CABKA GmbH has a solution for eliminating interruptions in automated high rack warehouse. The CABKA-Shuttle is an all-round transporter designed to handle pallets with defects whose design or dimensions mean that they are not rackable.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Goods delivered to high rack warehouses are generally packed on standard wooden pallets. These pallets are new and old, intact but sometimes damaged. Loose parts, twisted blocks, protruding nails are constantly causing malfunctions in materials handling systems. Defective pallets must then be manually removed, repaired or replaced before being reintroduced into the system.
"A cure that's worse than the disease" is how Thomas Goebel describes this approach. The experienced logistics specialist is a product manager at plastic pallet specialist CABKA. "Pallets in an automated high-bay warehouse are basically working against the conveying systems used. The wooden pallet becomes worn, there are chips and dirt, and ultimately it all accumulates in the machinery."
One leading German grocery discounter was no longer prepared to accept these problems in high rack warehouses and decided to consult with CABKA about the possibilities of using an under-pallet specially adapted to the needs of modern internal logistics.
The objective of the new transport solution was not only to protect the processes and the system itself against the risks of wooden pallets. It also had to allow for the direct stacking of pallets of different designs and dimensions. Based on these requirements, the CABKA engineers developed the CABKA-Shuttle.
Plastic and aluminum: a stable coalition
A lightweight plastic chassis sits on three wear-resistant and rigid aluminum runners. Ultimately, the shuttle is designed as an all-round transport solution for high-bay applications and must be capable of carrying more than 1,000 kg.
Leading CABKA developer Dietrich Haaf explains: "Naturally, our first choice for the shuttle was for steel runners. This appeared to be the most rigid and economical solution. It was only after initial discussions with our customers focused on the simple material widely used in material handling technology that we started searching for a stable aluminum solution. We needed something that would satisfy our high demands in terms of rigidity and abrasion resistance while at the same time protecting the conveying systems – unlike hard steel. After scouring the globe for this special alloy, we finally tracked it down in Germany."
Flexible runners, smooth transport
However, it was not just the long service life required of the product that called for runners made of aluminum. They also made it easier for the developers to achieve the desired swiveling mounting in the plastic chassis. Capable of swiveling more than 5° degrees to either side, the aluminum runners were to act as a kind of running gear that would ensure exceptionally quiet running and stability of the materials-handling systems. And all of this is to be achieved smoothly and without abrasion.
The fact that the elimination of steel made the low overall weight of just 15 kg possible was a welcome bonus. This was completely compatible with the plastic pallet manufacturers requirements for maximum quality combined with minimum weight for all its product lines.
Support for every pallet
The CABKA-Shuttle can now be used to transport virtually every type of pallet in conveyance systems in high rack warehouses. In addition to heavy and rackable pallets, it can also carry lightweight and nestable plastic pallets along roller conveyors to high racks. According to CABKA, half-pallets as well as box pallets and small load carriers can now be stored together with standard pallets.
The CABKA-Shuttle integrates everything seamlessly into the existing logistics-chain, it also secures and simplifies the transport process. The new process reliability is ultimately the real added value in modern intralogistics.
About CABKA
CABKA produces one-way and multiway carrier of plastics in Weira (Germany), St. Louis (USA) and Toronto (Canada). CABKA employs almost 300 staff members in Europe and North America. CABKA products are represented in more than 40 countries around the world.
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For more information please contact:
Peter Braun
314.731.0302
cell phone: 312.451.9772
p.braun@cabka.com
www.cabka.com
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