems - made it particularly attractive. The truck’s counterweight – tradi- tionally situated at the rear of the vehicle – is partially underneath the operator seating position. Lowering the counterweight and positioning it further forward changes the truck’s centre of gravity to make the machine ultra-stable. Most counterbalance fork- lifts have the heavy counterweight at the rear which gives them a high centre of gravity which can cause them to ‘roll’ if driven inappropriately. Operator comfort and fuel efficiency were important considerations. The motor in the TFG range is supplied by Volkswagen and designed to offer the lowest noise levels and emissions while fuel consumption is particularly low. Test cycles have shown that over the course of 2000 hours of typical
On-site safety was a key driver in Anton’s decision to adopt Jungheinrich trucks at its Laindon site
operation the truck will save some £2000 in fuel costs in comparison with a standard conventional counter- balance truck and when it comes to emissions, the VFG series complies with the latest guidelines laid down by the EU. Within the racking pallet loads of sheet paper are handled by two Jungheinrich EKX 513 wire-guided Kombi trucks which collect loads from P&D stations and put them away in a racking location allocated by Anton’s WMS which is fed directly in to the truck’s on board computer. The EKX 513’s versatile design and intelligent truck management system ensures the lowest operating costs are achieved at Anton.
In addition to housing the raw mate- rials used in the printing process the storage cube holds finished goods pro- duced for timed campaigns. “The Kombi trucks allow the opera- tor to pick single orders as well as full pallet loads which gives us the versa- tility we need as client campaigns can be very specific and we offer a ‘pick and mix’ service,” says director of group purchasing Kim Scott. Anton’s truck fleet which includes powered and hand pallet trucks has been acquired on a five-year lease. “Our materials handling equipment is vital to our entire operation so we needed a supplier that could not only offer cutting edge technology but guarantee the highest levels of after- sales support. Jungheinrich ticked all the boxes,” concludes Scott.
Jungheinrich T: 0800 357 457
www.jungheinrich.co.uk
Enter 10 Materials Handling & Logistics NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 S13
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