HJ Heinz is using Linde material handling equipment at its Kitt Green distribution centre in Wigan to move a variety of ambient food products for delivery to customers nationwide. The Linde equipment includes12 H 25 T LPG 2,500kg capacity counterbalance trucks with modified overhead guards for use in drive-in racking, and an H 35 T LPG double pallet handler.
The 36,000-pallet Kitt Green facility is one of two ambient Heinz distribution centres in the UK – the second is the National Distribution Centre which opened about two years ago after Heinz embarked on an investment programme to enhance efficiency levels and reduce costs.
As part of that, Heinz sought a flexible contract from the materials handling provider when it put out to tender a new contract for the 37,200sq m Kitt Green warehouse. The supplier also had to convince Heinz that it had the capability and flexibility to adapt its handling equipment at Kitt Green as business patterns site evolved and changed over time.
Twenty Linde E 25 2,500kg electric counterbalance trucks are used to transfer palletised finished products from the production lines and stack them in the warehouse. The H 25 T gas-powered trucks retrieve the loads from the warehouse and transfer them to the marshalling area where the Linde T 20 AP rider pallet trucks load them onto the despatch vehicles.
Linde Material Handling is one of several materials handling specialists exhibiting at Logistics Link North, which is being held on September 22 and 23 at Doncaster Racecourse, Leger Way, Doncaster. For further information contact Richard Milbourn on 020 8661 1160 or visit www.logisticslink.co.uk
