Amcor Flexibles Cumbria, the packaging supplier, reckons it has eliminated damage to reels of film by fitting heavy duty load protectors to the forks of its lift truck fleet.
Reels of packaging film weighing up to 800kg arrive at the site where they are printed and cut before being distributed to the production plants of some of the UK’s best selling snacks and confectionery brand manufacturers.
A waste reduction study undertaken at the Workington plant highlighted the fact that during the incoming trailer unloading and reel put-away process, packaging film would often be damaged as it was picked up by the forklifts.
As the trucks’ forks entered the pallet, the outer layers of film would be forced against the back of the forks or the fork carriage causing an indentation to be made.
“We were seeing significant film wastage every week,” explains production manager Gary Baker. “Not every reel would be damaged but higher than was acceptable”
The load protectors are made by Jayline Products from heavy duty moulded rubber and fit to the rear face of a forklift truck’s forks and absorb the impact of an incoming load.
They provide a cushioned barrier between the load and the back of the forks. As the pallet is picked up, the protector prevents the load from hitting the truck’s forks or the fork carriage with sufficient force to cause damage to the load.
The protectors completely eliminated the damage. As a result not only are significant bottom line savings being made but production efficiency has also increased, said Gary Baker.
Jayline produces the protectors to fit four inch, five inch, six inch and eight inch forks. They are suitable for use with a wide rage of materials handling equipment, including counterbalanced and warehouse trucks.
