Leading forwarder invests in hanging garment frame

The apparel, sourced from various suppliers from around the world, is sent flat in cartons or on hangers (GOH) by air, sea and road and arrives into the UK where it is transported to Uniserve’s warehouse facilities for unpacking and processing before being hung into the Sea-GOH folding frames.

The equipment has been chosen by Uniserve as a vital link in the supply chain where it adds flexibility and ease of loading.

Sea-GOH is a large, folding metal frame measuring 2,260 (w) x 1,470 (d) x 2,175 (h) which can be erected in seconds and has a set of bars which can be configured within the frame to suit the specific load at the time. One of the key attributes of the frame is that it can be erected in advance, loaded with GOH (Garments On Hangers) and upon arrival of the delivery vehicle it can be fork lifted into the trailer.

Uniserve uses a range of delivery vehicles capable of holding up to 9 individual frames and is able to turn the vehicle around within 30 minutes of arrival with a full load of GOH.

Uniserve operations director Richard McLean says: “For us, Sea-GOH is the perfect solution, we can effectively ‘load’ a vehicle in advance, at a time which best suits our labour, by erecting the frames within the warehouse and hanging the GOH. We line up the frames as they would be within the truck and the loading team can access the hanging bars easily without the confines of a vehicle. Once filled, we await the arrival of the trailer and upon arrival our forklift driver simply loads all nine onto the vehicle, shuts the door and off he goes.”

At destination, Uniserve’s clients treat the load exactly the same as a conventional GOH vehicle and decant using their equipment. The bars within the Sea-GOH are secured using a spring plunger so can be removed in seconds without the need for tools and placed safely to one side of the floor and the team can then rapidly decant the trailer.

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Previously GOH was transported in dedicated hanging vehicles, which are limited in number and also more expensive to hire. However, by using Sea-GOH, Uniserve can now use a traditional road trailer, 18 ton and any number of combinations to cycle the frames.

McLean adds: “Since adopting Sea-GOH we have been able to stage loads in advance of the vehicle arriving, reducing turnaround times, improving manpower efficiencies and reducing overall costs. When not required the Sea-GOH is collapsed and stacked in a corner of the warehouse.