Reilor Logistics Recently Improve Handling with Amber Automation

A long established company and market leader in the design and manufacture of home improvements and pet products, Reilor Logistics recently awarded Amber the contract to supply and install a powered roller, carton handling system to transport goods from assembly areas to the warehouse.

Reilor’s Logistic Manager Gary Reid reported, “ Despite the competition, we selected Amber Industries above other potential suppliers as they demonstrated a clear understanding of Reilor’s requirements. With a tight window to supply and install the conveyors, Amber’s business-like approach and prompt response gave us confidence, as well as being supported by a competitive project price.”

Utilising Amber’s lineshaft modules provided a versatile and economical conveying and accumulating solution for handling cartons, providing the customer with a very cost effective and viable materials handling solution. Mark Adams, Sales Director of Amber Conveyors commented, “As a conveyor manufacturer we had the flexibility and capability to quickly respond to Reilor’s needs, building product and installing the system within the critical deadlines. Over the years, being able to provide a ‘one stop service’ has often clinched contracts as customers save time and expense on paperwork and more importantly, avoid having to negotiate and liaise with other supplier companies.”

Integrating a System

An existing line was already being utilised to transport assembled goods to a line end, where they were manually transported via hand pallet trucks to the warehouse storage area. The existing system transferred the packages through a carton sealer, operating at a speed of approximately 6 packs per minute.

The new conveyor configuration allows for a completely new line feeding from a second assembly area, together with the existing line. A new case sealer operating at 17 packs per minute was also integrated into the revised conveyor layout.

Twenty two packing stations are strategically positioned alongside the two conveyor lines (new & existing), from where fulfilled orders are packed and transferred onto the main delivery conveying lines feeding the case sealers. Packages ranging from 760 Lg x 595 W x 556 H (max.) to 180 Lg x 120 W x 102 H (min.) pass along both of the conveyor lines.

Once sealed, cartons are routed towards the warehouse area, where a bar coded label is scanned and details logged into a warehouse management system (WMS). To ensure maximum handling efficiencies, a pneumatic pusher unit is positioned just after the bar code scanners on each line to reject cartons if a mis-read occurs.

Unfortunately, the routing of the conveyors pass across a main gangway which could not be bridged via incline/decline belts due to space constraints. Therefore, for safety reasons and access, Amber overcame this problem by designing and installing a pair of double personnel gates. These gates can be easily lifted/ lowered to provide adequate access for both personnel and manual pallet trucks and are slave driven from the next adjacent up-line conveyor section.

Sealed cartons are allowed to accumulate on end of line, standard gravity roller sections before being off-loaded and palletised into their specific warehouse allocation.

Gary Reid, Reilor’s Logistics Manager commented, “Both Amber and I worked together very closely to ensure that the project function, layout, programme timing and budget were achieved. I can now confirm, that the whole system was designed, manufactured and installed by Amber Industries within 4 weeks from placement of the order and has since been working reliably and without any problems.”