Robur handles a major challenge for leading aluminium manufacturer

The challenge

Stourbridge-based aluminium manufacturer, Bridgnorth Aluminium is expanding. To help meet its commercial objectives, the company needed to increase its existing lift truck capacity by 100%, from 5,000kg to 10,000kg.

However, the business quickly found that unloading heavier containers with conventional forklift trucks was damaging the floor, with truck wheels often becoming stuck and even breaking off.

Bridgnorth Aluminium contacted specialist distributor, Crown Lift Trucks, which provides end users with a range of materials handling solutions to improve productivity, efficiency and safety.

Crown Lift Trucks is a long-standing customer of Robur , which is a specialist producer of bespoke electric materials handling solutions. The two businesses worked together to develop a unique machine for Bridgnorth Aluminium.

Objectives

Bridgnorth Aluminium required a cost-effective yet robust materials handling solution that would deliver three major objectives:

• Eliminate floor and truck damage;
• Accommodate the planned increase in productivity and weight capacity to 10,000kg over the coming year;
• Help Bridgnorth Aluminium achieve a 24/7 operation. 

Solution

Having carried out a detailed client consultation and site survey, the engineering team at Robur designed an electric powered pallet machine to address the point loading issues, whilst crucially spreading the weight of the machine and its load over a wider floor area.

The new Robur unit featured wider and lower forks to manage the movement of particular pallets and in order to prevent damage to the floor area, the engineers designed and manufactured a unique ramp for the Robur machine to operate on.

A spare battery and change over trolley were provided to ensure continued uninterrupted use over 24 hours.

Results

Thanks to its bespoke design, the Robur machine successfully accomplished the project’s principal aim of preventing damage to the floor.

The introduction of a ramp for the machine allowed the handling process to be relocated inside, for loading containers onto the trailers.

A new loading bay accommodates the bespoke ramp which to allows for a faster and safer material handling process.

As a result of the new Robur machine, the loading weight capacity for Bridgenorth Aluminium has doubled from 5,000kg to 10,000kg without the need to change its existing pallet design.

Kevin Foster, Logistics Manager, Bridgnorth Aluminium commented:

“Following an expansion in our business, Robur was able to provide the solution to a new handling problem, which was to unload 10,000kg on an existing design of pallet.

Of the suppliers who we approached, Robur  was the one that was able to design a pallet truck with a profile that was compatible with our existing pallet stock.  This truck along with the loading ramp has given us options to stuff and de-stuff containers that had not previously existed.

We are now building a bespoke containerisation area, ensuring we can meet new customer demands.  The unit was delivered on time and the level of service and communication we received from the Robur team was exemplary”.

To arrange a free initial consultation, email the Robur  team at sales@roburtrucks.co.uk