Following Astec Conveyors first installation of a hi-tech hub-style sortation system at the TNT Birmingham depot, the company has continued to deliver and support similar parcel sortation systems at other TNT sites. Sales Director – Roger Pendleton confirmed that Astec Conveyors had successfully tendered and completed further projects at TNT depots throughout the UK. These include Slough, Bellshill, Durham, Manchester and also new TNT site’s in Preston, Swansea, Liverpool and Glasgow
TNT Express is a rapidly growing international market leader that services more than 200 countries and employs more than 161,500 people in providing businesses and consumers worldwide with an extensive range of services for their mail and express delivery needs. With ever increasing demands for shorter delivery times, optimal reliability and added value services, TNT are constantly working to meet those demands within distribution and sorting hubs by introducing automation of sorting processes, tracking and tracing of parcels and documents.
ASTEC set the standards
After reviewing the first project completed by Astec Conveyors in Birmingham in July 2004, the UK Network Development Team acknowledged that the installation of a reversible straight-line conveyor system had been extremely successful and would form the basis of MHS installations at all future new TNT depots.
Several companies were invited to tender for a number of planned TNT development sites, which required them to provide full specifications including an overview of the potential system layout, operating criteria and demonstrate how they would adhere to a very strict time schedule for installation.
Following the same basic working principles as the original system installed at the Birmingham depot, Astec Conveyors in conjunction with TNT, designed a universal and versatile concept to provide an effective reversible materials handling system that could be operated throughout the TNT depot network.
A number of key sites required increased flexibility as the system necessitated a ”multi-mode” option where the system could not only provide an end to end reversible system, but also provide the option of both upper and ground level material handling systems to operate independently and in opposite directions. As a result, a number of projects involved the installation of mezzanine floors.
The new system allows for inbound trailers to be efficiently unloaded at the same time, speeding up the flow of freight into the depot.
Astec’s specially designed, reversible modular merge/divert and centralising units are fitted with close pitched segmented rollers to minimise the possibilities of ‘dead areas’ and provides optimum merge / diverting capability for large parcels down to small jiffy bag items. TNT has acknowledged that the development of these key elements has contributed to the systems success.
Outbound goods are transported and indexed on conveyors to a checkpoint, to be checked, weighed and then labelled with a detailed printed delivery / routing label. Following this procedure, parcels are then merged and transported on a close pitched powered roller “main line”, via an inline barcode reader station which was designed and installed to function in both directions.
The barcode scanner checks and communicates information to the host TNT “Universe” computer system and the sortation PLC system to ensure traceability, whilst performing the updates in ‘real time’.
Items are discharged either down designated inclined / declined belt conveyors where mezzanine floors have been installed or directly onto the telescopic boom conveyors into awaiting trailers to be delivered to the hub for further sorting.
Astec supplies reverse sortation system
The Astec sortation system is designed to run in opposite directions. Returning inbound parcels from TNT sortation hubs are unloaded from trailers, via telescopic conveyors. Barcode routing labels are scanned, sorted and conveyed to be diverted down designated lanes for regional deliveries.
Astec Conveyors undertook the project’s on a complete turnkey basis including full project management.
Astec Conveyors sales director, Roger Pendleton reported,” Our previous experience of system requirements and working closely with TNT was an obvious advantage, especially as there is a very tight window for installation and it is essential there is no disruption to ongoing operations. There is a lot of planning required to ensure that we maintain operations, especially as Astec needed to break-in and install the new system over a weekend period.
As a manufacturer of handling equipment and automated systems, this enabled us to provide a ‘one-stop source’ for TNT, enabling us to focus the projects and complete on time and within budget. ”
Astec Conveyors Ltd
Roger Pendleton – Sales Director
Tel: 01283 210333
Email: sales@astecconveyors.com
En medio de las continuas interrupciones de la cadena sitio web de suministro de medicamentos, las farmacias de compuestos pueden desempeñar un papel esencial para aliviar la escasez temporal de medicamentos que se necesitan con urgencia si se les permite hacerlo. El ejemplo de Covid lo demuestra.
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