AU: Innovation cuts yard wait times
CHEP’s Gillman Service Centre in South Australia introduced the triple-tine forklift trucks in January 2014, and according to Regional Operations Manager, Mike O’Flaherty, load times have reduced by an average of 10.5 minutes compared to loading with a double-tine forklift.
“By using a triple pallet handler attachment we are now able to carry three stacks of pallets in a movement compared to two stacks with the double pallet handlers.
This means we achieve a 50 per cent improvement in productivity and a 50 per cent improvement in load/unload times.” Mr O’Flaherty says.
This is just the latest innovation in CHEP’s process of continuous improvement. Other improvements that have impacted the reduced wait times include fitting the forklift trucks with larger gas tanks, cutting filling time down to once per shift and saving up to 30 minutes per forklift. Another improvement is that CHEP Logistics trucks are now loaded overnight to reduce yard congestion during the day.
CHEP worked with the manufacturers on the forklift truck specs and on building an attachment that handles three stacks of pallets safely and is strong enough to cope with the 50 per cent increase in weight. The new five tonne fork truck is small enough to manoeuvre around a CHEP yard and has the flexibility to pick up one, two or three stacks of pallets/product at one time.
Victoria’s largest pallet service centre at Dandenong South adopted the new innovation in August, with Altona to follow in early 2015 followed by key metro sites nationally.
For more information:
Dzintra Horder
CHEP Australia
Tel: +61 02 9856 2547
www.chep.com