The Swiss postal service has commissioned Vanderlande to upgrade two sorting systems at its parcel distribution centres in Härkingen and Frauenfeld.
The main challenge for both projects was to increase system capacity from 20,000 to more than 25,000 parcels an hour. This had to be achieved within the existing space of both buildings, without adding any extra loading or unloading stations, and without interrupting normal operations.
The key element in both systems is a central cross-belt sorter – the CROSSORTER 1500 – with a nominal capacity of 11,250 parcels per hour. This is installed at a height of six metres above the three existing tilt-tray sorters and connected by belt conveyors. Parcels are removed from the existing systems at critical positions, transported on belt conveyors to the new cross-belt sorter and then fed back into the existing system at various points.
The system extension projects at both distribution centres have increased capacity by 25 per cent in each case.
Stefan Luginbühl, manager national/international parcel at Swiss Post, said: “Thanks to the excellent collaboration with Vanderlande during the extension projects for both parcel distribution centres, we can be extremely proud of the final result.”
