Importers & Exporters Container Handling

Introduction

Many Mobicon Straddle Carriers are being used by importers and exporters. 

The low-cost and low weight container handler is extremely suitable for companies that handle between 10 and 200 containers per week.

The Problem

World-wide, container use increases, and more and more companies that import and export use containers. 

In the past, many importers and exporters with a limited turnover of containers (approximately 10 to 200 per week) did not have a suitable container handler. 

In some cases heavy container forklifts were used.  This often resulted in high handling cost per container and in damages of the yard surface because of the high wheel loadings of the forklift.  Also, the space required for a container forklift often restricted their usefulness.

In some countries, Self Loading Trailers (SLT's) also called “Swing Lifters” or “Side Loaders”, are quite popular to place containers on the ground. 

The major issue with SLT’s is that once the container is placed on the ground, the user cannot move it anymore.  The cranes on SLT’s also add approximately 6 tonne to the tare weight of the trailer, limiting their carrying capacity.  Although SLT’s are a good solution for very low container turnover, the cost per “drop” gets too high when multiple containers per day are being handled.

Loading docks or loading ramps are also used to unpack a container.  In that case, the transport truck will have to wait until the container is emptied, or the trailer is uncoupled and the prime mover has to come back later to collect the trailer again, which is a costly exercise. 

Loading docks and ramps are also quite dangerous and inflexible. 

The number of containers that are packed or unpacked is limited to the number of loading docks, and once a container is packed, it has to wait for the transport company to remove it from the dock.

The industry was looking for a simple, safe, low cost container handler that could simply remove a container from a road truck and place it anywhere in a small yard, until the container was needed for packing or unpacking.

The Solution

The Mobicon Straddle Carrier fulfills the requirements of importers and exporters.  Mobicons are now being used by many companies that previously could not use a container handler. 

The Mobicon Straddle Carrier simply takes a container off a delivering truck and places another container back on. 

This whole process takes less than 10 minutes, and waiting time for the trucking company is minimised. 

The receiving party can then place the container wherever it is needed.  Sometimes the container is not needed until a later date. In that case the container can be stored anywhere in the yard. 

When it is time to pack or unpack the container, the Mobicon simply collects the container and places it where it is needed, close to where the goods are, for fast and efficient packing or unpacking. 

Containers can also be placed under low awnings or even inside buildings, out of the weather.

The Benefits

• Less waiting time for delivering truck, saving on demurrage.
• Lower cost per container handled.
• Less yard damage as a result of using a lighter container handler.
• Less freight damage due to packing and unpacking on ground level.
• No issues during inclement weather, container can be unpacked or packed inside, or under an awning.
• Increased productivity, as packing of containers is faster while it is placed close to where the goods are, instead of bringing the goods to where the container is.
• Safer container handling, as the container is only carried 30cm above ground level.
• Safer handling of goods, no loading docks or loading ramps required, and less distance travelled from storage of goods to container.

Import/Export industry case study

Read about how Mobicon Systems made Sadleirs Melbourne container handling more efficient. 

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