Fiege benefits from optimised packaging technology

Fiege benefits from optimised packaging technology
Smooth processing with BEUMER stretch hood®

Beckum/Greven, 8 October 2007. The FIEGE Group with its main headquarters in Greven in Westphalia is among Europe's leading logistics suppliers. Its competency consists in particular in development and implementation of integrated comprehensive logistical systems. The Group employs about 21,000 people worldwide. More than 222 sites and collaboration agreements in 18 countries form a tightly woven network. The Group's sales came to euro 1.75 billion in 2006. 2.85 million square metres of storage and logistics space testify well to the company's productivity.

Demands on optimised packaging technology
At its branch in Bocholt, Fiege's services concentrate chiefly on logistic commissioning of branded liquors. In the course of reconstruction measures on the already existent warehouse system, packaging technology is also to be optimised. Until now, at Fiege pallets were packed with stretch wrapping machines. In order to meet all the demands on ideal packaging technology for retail, Fiege in Bocholt also turned to the end customers' distribution centres in order to gain experience from the customer's vantage point. One of the important demands of the end customer's central warehouse was that the pallet skids remain free and the film covers the pallet wood a maximum of 4.5 cm from the top. In that way, the shrink wrapping technology was eliminated as a packaging option since the latter completely covers the pallet skids.

Added are further demands on shipping safety, protection against theft, bar code recognition, fast and clear processes as well as the option of processing all heights without pre-sorting, film changing and unnecessary consumption of films. Since neither stretch wrapping nor shrink wrapping technology met all requirements, Fiege sought for alternatives in the field of stretch hood technology. In that segment, BEUMER, a specialist in futuristic intralogistics installations, is a trailblazer.

BEUMER stretch hood® meets all requirements
The company, located in Beckum, Germany, is among the world's leading suppliers of innovative packaging machinery and stands for first class quality combined with pronounced customer orientation. The high-capacity BEUMER stretch hood® packaging machine meets all demands and additionally scores high in its price-benefit ratio, robust quality and stability. Since in Bocholt mainly upscale brand products are shipped, the client puts great stress on the machine's stability. BEUMER stretch hood® is additionally characterised by its particularly stable axial and rolling strengths.

Installation in two weeks
Between the peak Christmas and Eastern seasons Fiege in Bocholt wanted to integrate the new machine into ongoing operations. Due to the advantageous modular design of the packaging machine BEUMER succeeded in meeting this requirement and composing the stretch hood® according to the logistic service provider's needs. A half-year after completion of the renovated hall the 22-metre long BEUMER stretch hood® machine was installed within two weeks. In tests at BEUMER's technical centre the optimum films had previously been determined for those special needs. As a supplement to the high-capacity packaging machine Fiege keeps a supply of high-quality films in reserve that correspond to the logistics company's individual needs.

Automatic bar code scanning
In the meanwhile, the high-capacity BEUMER stretch hood® machine has been packaging about 1000 pallets a day. For doing so, the pallet is simply put onto the roller conveyor and the size of the product pallet and the required film needs are determined by scanning. The pallet is automatically packaged and at the other end of the roller conveyor is provided with a label for its delivery destination. For the entire packaging process only one employee is needed to provide the packaged pallets with the label, with the shipping documents being automatically generated.
About 25 commissioners supply the system with variously packed pallets. Fifteen pallet stacking places make it possible, even at peak periods, to deliver the goods fast without having to wait for an available pallet space. Thanks to three-side size scanning, the BEUMER stretch hood® calculates the precise quantity of film needed, thus preventing unnecessary consumption of film and despite that still providing safe load stability.

Film tension creates contracting force
With a total of 13 patents and utility models BEUMER has extensive patent protection in the stretch hood technology field. With its patent for biaxial stretch under EP 0344 815 the film's vertical expansion during stretching is protected beyond the limit value of 5 percent. The residual expansion resulting in that case ensures that tensions remain in the film and thus the required contracting force can be generated. With biaxial stretch, there is excellent stability, even after repeated transloading. Even sensitive piece goods are optimally protected with this process. It is precisely in the field of beverage packaging that this certainty is of the utmost importance and prevents unnecessary breakage.

Easy to operate
At Fiege in Bocholt the BEUMER stretch hood® installation runs for 24 hours, five days a week. Smooth flow, minimum need for waiting and uncomplicated application have made the logistics service provider enthusiastic about it. Prior to commissioning, Fiege employees were trained on the machine. In the initial phase a BEUMER specialist was available to answer questions at all times. But after only two weeks of operation this was no longer necessary since one of the major advantages to stretch hood® is that it is easy to operate.

For Fiege in Bocholt, purchase of the stretch hood® machine has been worth it in every respect. The BEUMER machine is convincing in its efficient and high-quality packaging with simultaneously excellent display effect, five-sided product protection, elimination of the lamination effect, theft protection, minimised packaging costs and increased throughput capacities.

Data:

BEUMER stretch hood® M for two film formats
Package recognition
Film crane for loading with new film rolls
Upstream and downstream full pallet transport system
BEUMER Multistretch for exact positioning of the film

You will find additional information about Fiege at www.fiege.com
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