International view of storage and warehousing
Page 48
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FT, HE SECOND International Storage and
Warehousing Development Exhibition was opened at Olympia, London, on Monday by Lord Errol of Hale. It closes today. Warehousing as ' a key factor in efficient distribution is increasingly recognized, not least by the consultants, national and international, who have made a speciality of the subject. It has long passed the stage of being a simple matter of building with shelves or pallet racking. Higher mathematics may be used in determining the location of a warehouse and the new large warehouses now being introduced in this country incorporate highly sophisticated engineering and communications aids.
I was surprised, but pleased, to note that the Institute for Warehousing Development (Centrestora), of Prague, had thought it worth while to take a stand at Olympia and even more intrigued to learn that the Institute is "an independent company managing strictly on economical principles and the profit basis". It has a staff of 120 technicians and other specialists, half of whom are graduates, and it operates with three divisions, research, consultancy and contract engineering.
The Institute was established in 1963 and judging by the details of jobs accomplished it could certainly be employed by some British organizations with antiquated distributive and warehousing arrangements to advantage. It has carried out successful research on the "rnicroclimate" of pneumatic air-supported constructions as well as conventional warehouses. I hope that means more than mere ventilation! Further information is available from: Centrestora, Institute for Warehousing Development, Obrancu Miru 96, Prague, 7.
Making its first public appearance in England, the Asernaster mechanized pallet storage system by Constructors Ltd., eliminates gangways between racks and ensures that there is always a load at the discharge point. It attracted a lot of interest. Nearby the Flowstacka Automatic Stacker developed by Fisholow Products Ltd. enabled visitors to select by means of a punched card any particular pallet from the 60-pallet demonstration rig.
The trend towards more durable pallets and pallet converters continues, evidence that users are finding from experience that the cheapest is not always best. Buko Materials Handling Ltd., of Glenrothes, Scotland, in addition to their well-known Combitainer system of wheeled cage pallets are introducing the Nefab Thermotainer, a compact insulated wheeled cupboard with varioussized drawers suitable for shop deliveries of meat, vegetables, fish or even hot food.
The Star Aluminium Company Ltd., of Bridgnorth, Shrops., British offshoot of the Alusuisse concern, is introducing aluminium loading rails with capacities of and 5 tons. The lighter weight versions are designed for the loading of cars or light-wheeled vehicles to lorries. The same stable showed some robust, well-designed aluminium roller pallets with two wheels at one end and a separate wheeled lever handle for manoeuvring. These pallets nest neatly and they are expected to make a rapid impact in the food processing trades where, one gathers, wooden pallets are tending to be frowned upon by public health authorities.
Multitone Electric Company Ltd., 12-28 Underwood Street, London, W 1 , showed an interesting variety of communications systems using literally matchbox-sized receivers and amplifiers. Devices of this kind save so much time when executives have to be located in large premises that they deserve to be adopted rapidly.