DB Schenker

DB Schenker is a leader in supply chain management. The business handles everything from logistics to customised shipping solutions. In Arendal, Sweden, DB Schenker has a 24 000 sqm distribution centre where packages are sorted, palletised, packed and shipped for delivery to end-customer.

Limited by heavy manual handling

In the outbound process, a couple of hundred packages pass through daily. The packages are sorted on pallets depending on size. This process used to be carried out manually, which meant a lot of heavy lifting that could only be performed by a limited number of employees.

“These heavy lifts made the work too physically demanding to be performed by all employees”, says Tim Maalsnes, Operational Excellence Engineer, DB Schenker.

Searching for a user-friendly solution to improve the work environment

DB Schenker started looking for a lifting solution that would improve ergonomics and the work environment for the packaging employees. The main requirement was that the solution is user-friendly and easy for everyone to operate. The decision was made to invest in two TAWI High-Frequency vacuum lifters.

“We chose TAWI vacuum lifters due to the high quality of the product in combination with the easiness of integrating the lifters into our daily work. We also got a good impression of TAWI as a company and their ability to provide quick maintenance and service”, says Tim Maalsnes.

For DB Schenker in Arendal, the main focus of the investment in TAWI lifting equipment was to improve the ergonomic working conditions in the outbound process but some benefits have also been noticed when it comes to productivity. The employees have more energy throughout the whole workday and for some of the packages the lifters make it possible to lift two packages at the same time.