Transferring goods
In the food industry, the use of plastic pallets is obligated through hygiene regulations (HACCP). But the investment costs of plastic pallets are high and therefore the total number of the pallets needs to be limited. The plastic RF-Pallet, on the other hand, is only used inside the production area and can save you a lot of money. The pallet has an extra set of synthetic slats on the upper deck and the RollerForks® perfectly fit between them. By first laying a slip-sheet on the pallet, the forks later roll effortlessly under the slipsheet. After the goods are on the RollerForks® attachment, they simply roll of the forks on a standard wooden pallet inside the warehouse were the wooden pallet can be stored with the same forklift. [top]
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Handling bagged goods
Many different kinds of products are being packed in synthetic or paper bags, weighing 25 kg. To increase the loading speed of containers a wooden RF-Pallet can be used. Now, a lift truck driver can complete a 40 feet container in 15 minutes. This normally took at least 50 minutes by two persons doing it manually. The RF-Pallet increases handling speed enormously and allows the use of cheaper cardboard slipsheets to save even more money after the goods are placed on the RF-Pallet, they can be stored inside the warehouse just like standard pallets. As soon as the containers arrive the in house RF-Pallets are being taken out from the racking system. [top]
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Loading goods without slipsheets
To avoid waist and extra costs of slip-sheets, a third RollerFork® can be used to support the goods sufficiently without using slipsheets. A pallet takes up a lot of extra space and costs. A slipsheet uses less space and is much cheaper. Manual handling is also possible but this will increase labour costs. The replacement of a standard pallet by a pallet with extra supporting laths makes is possible to place boxes directly on the forks. A third RollerFork® in the middle supports the inner layer of boxes. For standard pallet handling the middle RollerFork® can be folded upwards. Also the special profile can be fitted onto a pallet inverter which makes the handling even more flexible. [top]
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Unloading beverage
Containers with beverage can be unloaded very fast instead of unloading containers by hand. The RollerForks works 25% faster, is more reliable and at least 50% cheaper than a Push-Pull. Because the RollerForks are much faster than manual unloading or loading the container waiting time can be reduced saving money and more containers can be loaded or unloaded. The RollerForks can stay on the lift truck and can be used just like a standard fork, handling standard euro-pallets, block pallets or even the special USA pallets. The special RF-Pallets can be produced by the pallet manufacturer. [top]
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Handling Big Bags / FIBC’s
The use of push-pulls was seen as a necessary evil because there was no other option available at the time. Lift truck drivers had to learn to work with it. Moreover, two trucks were needed; one equipped with a push-pull and one with standard forks for transporting a load to the storage. The second driver needs to wait while FIBCs are being placed on pallets. Lost of maintenance can be solved by using RollerForks. The irregular shape of the FIBCs, the forces on Push-Pull equipment are not equal causing malfunctions and parts deform. Just driving under the slipsheet RollerForks saving loading/unloading time, preventing damages on goods and equipment and saves an extra lift truck. [top]
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Handling tires
When it involves tires for passenger vehicles and lorries companies needs special hydraulic equipment like a hydraulic roll clamp for example which can pick up the heavy rubber. This option has two downsides: A serious investment price for a transport system that could only be used to that specific function. RollerForks are very useful because they rolls easily under heavy tires, and unloading too is a piece of cake. Just lower the fork to the ground and back up. It's just as easy as it sounds. Also standard pallet handling is still possible with RollerForks. [top]
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Handling freight cargo
Air cargo space is extremely expensive and space is limited. Why using pallets then? Slip sheeted goods can be put on special air freight pallets and can be taken-up in one move with RollerForks just like the special ULD's cargo containers. Standard pallet handling is still possible with RollerForks as well. Most air cargo forwarders are using fully tapered lift truck forks or standard lift truck forks to handle the special freight carriers but this is not ideal because those kind of forks cause damages. RollerForks can handle freight pallets, slipsheets, standard pallets and ULD cargo containers and doesn't require any hydraulics. [top]
Handling loading ledges(Optiledge®).
In addition to the heavier-duty models, MSE-Forks has also developed special-purpose narrow RollerForks for dealing with loading ledges. Loading ledges are specially designed plastic profiles developed as an alternative to pallets that hold loads in place.
Non-rigid loads tend to start sagging over an extended period. This is not necessarily a problem, but it can cause problems when unloading containers. If regular forks are used to remove the goods from the container, then the load will probably sag. Regular forks would have to be forced under the load, possibly causing damage to its underside. The load then has to be removed from the forks, but often this is not possible because the load is sagging around the forks. The load then has to be held back in order to retract the forks.
Often loads have to be put on standard pallets along with their loading ledges for internal transportation. This can be quite a tight fit. This is why MSE-Forks developed the RFC15 RollerFork model to avoid such problems. These RollerForks are 160 mm wide, fit easily between the loading ledge profiles and can lift up to 1500 kg. RollerForks can pick up loads easily even if they are sagging. The specially shaped RollerForks tips slide effortlessly under the load and can be retracted easily in order to place loads on regular pallets. Also MSE-Forks has designed special thin hydraulic extensions for handling same loading ledges and corrugated pallets when the goods are not sagging. [top]
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Stuffing and stripping
Stuffing and stripping containers exerts a physical toll. Complaints can lead to health injuries and illness. Overexertion is caused by lifting, pushing, pulling, performing repetitive movements and assuming bad posture. The latter often arises because the working environment has been poorly arranged or cannot be arranged properly. [top]
What are the risks?
Containers are often stuffed and stripped at distribution centres and recipients' premises in the wholesale and retail sector. In general, working conditions are far from ideal for employees who have to stoop to lift and stack heavy boxes in containers, or lift loads for extended periods – frequently above head height. To prevent or limit physical overexertion caused by lifting, use can be made of slip sheets (instead of pallets), RollerForks and mini forklifts that can be manoeuvred into containers, or specially designed lifting devices that can be moved inside containers. Other examples include tipping the container to unload sacks.
If there is no suitable technical solution available, then organizational measures should be taken, e.g. task rotation in order to limit the physical burden placed on any one individual. Information and instructions about preventing and limiting physical overexertion are extremely important. [top]
Source Dutch Ministry of General Affairs: http://docs.minszw.nl/pdf//75/2007/75_2007_6_16998.pdf