Using Forklifts to Revolutionise RFID Inventory and Indoor Vehicle Tracking
- All of this is made possible by the forklifts being fitted with special Sky-trax optical cameras that identify the relative location of position markers suspended from the warehouse ceiling
- The location information is fed to a vehicle mounted mobile computer which continuously relays data such as location, speed and direction to the main warehouse management system
- By adding automated RFID pallet tag readers and height sensors to the forklift, the warehouse system now knows the location and height of the tagged pallets even if they are in motion onboard the forklift
EastPack Warehouses
- EastPack maintains 3 warehouses containing 42 refrigerated storage rooms, receiving, storing and dispatching as orders are placed
- The solution was deployed throughout their entire operation incorporating 25 forklifts which last year moved over 13.5 million trays of Kiwi fruit
Donna Smit, EastPak’s Company Administrator
“We have already moved over 2 million more trays than this time last year due to the new system.. Knowing the exact location of a pallet at any given time is vital”, Donna explains, “because Kiwi fruit is a perishable product, we have to be sure that the pallet taken by the forklift is the right one every time... Previously warehouse staff read a barcode with a scanner and manually typed in the pallets location, the problem was we could not depend on the accuracy of the information being entered and interpreted.”
Sky-trax OPSMan Monitoring Program
- Warehouse operational efficiencies has improved dramatically thanks to the Sky-trax OPSMan monitoring program integrated into their own warehouse management system, which provides the warehouse manager a real time view of the vehicles movements and stock locations
- Because all activities are now being monitored to an accuracy of 5sq cm, the system can provide reports on vehicle use effectiveness, stock status and warehouse layout practicality, greatly assisting in the day to day operations of a high activity environment
- Additional OH&S benefits can be retrieved from this solution, including the “breadcrumb trail” function which will identify the heavily congested sections within a warehouse
- Proximity alerts can be added when approaching a pedestrian area and even an optional speed limiter fitted to reduce accidents with pedestrians or other forklifts
This solution is very scalable and will fit perfectly into any warehouse or distribution centre that requires around the clock inventory accuracy and above the norm return on investment. Peacock Bros. deliver a competitive edge to these types of environments reducing running costs and increasing productive output.