Dock Loading/Unloading Systems addresses safety issues.
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Press Release Summary:
Custom designed and manufactured automated dock handling solutions create safe working environment for bulk loading/unloading of palletized product into shipping containers. Vehicle/container is raised to correct height for loading with powered docks, and skates are constructed to allow minimum sideways movement of load. Powered and gravity-fed dock loading systems can be coupled with options such as RFID, PLC, scanning, sensors, barcode systems, and other technologies.
Original Press Release:
Efficient Dock Loading/Unloading Technology Improves Safety
Australian materials handling and logistics specialist Industrial Conveying (Aust) Pty Ltd is custom designing, manufacturing and installing a new line of cost-efficient technology for bulk loading (and unloading) of palletised product into shipping containers.
By combining technologies from its ever expanding suite of solutions for automated dock handling, it is in turn creating a safer working environment for one of the more accident prone areas of industry.
According to SAFE Work Australia Council's most recently released six industry-specific reports based on an analysis of its Work-Related Injuries Survey, transport and storage workers aged 35 to 44 years recorded an injury rate 75% higher than the rate recorded by all Australian workers of this age. This is almost always due to manual involvement rather than automation.
Because the report centred on construction, health and community services, manufacturing, agriculture, forestry and fishing, transport and storage and retail trade industries, the pressure is now on companies across all industries to analyse their existing setup and better streamline docks with automation to make conditions safer and maximise output from all loading and unloading activities.
Industrial Conveying has many powered and gravity-fed dock loading systems that includes the unique Airlift, Airola, Airchain and Transkate systems that comprehensively utilise trucks at the delivery points.
Coupled with options such as RFID, plc, scanning, sensors barcode systems and other technologies they allow efficient movement of stock to eliminate bottlenecks, double handling, dormant freight and delivery delays.
With this new technology, the vehicle/container is raised to a correct height to enable efficient loading (and unloading) with powered docks. Skates for the dock are constructed to allow minimum sideways movement of the load.
Timeframes for handling have been reduced drastically, effectively handing the user a competitive advantage in its own industry sector.
The Work-Related Injuries Survey is conducted every four years by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Safe Work Australia partially funds the survey to complement its collection of workers' compensation data.
Safe Work Australia Council says these reports add significantly to its understanding of work-related injuries and provide information on the extent and frequency of work-related injuries that is not available using workers' compensation data alone.
Industrial Conveying has been calling for better recognition that transport vehicles themselves are largely overlooked as a unit of overall supply chain management that can be configured to suit the purpose.
This new bulk loading system is designed to cater for 20ft and 40ft containers. During the handling process, vehicle/container docking alignment is controlled and verified electronically. Equipment controls are easy to use and minimal training is required.
The docks themselves are designed to both load and unload the containers. Being robust in design and construction, the technology easily copes with the demands of a 24/7 operation.
Applications range across all industry sectors. Loads are prepared on the loading dock whilst trucks are in transit. Once the truck arrives, the vehicle/container loading time is normally less than 5 minutes.
Managing Director of Industrial Conveying, Mr Don Erskine, says the new system increases the 'smart' utilisation of truck fleets during the loading and unloading process.
"Materials handling and supply chain management is much more than just warehouses, trucks and transport, it takes into account how all these aspects combine to make a complete handling spectrum," said Mr Erskine.
"By lessening the steps in product handling and the time associated with this, increased profit margins become the end result.
"Complete integration is the key to a successful outcome. Many companies are relying on a piecemeal approach, adding bits and pieces of solutions over time, yet the entire handling system can be fully integrated in one go to provide a smooth, lasting and very profitable logistics system."
For more information, please contact Mr Don Erskine, Industrial Conveying (Aust) Pty Ltd.
145-147 Howard Street, Epsom, Victoria 3551, Australia.
Ph: (03) 5440 5100, web: www.icaust.com.au
Prepared by Val Pavlovic. Omentum Media Australia: ph: 0413869 589 admin@omentum.com.au
