Straddle stackers stop strain and stooping
March 1st 2005

Cheese producer Long Clawson Dairies has overcome a handling problem that affects an increasing number of manufacturers – how to comply with health and safety regulations while achieving costeffective manual handling.

Cheese rounds weighing about 9kg each needed to be manually transferred from location to location at a working height of about 1m and frequently turned to achieve controlled maturity.

The company sought a handling technique incorporating a convenient working platform level to avoid repetitive stooping and back strain.

Traditional practices designed around four-way entry pallets throughout the production area precluded the use of conventional wrap-over fork stackers, and counterbalance stackers had been eliminated as too large for the available space.

The solution was provided by Straddle B69E stackers from Kentruck. These have powered lift and traction to accommodate high handling frequencies and achieve an infinitely adjustable working height plus easy manoeuvrability. A straddle gap of 1050mm enabled the handling of 1000mm wide pallets through existing doorways.

The stackers offer capacities to 1000kg and lift heights to 3750mm.

They were tailored to cope with wet local conditions and have dampproofed electrics, stainless steel wheel bearings and protected chains, wheels and other moving parts.

Three machines were installed at the Melton Mowbray site and one at the company’s Long Clawson site. Four more machines have subsequently been introduced.

More articles from Handling Equipment Sales Ltd: