Carlsberg UK has recently taken delivery of a Robopac Rotoplat 507 semi-automatic power pre-stretch pallet wrapper from Aetna Group UK., adding to the 27 Rotoplats 506 already in operation.
The machines will be sited at 11 of the brewing and bottling company’s locations throughout the UK. “These machines were purchased as part of our continued commitment to the health and safety of our employees and improvement in our process efficiencies,” explained Carlsberg UK’s logistics business expert Tony St Pier.
“The Rotoplat 506 machines are wrapping an average of 1,000 bottle and case pallets each night across all the sites. Prior to using the pallet wrappers depot staff were hand loading and unloading all items for delivery. Now, for our ‘One Man’ deliveries each individual pub or club order is loaded onto a dedicated pallet, which is then wrapped.
“Hand loading and wrapping was a time consuming and potentially hazardous process and we concluded that machine wrapped pallets were safer,” said Mr St Pier. “The Rotoplats also give us better productivity and use less wrap, giving us even more savings.”
The first machines were purchased for the Carlsberg UK national distribution centre in Northampton. All machines are standard with the addition of ramps to the turntable for easy access. Access for the forklift is at the rear of the 506 turntable, while front access has been added for the 507.
The machines feature a chain and sprocket system which ensures consistent and reliable turntable performance during rotation. The diamond pattern on the turntable avoids slippage while the pre-stretch facility has a ratio between zero and 250 per cent. To ensure maximum stability the tower is made from cold-folded steel with a tubular inner structure and incorporates an anti-fall device for the spool carriage.
The operator can control rotation speed, upward and downward spool carriage speed and pre-stretch from the easy to use panel. The load always stops in the same position it occupied prior to wrapping which, says Aetna, greatly improves times and costs of the process.
“As all machines have the same specification they use the same wrapping material, which can be ordered in bulk,” says Mr St Pier. “We did look at other suppliers, but chose Aetna Group UK for its knowledge of our business and the past reliability of their equipment,” he concluded.
For further information on the full range of Rotoplat machines and other end of line solutions contact:
AETNA GROUP UK
Tel: +44 (0)1234 82 50 50
Email: colin.barker@aetna.co.uk
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