Freighter in DGL link aims to avoid pallet collapse and bolster safety
April 5, 2011
Trailer maker Freighter and Queensland logistics firm DGL have combined to develop curtain-sided trailer they believe virtually eliminates the risk of palletised glass bottle collapse whilst in-transit.
Such collapses during transport and handling are an expensive headache for beverage companies.
The link, driven by for DGL Australia Managing Director John West and Freighter Maxi-CUBE Queensland’s (FMQ) Mark Kelly, has seen two prototype trailers built.
DGL is testing and trialling them with clients around Brisbane.
Pending results and feedback, additional units are likely to be ordered, the companies say.
Drivers use two controls for the loading and unloading of pallets one to operate the chain belt on the conveyor and the other for the chain floor that is located in the trailer, both at equal speed.
A dividing wall built down the middle of the trailers ensures that pallets are transferred seamlessly and that they are compacted evenly into each available pallet space.
“Once fully loaded, the driver then operates a control box located at the lower rear end of the trailer which activates the walls located inside the curtains which are automatically moved inwards to compress and lock the pallets into their space, making it virtually impossible for the pallets of glass to collapse,” the companies say.
“The outside walls also act as the load restraint for sideways movement and their height extends from the floor to just below the roof, to accommodate full height pallets.”