Yusen Logistics slashes barrier repair cost

Major 3PL Yusen Logistics has taken on Stommpy barrier systems in two of its warehouses, mainly in a bid to reduce the cost of barrier repair.

Yusen has installed Stommpy double rail barrier systems for protecting walls and edging and a single rail barrier protecting P&D (pick and drop) racking systems, as well as a single rail integrated with a VNA system, as a safety feature if trucks pass their brake point. 

In addition, the 3PL installed a handrail system into GP3 (one of the Yusen buildings that form part of its huge Northampton facility). The base rail is the structural part of the system – that stops the truck passing through, while the top section is a visible deterrent, to stop people from crossing into the vehicle aisle, for example.

Yusen Logistics (UK) fleet and facilities manager Robin Tate saw maintenance cost as a key reason for choosing Stommpy.

“The system is unique due to its single fixing point, this means maintenance is reduced as the floor can no longer be damaged in the way more conventional steel and plastic barriers can be,” he explains.

“Previously when barriers have been damaged the floor needs repair work or other guards need supplying to avoid the previous floor bolts but not with Stommpy, the payback period can be less than 12 months in certain situations.”

Stommpy says that repairs, if needed, cost around 2% of the original purchase price. The work can be can managed by an in-house maintenance team. There is typically no need to core out the floor and refill with concrete in the event of an impact.

Of course health and safety is also a key concern when specifying barriers. Stommpy MD Matt Daniele argues that while all barriers segregate pedestrian and vehicle areas, not all models have stopping power if hit by a forklift. Matt emphasises that the Stommpy barriers have stopping power with minimal flex and cross over into the pedestrian area with an impact. 

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Robin Tate from Yusen agrees this was a key point.

“The energy absorption properties of Stommpy, we feel, will significantly reduce impacts and therefore contribute to improving health and safety within our warehouse.”

He adds: “The system is the only flexible impact barrier which is fully enclosed and suitable for food and pharmaceutical which helps us manage our hygiene requirements for certain contracts.

“The system was quick and easy to install and caused minimal disruption to the operation and the vulnerable areas are now protected by a system designed to suit us.”

So, how does the Stommpy barrier achieve this? Over to Stommpy UK sales manager Ian Thomas to explain.

“It’s no one thing. It is a balance between different components and between strength and flexibility. It starts with the fixer. The product deals with the impact through the fixer and uses the strength of the floor. This added to the threaded bar and the Tecklene (a high performance non-toxic polymer) bollard gives the balance. 

“Some products are so hard, you’ll not break them, but they will rip out of the concrete. Some other products are all about flex. Stommpy is about a little bit of give and take. The whole system is balanced and designed to send the shock into the floor.”

Stommpy holds patents on the system, which can withstand 34500 joules of impact.

The system is designed to prevent the egress of contaminants and so can be specified in  food and pharma applications.

The D120 system is designed for counterbalance truck impacts and the D70 is designed for lightweight pump truck impacts. The company has also developed a version of the D120 for use in goods yards and loading bays.

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