Industry:

Timber mill.

Application:

Loading timber lengths into a saw.

The Problem:

Workers at this timber mill were developing sore backs and finding it difficult to maintain work rates as they loaded timber into the saw. They needed a product that would maintain the timber planks at a steady height as they were fed into the saw. It was important that the product chosen was easy to use and did not decrease the work rate.

Product Chosen:

Safetech Tandem Palift.

Benefits of this Product:

Safetech provided 2 static Palifts in tandem that permitted the automatic raising and lowering of the timber lengths as they were loaded into the saw.

The results were:

• Immediate reduction in backache and work fatigue.
• Productivity increased.
• Easy to use with no need for operator intervention.
• Workers satisfied with the outcome.

Alternatives:

• Hydraulic lift tables. More expensive and they required workers to use a control switch to raise and lower the table which was inconvenient and slower.
• Air spring pallet leveller. Also more expensive, less durable, required maintenance and a compressed air supply.
• Overhead crane system. Very costly, needed development of a timber gripper and would have been too slow for the saw.