REEVES ENGINEERING says it has developed an automated pallet handling system for a metal producer's warehouse, allowing it to operate on a single-shift basis and alleviate the need for forklift transfer.

According to Reeves Engineering, the metal manufacturer will use the automation pallet handling system, dubbed 'slot car' pallet trolley system, to collect metal products from production and packaging stations and transport them to warehouse and dispatch areas in one seamless operation.

The slot car pallet trolley system collects loaded pallets up to 1700kg, delivers them to warehouse areas and dispatches more pallets for new loads.

The newly loaded pallets are retrieved from pallet stations aligned along the trolley system's path within the factory and returned through a wall opening to the warehouse area, where they are transferred to lateral conveyors for temporary storage.

Reeves Engineering claims the transfer to these lateral conveyors is actuated by scissor lifts within the trolleys which are activated by pairs of Firestone Airstroke air spring actuators.

As the incoming full pallets are dispatched left and right on the lateral conveyors for temporary storage, an automated pallet dispenser reloads empty pallets onto the trolleys to be sent down the line for loading.

The automated twin stack dispenser, actuated by another Airstroke-actuated scissor-lift, accommodates 25 pallets on each side, separating export and local delivery pallets where required.