automating and optimising the Stora Enso container stuffing operations

The managers at the Stora Enso Ybbs site in Central Europe were facing a situation where they needed to re-evaluate their container stuffing operations. The Stora Enso container storage and container transport were outsourced to a second party due to the small working space at the site. For container stuffing, the containers had to be lifted on the ground to allow two forklifts to move the products into the containers.

Now the management wanted to return the stuffing operations back to their own control and handling, and only outsource the container traffic. Naturally, an improved process was sought to increase efficiency and to lower the costs of the company’s lumber loading operations. Automating the container stuffing operations was considered as a potential solution to this challenge.

Stora Enso managers were pleased with the Actiw team’s expert knowledge and experience and therefore, decided that Actiw Oy would do the best job for the price. They were also drawn to the practicality and simplicity of the LoadPlate loading solution.

Now the LoadPlate is staged at the Stora Enso site where the stuffing is taking place. With the new loading solution the bundles of lumber products are collected by one Stora Enso forklift driver to the LoadPlate. The subcontractor brings a standard container to the LoadPlate and the container is then secured to the LoadPlate frame. As the load forming can be prepared before the container arrives, the actual loading of the products to the container takes normally less than five minutes. Due to this the truck turnaround times were remarkably reduced. The full container is then taken back to the container yard from where the containers are shipped forward with train or by barge via river Donay.

During installation of the equipment Actiw showed flexibility by making adjustments to meet the Stora Enso product specifics. As an example, additional rolls were installed to the LoadPlate in order to load very wide packages into the containers.

As a conclusion to the project Stora Enso is now performing their container stuffing operations internally. With the use of LoadPlate a larger number of containers can be stuffed in a day. The company was able to reduce its operational costs with decreased number of manpower and forklift working hours. The LoadPlate as a modern and up to date tool improved the overall working surroundings in the Stora Enso warehouse by being easy and safe to use.

The former complexity of the forklift operations and the time pressure for employees was diminished as the load preparations could be done and planned anytime during the working day, without the need to wait for the container. The short truck turnaround times that resulted from fast container stuffing also lowered the costs of the operations. The safety risks were dramatically reduced as fewer people are involved in the process and have practically nothing to do with the containers.

We help businesses lighten loads and are highly regarded as the world's leading loading and unloading solutions provider in the logistics industry. Over the last 60 years, we've helped thousands of businesses streamline their logistics operations to be more cost-efficient, more sustainable, and more health and safety-conscious. Learn more About Us, here.

As experts in all kinds of unloading and unloading solutions, we can help innovate, automate and streamline your end-of-production line problems, wherever you are.

Get in touch with our experts today to learn how we can provide a safe working environment, call our friendly team on +44 (0) 151 427 8954, on our Let's Chat page, via email on sales@joloda.com or on LinkedIn...