
Draper Tools Limited is a family-run company, located in Hampshire (UK), supplying hand tools to the industry. It occupies three local warehouse locations amounting to over half a million square feet. Supplying products in all major tool categories including automotive, DIY, gardening, construction, engineering and hobby, leisure and other none tool lines.
At the warehouse in Chandlers Ford containers regularly arrive with loose loaded cargo. Earlier the unloading was done manually by 5 operators. It was heavy and caused an unpleasant situation. Operators suffered from strain and didn’t stay very long in this position.
Handling situation, unloading: Manual lifting onto pallets
Number of operators: 5 persons
Operators' situation: Poor ergonomics and time-consuming work, caused unhappy operators and high costs
A Vaculex® ParceLift was installed onto a Caljan telescopic belt conveyor to help with the manual unloading. For the palletizing a Vaculex® TP was installed.
New handling situation Unloading: Manual lifting assisted by Vaculex® ParceLift onto a Caljan telescopic belt conveyor. Palletizing assisted by a Vaculex® TP.
Number of operators: 3 persons
Operators' situation: Very happy operators at an attractive working position.
The customer reports a reduced level of sick absence and no staff turnover. Operators now find their tasks very attractive and stay in their positions. Everyone, men and women, with a normal physique can now work in this position. No more transfers of suffering people into new positions. Less operators needed, three instead of five. Operators are happy, no complaints of strain.
Keith McLean, Warehouse Manager & Ian Lancaster, Logistics Manager, Draper Tools: “After seeing the solution the decision was easy. Our prime consideration has been a question of ergonomics rather than speed. Having said that, we are using fewer people to unload a container so there is definitely a financial benefit too.”