Air cargo logistics specialist Georgi Handling is revamping its new warehouse at Leipzig/Halle Airport, helped by Joloda Hydraroll’s clever rollerbed solution.
Burbach, Germany-headquartered Georgi Handling intends the new warehouse to act as a hub to distribute cargo further into its network, and to provide added services and support.
Originally fitted with a traditional-style loading dock with roller shutter doors, the new warehouse lacked the facilities to safely and quickly load and unload unit load devices (ULDs) and PMC pallets from standard and mega air cargo (low floor height) trailers into the warehouse. Joloda Hydraroll, a Liverpool-based expert in material handling for loading and unloading processes, was brought in to install an air cargo material handling system.
Georgi Handling required a safe, flexible, yet temporary solution to make the operations in the warehouse as efficient as possible. Bart Sloot, sales manager, Europe, at Joloda Hydraroll, explained: “Due to the nature of the warehouse industry, the Georgi Handling team wanted the option to remove the system and refit it into other premises, should freight volumes at the airport significantly increase or decrease – without having to undertake civil works.”
Modular and flexible
To meet its clients’ needs, Joloda Hydraroll specified and supplied one of its pneumatic rise and fall rollerbed solutions – the Joloda Hydraroll Modular Rollerbed System – which is specifically designed for warehouse applications. The system enables the warehouse floor to be converted into an air cargo handling station. Operators can directly transfer the cargo by rolling it in and out, helping Georgi Handling to speed up its freight transfer and optimise the loading and unloading processes.
The rollerbed system is a prebuilt, modular system that can be installed on top of any flat surface, such as a warehouse floor or a trailer. When safely docked in the loading bay, the system can transfer goods from the trailer onto the rollerbed in the warehouse. Tyre guides and ramps help to level the trailer to the warehouse floor so the rollerbed functions on a continuous basis. The system also offers great flexibility during setup, as the modular rollerbed frames and wheel ramps are retrofitted and secured to the concrete floor with heavy-duty bolts, which makes it possible to remove.
The pneumatic rise and fall rollerbed technology ensures the system is much safer than live-roller alternatives, according to Joloda Hydraroll. Safety features include auto lowering of the rollers, pallet stops and quick exhaust valves, as well as a safety cage and safety fuse around the electric winch. The winch is used to pull out, load and unload the pallets, which keeps operators at a safe distance from the system during use.
The modular rollerbed system took just two days to fully install at Leipzig/Halle Airport. Since then, Georgi Handling has been able to easily and safely roll in and out ULDs and PMC pallets from its rollerbed trailers into the warehouse. Handling all cargo on rollers has improved operational safety for both the workers and the cargo itself, while meeting the airlines’ safety requirements.
“We have been using Joloda Hydraroll’s rollerbed systems in our trucks for years and knew that we could rely on them to help us with our new warehouse operation,” said Jürgen Georgi, CEO of Georgi Handling. “By deploying the modular rollerbed system, we are able to streamline our offloading, while speeding up deliveries – moving away from traditional loading and unloading processes.”
In addition, Georgi Handling has invested in a series of Joloda Hydraroll ultra-low height slave pallets. These can be used to safely transport ULD and PMC pallets around the warehouse, without damaging either the cargo or the modular rollerbed system.
