UKWA PDFS MAY - United Kingdom Warehousing Association

Case Study 21
Delivering the drinks
A fleet of eight Aisle-Master articulated
forklifts ensure a streamlined handling,
storage and distribution process. at
Magners Cider’s site in Co. Tipperary
Ever increasing demand for one of
Ireland’s most popular liquid refreshments,
Magners Cider, has led to rapid
expansion of the company’s Clonmel site in
Co. Tipperary. Keeping the supplies flowing
is crucial, and Magners has chosen a fleet
of eight Aisle-Master articulated forklifts
which work in the bottling plants as well as
in the finished goods warehouses to ensure
a streamlined handling, storage and distribution
process.
Until a few years ago, counterbalance
forklifts and drive-in racking were used, but
the massive increase in popularity of the
Magners brand around the world and the
resulting increase in output meant that
Logistics Operations Manager Raymond
Galligan needed to rethink operations to
come up with a much more space saving
and efficient method. He explains: “We had
to maximise our warehouse space. Aisle
widths with the counterbalance forklifts were
4m, and we knew we could improve on
this. By introducing a combination of a new
warehouse management system, the Aisle-
Master forklifts, racking and much narrower
narrow aisle widths designed around the
trucks capabilities, we have vastly improved
storage density and product location. The
Aisle-Masters have enabled us to achieve a
50% increase in storage capacity, so have
saved us money as there is no need to buy
extra storage space.”
The versatility of the articulated trucks
means that they are used throughout the
complete handling process, from unloading
pallets of empty bottles through to reloading
80 to 100 lorry loads a day with pallets
of filled bottles for distribution to markets
around the world. Five trucks with 10.5m
masts are designated for the three bottling
plants, which can each fill 55,000 bottles
an hour. These trucks are fitted with cam-
The versatility
of the
articulated
trucks means
that they are
used throughout
the complete
handling
process
eras to aid drivers when picking from the
very high racks. The other three Aisle-
Masters with 8.5m masts work across the 3
warehouses which have a total of 28,000
pallet spaces. With such a workload, it is
vital that Magners can count on reliable
operation.
Compared to the old counterbalance
trucks, the Aisle-Masters have brought a
host of advantages to both drivers and
management at the plant. Drivers find loading
and offloading easier, and they appreciate
the extra comfort offered by the closed
cab option taken up by Magners which protects
them from the assortment of weather
they have to cope with in this part of
Ireland. The versatility and manoeuvrability
of the trucks has also led to significantly less
damage to product and quicker operations
overall as no double handling is involved.
The system in place is now more than ready
to take on the demands of a thirsty clientele
in Magners growing markets.
www.aisle-master.com
www.ukwa.org.uk May 2008