Advertising Feature Cover Story
a Bendi articulated fork lift truck, and reorganising the racking layout to reduce the aisles from over 3m to 2m. But, as Martin explains, there were a few initial concerns: “The thought of reducing the aisles by a third and operating with a type of truck that was unknown to us was a little daunting at first. But any concerns we had were soon forgotten when we saw the Bendi in action and realised just how versatile it could be for our warehousing operation. We needed a truck that was easy to operate and would allow us to optimise storage density, whilst at the same permit fast and efficient individual pallet accessibility – and the Bendi was the answer.” The new warehouse layout, which was achieved by utilising some of the existing racking together with brand new components, has resulted in a storage capacity increase of over 30% as the number of pallets stored has grown from 1,000 to over 1,300. The aisles, which are now completely free of pallets and obstructions, allow for a safer and more efficient picking environment. The Bendi model chosen for the operation is the B318 – a three-wheel truck that has excellent visibility and unrivalled stability as it easily accommodates loads of 1,800kg up to a height of 9m without any special floor requirements. The unique 220° steering means that the Bendi will operate in the tightest of aisles and is equally at home unloading vehicles outside on yards as it is working in warehouses and production areas. Although capable of working in a 1.8m aisle with a 1.2m deep pallet, the aisle was set at 2m once the optimum
storage capacity was achieved, thus increasing operating speeds even further. The transition to Bendi from reach and counterbalance was made simple with all of the operators attending a driver training conversion course, and one of them in particular achieved a 100% pass rate. “The Bendi has revolutionised the way in which we operate,” concluded Martin. “The new layout and additional capacity means that pallets can be taken direct from the delivery vehicle and straight into the racks into predetermined locations, and the whole operation of handling 30+ pallets only takes between 30 to 45 minutes. Clear aisles also mean that we can pick and operate more efficiently in a much safer environment and ensure that the products are delivered to our customers, accurately and on time. All in all we believe the change has created a more efficient system both allowing for future growth and enhancing customer service.” n
www.bendi.co.uk
Bendi – making a huge impact
Bendi, the company that brought the articulated fork lift truck to market, is forging ahead with amazing new concepts to maintain its dominant market position.
According to Bendi MD Simon Brown, it is providing products that overcome daily storage and distribution problems for a broad spectrum of companies. “The current Bendi range has something to suit almost any site, layout or budget,” remarks Simon. “Our range works in the narrowest aisles, the highest racking bays and the most demanding multi-shift operations. If you need to reduce storage space in order to increase the amount stored, or reduce the space you store it in, there is not a more cost- effective way to handle pallets on pallet racking.
“But you don’t have to be a 3PL or operate a big a shed to benefit from a Bendi. The Rochford Machinery case study is an excellent example of where a single Bendi has made a huge impact on the way in which the company now runs its warehouse operation.” Innovative
Bendi introduced to complement
products – the
core range – include the Mini Bendi, the Bendi Order Picker, the Bendi Arctic Cold Store Truck and the Bendi Longloader for handling long and awkward loads as well as standard pallets.
“Designed and manufactured in the UK and distributed worldwide, our policy of continual improvement and new product development ensures that we maintain
the best-selling truck
in the market place we have created,” concludes Simon.
www.shdlogistics.com March 2014 13
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