TPT March 2009

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March 2009 104 ›
H andling & P ackaging T echnology
The company had been using a variety of
racking in its existing buildings and wanted
to configure the new warehouse with a
combination of cantilever and ‘A’ frame
racking that offered a flexible and efficient
way of storing extrusions, tube, bar and
billets up to 6m in length.
In the previous operation, conventional
counterbalance trucks had undertaken
handling. Doré recognised that this would
not be practical in the new warehouse
because of the racking density and aisle
widths required to achieve the maximum
storage capacity.
The Forte UFS four-way can be driven
forwards, backwards and sideways because
all three wheels can swivel. This makes it
highly manoeuvrable in a confined warehouse
environment, and suitable for handling long
loads and different racking types.
During the selection process, Doré Metal
Services had identified that a side loader
truck would not offer the flexibility or
performance required to support its busy
operations. The company was making a
Atlet Limited, UK, has supplied its Forte
UFS four-way reach truck to Doré Metal
Services, UK, a supplier of a wide range of
non-ferrous and special metal extrusions,
including aluminium, brass and stainless
steel. This delivery followed a period of
consultation with a number of potential lift
truck suppliers, including Atlet.
Doré Metal Services had recently
consolidated its operations into a new
3,000m2 distribution warehouse. The
new building presented an opportunity to
optimise handling and storage processes.
six-figure investment in the racking alone,
and wanted to ensure it achieved the best
possible performance.
Atlet recognised that a vital issue was the
configuration of the racking and the aisle
widths to ensure the maximum storage
capacity and efficiency from the available
cube space. “ Aisle widths are critical
because we wanted to get more in the
warehouse but with flexibility and potential
for future growth,” commented Mr Mike
Lane, managing director of Doré Metal
Services.
Doré’s original plan had been to have
a series of aisles running along the
whole length of the building. However,
Atlet suggested the inclusion of a transit
aisle running across the middle of the
warehouse, as this would reduce the
average distance the truck would move to
complete each handling task.
The aisle reduced overall storage
capacity but this was more than offset by
improvements in efficiency and productivity.
The transit aisle also formed a convenient
boundary between the cantilever racking at
one end of the warehouse and the ‘A’ frame
racking at the other.
The business relies on the ability to pick
orders quickly, and the company has also
decided to purchase a second truck.
Atlet Limited – UK
Fax: +44 1844 219220
Email:
Website:
New concept positioner for welding
Rotolift, from Sideros Engineering, is a hydraulic positioner and handler used for
welding and assembly operations. The ergonomic machine has the capability to perform
workpiece lifting and lowering, in addition to inclination and rotation.
The workpiece is securely fixed on the
horizontal rotary table and handled
according to the operator’s needs.
The machine is designed to improve
operator performance and efficiency,
and boost safety conditions. Sideros
Engineering claims that production
costs can be reduced by 60 per cent,
with a consequent production increase.
Two versions of the machine
are available, one with totally
oleodynamic movement, and one with
oleodynamic lifting and inclination and
electromechanical rotation. Models are
available catering to a range of loading
capacity requirements. On request, the machine can be supplied with a bronze 600 or
1,500W rotary mass.
Sideros Engineering Srl – Italy
Fax: +39 0523 524951
Email:
Website:
 Rotolift is available in two base models, and in a
range of capacities
Four-way solution for non-ferrous extrusion supplier
 Doré selected Atlet’s Forte UFS four-way reach
truck for its new warehouse
 Atlet arranged for all of Doré’s drivers to be
trained in the use of the new trucks