Yale Lift Truck Technologies understands the specific demands that cold storage conditions place on materials handling equipment, particularly when it comes to dealing with perishable food products which need specific processing. This insight has been a key element in the successful relationship between Yale, its local dealer Unicar, and the Chiquita facility in Cortenuova, Bergamo (Northern Italy).
Chiquita, an international leading company producing and distributing bananas, opened a brand-new warehouse in April 2024. The plant is the biggest ripening centre in Europe, strategically located in the heart of Italy’s logistics operations.
The new site includes nine loading docks and 24 ripening rooms, each with a capacity of 48 pallets, and two packaging lines producing up to 45 trays per minute. The site features the latest cooling techniques, to minimise the dehumidification of internal air and consequently optimise fruit ripening conditions. The packaging operations and pallet handling both take place in a temperature-controlled area to keep bananas in an ideal environment. With loading docks on both sides, Chiquita has designed the optimum flow of daily operations, creating an efficient working environment and supporting site safety processes.
The facility operates 7 days a week running a single shift of 8-10 hours, with temperatures between 14°C and 18°C. Green bananas are received from the port, stored in ripening rooms, and dispatched to customers. The ripening rooms have narrow, off-centre aisles, making pallet handling a complex challenge. Furthermore, loading/unloading operations and the transport of pallets within the warehouse require efficiency and precision.
“The primary challenge we face is manoeuvring pallets in and out of the ripening rooms, especially when stocking the upper levels. The narrow and offcentre aisles cause the lifting cylinders to occasionally touch the metal structures, so we needed an ergonomic and compact solution. The Yale trucks are performing well for these tasks, and we are maintaining efficient operational timings,” says Roberto Galdoni, Distribution Centre Manager.
The Yale ERP16VT and ERP20VT 3-wheel electric counterbalance forklifts, are at the heart of Chiquita’s efficient warehouse operations. These versatile machines are ideal for the indoor warehouse applications, which include loading and unloading incoming and outgoing trucks, managing the intricate operations within the ripening rooms, and transporting pallets throughout the warehouse. To meet Chiquita’s needs, these lift trucks have been equipped with clamp attachments to support precise picking and selection tasks and non-marking tyres.
Complementing the forklift fleet are the MP16 and MP20X low lift pallet trucks, with and without an operator platform. These reliable and efficient trucks are essential for horizontal transportation of pallets within the warehouse, enabling smooth and timely movement of goods.
The latest addition to Chiquita’s fleet is the innovative MO20X order picker pallet truck. Designed for optimal performance in confined spaces, this machine excels at picking and placing pallets at various heights within the warehouse. Its compact design and precise controls make it an invaluable asset for efficient order fulfilment.
Strategically deploying these Yale trucks helps Chiquita maximise productivity and minimise downtime within its warehouse. The combination of powerful forklifts, versatile pallet trucks, and efficient order pickers enables the company to meet the requirements of its intense operations while maintaining a high level of precision and adhering to site safety rules.
“We selected Yale as our logistics equipment partner because of its reputation for building reliable trucks manufactured in Europe, delivering top-tier quality and longevity,” explains Roberto. “Moreover, their swift and efficient after-sales service was a crucial factor for us, as uninterrupted operations are paramount to our business. Additionally, Yale presented the most compelling return on investment, making it a financially sound decision.”
“Our collaboration with Unicar, an experienced and independent Yale dealer, has been exceptionally positive. The service provided has been consistently excellent and highly efficient. This level of support and responsiveness has significantly contributed to our overall satisfaction with Yale,” concludes Roberto.
Learn more or find a dealer: www.yale.com.
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