SODISE Improves Warehouse Logistics with TAWI Mobile Solutions

SODISE provides tools, consumables, and workshop equipment to professionals in a variety of industries, such as agriculture, automotive, and heavy vehicles. Their facility in Briec, France has multi-product containers that need to be unloaded. Then, items are placed on single-product pallets. 

The Exhausting , Labour-Intensive Process of Manual Shipping Container Unloading 

On average, SODISE needs to unload 5 containers every week. Inside the truck are multiple products like bulky bags and heavy boxes. Items can vary in size and weight (typically between 15 kg and 50 kg). 

A team of 4-5 people would manually unload each container and then palletise items once they reached the dock. On average, this labour-intensive process took around 2 hours and 30 minutes per container. 

But their biggest challenge was the extreme fatigue the operator would feel after manually unloading a container and safety. Workers were experiencing back pain, arm pain, and musculoskeletal disorder (MSD). 

How did SODISE decide to improve ergonomics and productivity of shippping container unloading? 

SODISE’s safety and maintenance manager wanted to make daily work better in their receiving area. They contacted TAWI lifting experts for help. TAWI worked with SODISE to design an efficient workflow to address their material handling challenges and improve warehouse logistics. 

Quick Shipping Container Unloading: TAWI’s Container Unloader streamlines and improves the unloading process. The full weight of the load is now on the vacuum lifter. Plus, the conveyor is able to quickly move items like bags and boxes out of the container. 

Effortless Palletising: TAWI’s vacuum lifter on a mobile jib crane can easily lift items off of the conveyor, so workers can efficiently palletise items. Operators can easily switch between different suction feet on the vacuum lifter. This helps them handle various items effectively.   

What results did SODISE notice from implementing warehouse automation? 

Important considerations for choosing a lifting solution were improving safety and productivity. TAWI has helped SODISE achieve both objectives. Ugo Morin, Managing Director commented on the benefits of TAWI’s solutions by saying: 

“From a management point of view, it meets two objectives: a human objective, with the prevention of MSDs, and a productivity objective. Thanks to TAWI, we can unload containers faster and with fewer people.”  

Ugo Morin,  Managing Director 

Key Benefits: 

• More efficient use of labour: Less people needed inside the container (1 person instead of 4) 
• Improved ergonomics & safety: Workers said they have had less back pain and no arm pain since using vacuum lifters 
• Better efficiency: Workers said that they have noticed a gain in speed 
• Less fatigue: Workers can unload a second container with no problem 

“I would recommend TAWI without any hesitation to another company”  

-Hervé, a logistics employee in SODISE’s recieving department

Explore TAWI’s mobile lifting solutions or Container Unloader to learn more about solutions that improve warehouse logistics. 

Also, TAWI helps improve safety and productivity in many ways for the logistics industry. You can learn more on our logistics page.