Norpak Case Study: Chain Driven Live Roller Conveyor System
CUSTOMER OBJECTIVE:
- To limit truck traffic in and out of the freezer
- Eliminate loss of temperature
- Reduce truck stress, cold to warm leads to truck maintenance issues
- Reduce threat of product damage
THE PROBLEM:
Trenton Cold Storage Inc, an innovator in 3rd party logistics and frozen and chilled foods Distribution Center designed to operate at -20 Celsius on a 7/24 basis.
Heavy emphasis was put on building a facility that would reduce hydro energy consumption and maintain temperature consistency while reducing condensation inside the dock area, on customer product and lift trucks, caused by large freezer doors opening and closing constantly.
THE SOLUTION:
Norpak Handling offered a solution consisting of two individual chain driven live roller conveyor systems. The "warm side" of the inbound system allows pallets to convey (double stacked) through an automatic, small high-speed rollup door into the freezer area. Pallets are conveyed onto a Turntable and then transferred onto an accumulation conveyor were they await put away by freezer trucks. On the "cool side" of the Outbound system - Pallets are loaded, and accumulate awaiting pick-up by dock trucks for placement on cooled transport trailers. A signal light on the warm side is illuminated indicating that there is a load present and ready for removal. The forklift driver (on the dock) opens the (small high speed roll up) door and removes load. This reduces temperature loss and product damage, as the orders are held in the freezer until the moment the fork trucks are ready to load the trailers.
THE RESULT:
- Productivity both on dock and in freezer goes up instantly
- Reduced energy costs and product damage
- Reduced fork truck maintenance
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