Palletways Group has launched a world-first for the global logistics industry – a technological innovation that takes operational efficiency and health and safety within pallet-focused environments to new levels.
The innovation, called Palletways ID, the world’s most sophisticated forklift truck-mounted sensor technology, is set to make existing stand-alone pallet assessment and measuring technology obsolete, as it combines four key data measurements in one go.
This technology identifies a pallet through imaging and barcode scanning, while delivering pinpoint accurate weight measurements as the pallet is being moved, and for the first time, cubes its dimensions in seconds again while the FLT is in motion.
Initially born from the operational need to capture and harness accurate data on individual pallets instantly and on the go, Palletways ID – the result of two years of research & development – also delivers greater than ever real-time information for health and safety.
Announcing the new technology at the Palletways UK Conference held at Silverstone on 10 May, attended by the company’s growing membership, Rob Gittins, Managing Director of Palletways UK, said:
“This is not simply a first for pallet networks, but a first for the whole logistics industry. This doesn’t just build on current technology, which involves stationary measurement tools such as cubing boxes and finger scanners. It effectively makes them obsolete.”
In essence, the Palletways ID technology delivers four key operational components in one and uniquely does so while the forklift truck operator is going about his/her regular warehouse duties:
- Takes images of the pallet, which are used later to confirm condition and to provide traceability
- Barcode scanning from anywhere on the front face of the pallet. No more getting off the FLT to manually scan the barcode, providing greater than ever efficiency, accuracy and safety
- Accurate recording of the pallet’s weight as the FLT moves it from one location to another – doing away with the need to set the pallet on static scales.
- Cubing/dimensioning – again, this takes place as the pallet is being moved without interrupting the flow of the process, something that would be impossible to do to every pallet using standard cubing technology.
Rob continues:
“Our technology’s ability to effectively combine these four processes into one and capture instantly while on the move is a world first and a giant leap forward for logistics safety and efficiency.
Health and safety is our number one priority. The accurate weight and size data gathered by Palletways ID on every single pallet sent through the network means that any potential safety issues can be flagged at source before they arise and acted upon to prevent an incident before it happens.”
Richard Miller, UK Head of IT at Palletways UK, adds:
“Crucially, the tech places into the hands of drivers all the information they need to safely deliver on a tail lift. With Palletways ID gathering the data on every single pallet, flags can be raised to ensure oversized, heavy or dangerous pallets are removed from the operation and rectified before reaching the lorry.
We are tackling the age-old problem of how to improve efficiency and data quality but without hindering overall performance. You cannot buy time, you have to try and make it, and Palletways ID is the first technology in our sector to do this by taking four key data measurements in real time and in one swift FLT movement.”
Palletways ID will be rolled out in the UK and across all Palletways European hubs over the next eight months.
Palletways ID launch Q&A:
What is it called?
Palletways ID is the name given to the system of cameras, scanners and dimensioning tools fitted to the forklift truck.
Key USP – in a nutshell
Palletways ID combines four important elements – Imaging, barcode scanning, weight measurement, cubing/dimensions – into one. This makes moving pallets safer and faster with greater than ever date harvesting to create market-leading visibility down the entire supply chain.
What will it do to save time and money?
Essentially Palletways ID simultaneously carries out four tasks at once which previously had to be done separately:
1 – takes photos of pallet for records
2 – scans the barcode wherever it is on the face of the pallet
3 – accurately records the weight of the pallet as soon as it is lifted on the FLT (no need to place on scales)
4 – at the same time records the pallet’s dimensions (no need to put it on a cubing machine).
How did the innovation come about and why?
We recognised that from an operational point of view there was an opportunity to improve efficiency and also data quality. We knew that we couldn’t “buy” time, we had to find a way to make it by improving how we do and analyse things operationally. Our vision was to safely reduce the overall time it would take to move a pallet from A to B and Palletways ID is the result.
Why is it so important that this tech ‘does it all’ – why is it necessary/ benefits to customers
Health and safety – Palletways ID gathers accurate weight and size on every single pallet sent through the network. By doing so it can flag safety issues at source before they arise and act on them to prevent such incidents happening. This minimises the risk of oversized and overweight pallets and provides drivers with all the information they need to safely deliver on a tail lift.
Operational and efficiency – by automatically gathering pallet data not only are operations speeded up, but there is a significant improvement in accuracy of weight and cube data.
Routing foresight/visibility, cube and weight – members can route far more effectively than they could before. The data gathered by Palletways ID provides an accurate picture on what they are receiving for easier allocation and resourcing operations.
What is the rollout timescale?
Palletways ID is being rolled out in UK and across all European hubs over the next eight months.
How does this new innovation compare with archway scanning?
Archway scanning was only collects two pieces of data: it scans and photographs pallets and is fixed at a static point. The Palletways ID technology takes four key measurements – image, barcode scan, weight and cubic measurements – all while the FLT is in motion and moving the pallet.
Is this truly innovative? What do competitors use/have, and how does this differ?
To be clear: no other technology in the market has the capability to take the four key measurements in one single movement without disrupting operations. It will also be rolled out to every operational hub in the Palletways network (not just the central hubs).
How many hubs and FLTs in PW network will use it? Across UK and Europe? At what cost?
Palletways ID will also be rolled out to every operational hub in the Palletways network (not just the central hubs). The tech will be fitted to 300 FLTs across the Group, equating to 21 Hubs. The two years of research and development was done on a project budget (exact financials confidential). We are now working on mass production of a unit to be used in the hubs and final costs are still to be established.
Have there been trials?
Palletways ID is the result of two years’ research and development including extensive testing within a warehouse environment.
What do your trials tell you so far?
They have given us all the data we need to know this innovation is within the parameters we need them to be to approve a mass production model ready to use that we are launching today.
When will it be rolled out to members? Is it free, how much does it cost?
We are focusing on Hub production right now as every pallet in the network will be touched by this technology. In future there may be scope for member installs.
