Astec Conveyors repeats TNT success at Crawley depot

Following on the success of Astec Conveyors installations of hi-tech sortation systems at TNT Birmingham, Preston, Durham, Slough, Liverpool, Swansea, Edinburgh and Bellshill depots, sales director Roger Pendleton confirmed the company had also successfully completed a further project at the TNT Crawley depot.

As part of TNT’s strategy of improving depot operational efficiencies, the UK Network Development Team has adopted an ongoing evaluation of materials handling solutions for both existing and new depots. In reviewing the Birmingham and subsequent projects by Astec Conveyors, TNT acknowledged that the new reversible straight-line conveyor system had been extremely successful and would form the basis of MHS installations at all future new and retro-fitted depots.

Several companies were invited to tender for the TNT Crawley depot, which was the first of a number of planned sites. The tender specification required them to provide an overview of the potential system layout, operating criteria and adhere to a very strict time schedule for installation. 

New high speed two-stage switch unit at TNT Crawley
Astec Conveyors in conjunction with TNT, designed a concept based on similar principles as adopted at the previous depots, providing an effective reversible materials handling system. 

However, it was essential that the system capability should be increased to support working shift patterns. In order to achieve this, Astec Conveyors installed and integrated its new patented high speed, pneumatically operated two stage switch unit, which enabled them to reduce the gap between parcels of all sizes and increase the throughput up to 4000 units per hour.

This unique modular high speed switch sorter from Astec provides a new dimension in integrated system design, offering maximum versatility with bi-directional (left/right) 30° sortation. The compact two-stage module has virtually halved the spacing required between conveyed parcels, which contributes to optimum space utilisation and feeding of close pitched sort lanes.