| Traka’s DockSafe solution is an intelligent control and safety management solution, exclusively designed for loading bays |
Traka has worked closely with Bakkavor Logistics, part of leading fresh prepared foods manufacturer Bakkavor Group, to provide a dock door management solution to maintain health and safety standards in its busy distribution centres and loading bay environments.
Bakkavor Group manufactures over 6,000 different products for international grocery retailers and foodservice operators. Its Bakkavor Logistics team is responsible for the intense management of movement and transportation of inbound and outbound goods and materials, using internal and 3rd party transport.
One of the key challenges for Bakkavor Logistics has been to establish effective systems to stop vehicles prematurely leaving the Goods Out bays of the distribution centre to prevent accidents and protect the health and safety of its employees and anyone else using the area.
Following an intensive market research process, Traka’s intelligent DockSafe solution was identified as the most efficient option available to offer a fully integrated system to accommodate Goods In and Goods Out dock door control.
Andy Green, Warehouse Manager at Bakkavor Logistics – Spalding, explains: “When a HGV trailer is decoupled and parked against a loading bay door there is a heightened risk of ‘drive offs’ whereby the wrong trailer is moved or pulled away from the bay door before the loading operation is complete. The implications, should this occur, are significant and can result in serious injury.
“At Bakkavor Logistics we have put many disciplines in place to ensure we adhere to the highest health and safety codes of practice, including Traka’s intelligent software.
“Simple and quick to install, with minimal disruption to the busy schedule of the loading bay, the DockSafe solution has helped create a smoother operational loading bay in many ways. Not only does it eliminate drive offs but the fully-audited system means drivers’ details and actions are recorded and traceable to enable us to analyse labour costs and optimise the complete supply chain management process.”
Traka’s DockSafe solution is an intelligent control and safety management solution, exclusively designed for loading bays. The system can only be operated by an authorised driver and an audit trail is created which records the drivers ID and the time the lock was activated and de-activated.
“Simple and quick to install, with minimal disruption to the busy schedule of the loading bay, the DockSafe solution has helped create a smoother operational loading bay in many ways..." |
All of this is achievable as the memory chip within the Traka iFob has a unique serial number, which is assigned to an individual driver.
The driver positions the vehicle against the assigned loading bay and, by inserting a personal Traka iFob in a receptor socket, releases the Susie lock from a control cabinet fixed to the outside wall of the dock door.
The Susie lock can only be fitted to the trailer airline coupling once the brake line has been disconnected, thus applying the brakes and preventing the trailer from being moved. The action of fitting the Susie lock releases the control key from within the lock, which subsequently controls the operation of the dock door.
The control key physically cannot be released whilst the loading bay door is open. Once the door is closed, and all shunter vehicles safely away from trailer, the control key is released and the Susie lock can be removed from the airbrake coupling.
Steve Bumphrey of Traka added: “Companies operating in logistics such as Bakkavor have a transient population of staff, drivers and contractors, with many vehicles of all sizes requiring easy yet secured access and exit strategies to and from the premises, on a continuous 24/7 basis.
“Traka DockSafe solution is cost effective and simple to implement and can instantly make an operative difference, principally as it removes any ambiguity and the element of human error. The system can guarantee increased safety compliance and safer use of shunter vehicles to ensure an efficient smooth running distribution centre that is safe and secure for everyone involved.”