When Irving Paper’s increased business demanded a new distribution centre in Toronto, the company chose to outfit it exclusively with the Twinlode pallet racking system from Glenridge Equipment Corporation.
Doug Harrison, former general manager for Excel in the Irving Facility recalls that at first, Manuel Becker, the company’s Vice President of Engineering was skeptical about the Twinlode system. After all, it was different from anything they had used in other facilities. Yet they were sufficiently interested to visit another plant where the system was in operation. After a trip to the Nestle Water Plant in Aberfoyle, Ontario, they were convinced that this system was best for their type of operation, which is run by a 3PL, because it had few SKUs and high pallet/volume in/out.
“At the time Excel was managing Irving’s transportation as well as their warehouse,” says Harrison. “We were in partnership with them. We designed the layout of their new Toronto plant and helped them select the equipment, predominately the racking. Irving wanted a system that would handle two pallets at a time, to place or retrieve,” says Harrison. The Twinlode, he explains, has a double-wide concept which improves on traditional racking systems by dramatically increasing warehouse handling productivity and profitability. The system is suitable for high volume warehouse operations, regardless of the types of products being handled.
Choosing the system involved a three-step process. First was a consultation to review Irving’s exact requirements. The second was to create a CAD design to simulate an operationally efficient racking system that would maximize valuable floor space. The third step was the on-site installation, which Excel staff supervised.
“Once they made the decision, Irving installed over 10,000 pallet positions,” says Harrison. Although he is no longer actively involved with the Irving plant, Harrison has gone back to visit the installation and see how it is working. “I’ve heard only good comments. The management and the people who use the system are extremely pleased.” |
|
Harrison says that choosing the Twinlode was an easy decision. “Irving was already using forklifts with a dual pallet attachment so the Twinlode was an obvious choice.” He says that the system is handling what they anticipated it would handle – two pallets at a time, without any loss of productivity.
The Twinlode’s double-wide fork increases productivity and profitability where there is a high pallet/volume, in/out high pallet, and low SKU count. The two pallet-wide racking system dramatically increases warehouse handling productivity and profitability. It is suitable for high volume warehouse operations, regardless of the types of products being handled. The dual pallets on the forklift allow drivers to, safely and efficiently, handle twice the regular load in only one pass.
The Twinlode features a higher and deeper stacking capability that stores more products in less space. The structural steel racking can handle the heaviest of loads and any size pallet. These include a 50% decrease in labour costs, which is a result of moving two loads at a time. The Twinlode also reduces the lift truck operating costs and population by 50%. In addition, it eliminates double handling because it uses the same fork lift truck, trailer to rack. It is easier to load and unload than a traditional drive-in and only requires a double-wide fork.
Since installing the Twinlode, Irving Paper’s employees have reported less product damage. They have been able to substantially cut square footage by storing 50% or more product in existing space. Because the Twinlode stores pallets side-by-side, the need for an additional upright in every pallet position is eliminated. Wide bay widths keep the forklifts farther away from the uprights to avoid damage to the racking.
A key product feature is the system’s flexibility. Harrison says that the decision makers were impressed that the product can be designed for any application and to accommodate any size pallet or load.
“Once we saw the system at work at the Aberfoyle plant, we knew we wanted to go with it,” says Harrison. The results, he says, speak for themselves.
|
