The picking of long loads can be a World away from the process of picking smaller articles onto a standard size pallet. One man can perform the latter on his own and with modern man up VNA trucks, it is a very efficient way of picking even the biggest shopping list for a client. However, the same does not apply to long loads as these products can vary greatly in length, weight and flexibility.
The task of creating an efficient picking environment can be rather daunting and as such, most companies resort to the simple system of taking a bulk pack of material out of the rack (if stored this way) and bringing it down to ground level. From here, the product required is picked off and the remaining material is put back in the rack. For the medium to large operations, this is a very inefficient method and handling fragile items such as worktops can lead to excessive levels of product damage.
In Mainland Europe, most companies handling long loads are now well ahead of the game, using purpose built two man picking platforms. This type of fork truck (if you can call it that) allows two men to go direct to the pick face to heights of up to 10 metres. Orders are then picked directly onto the platform, either onto a pallet or into a purpose built stillage. The picked order is then taken to floor level and off loaded by a conventional fork truck and the process for the next order can start again.
The benefits to each trade sector can be as diverse as the products they handle. Handling worktops in this way has saved one UK customer 75% in damage costs and handling uPVC extrusion window products for another has reduced picking times and manpower considerably.
To handle flexible loads, a uPVC customer devised an ingenious method of handling a 6 metre long beading which was very flexible. They made an aluminium stretcher which supported the load when being taken out of the rack. This simple device takes greater care of the product and makes it a lot easier to handle.
In both cases, an initial costing analysis outlined the savings and when the trucks were installed, additional benefits came to light. The stock taking procedure time for both sectors has improved tremendously and so has the delivery lead time, plus driver comfort and safety levels have risen. Add all this to better picking accuracy levels and the improved level of customer care makes for a much smoother business operation.
Finally, the use of this type of truck is not limited to long loads. For small but heavy items which require two men to handle, several orders can be picked into a number of stillages on the platform, again straight from the rack.
In the past 18 months, the UK has received a fair number of these machines which are now currently working in a number of different environments and as time goes on, they are bringing greater efficiencies to more diverse applications. It just goes to show that even in a mature materials handling market, there can be a better solution to a problem just around the corner.
Hubtex (UK) Ltd
Tel: 01908 211161
Email: info@hubtex.com
www.hubtex.co.uk
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