Scotland-based food group Baxters has selected Toyota Industrial Equipment (TIE) to help keep its production lines moving “like clockwork” – with about 400 cans a minute coming off the finishing line, an efficient, reliable fleet is essential to ensure the manufacturer’s cans of soup and other products are on supermarket shelves in time.
Following an on-site survey of Baxters’ material handling needs, TIE identified several areas where cost savings could be made. It recommended that a 7FBRE reach truck could do the same as two trucks had done previously at the end of one of the busiest production lines. Neil Reid, maintenance manager at Baxters, explains: “Toyota could see that this truck would be put under intense pressure, so rather than operate two trucks they designed a battery changing table or pit stop where a spare battery is always available and takes just 90 seconds to change.”
As well as the 7FBRE, the fleet includes 20 7PM18 powered pallet movers, three 7SM12 stackers and 16 7FB25 and 7FG25 counterbalanced forklifts. The list reaches 50 with short-term hire equipment at peak production times.
Health and safety was also a major issue for Baxters looking at new equipment. The pin coded access to the 7PM18 fleet of powered pallet trucks “is an important safety feature” and TIE also adapted the compound of the drive wheels for the often wet or greasy surfaces as raw and finished produce is moved about, making them safer.
Toyota Industrial Equipment is one of several material handling equipment specialists exhibiting at Logistics Link North, taking place on September 22 and 23, 2004 at Doncaster Racecourse, Doncaster. Further information is available from Richard Milbourn on 020 8661 1160 or visit www.logisticslink.co.uk.
