Safety is paramount for national printing specialist, Ovato who have successfully utilised RCT’s Muirhead® Speed Gates solution at its warehouse operations in Western Australia.
Muirhead® Speed Gates automatically reduces an industrial machine’s speed depending on pre-determined speed restrictions across a logistics site.
Meaning that regardless of operator input this product effectively enforces speed limits in yards, inside warehouses and common pedestrian areas.
The technology is mounted above warehouse entrances/exits and racking aisles and communicates with Machine Location Tags fitted to the roof of equipment such as forklifts and reach trucks.
Ovato WA Logistics Manager Mark Mead said their operation uses a fleet of Toyota forklifts including plain models and machines with clamp and grab capabilities.
He said since being installed the Speed Gates have worked well and the site has not recorded any incidents.
“I have had no reports from anybody on site about any issues or problems so I would say they have definitely been a success at this location,” he said.
“The product is pretty much set and forget so the staff are aware it is there and when driving the forklifts you notice the change in speeds when you drive around inside the warehouse and then move outside.”
Mr Mead said they sought to install Speed Gates to improve safe forklift operations and ensure compliance with safety policies.
“Similar to how we have speed limits for cars onsite it is important we have the same rules with forklifts,” he said.
“If you are carrying a two-tonne load then you want to have confidence that you are in control of the machine’s speed so it makes sense to have Speed Gates for sure.”
RCT’s Muirhead® Speed Gates solution is revolutionising safe machine fleet practices across logistics and warehousing sites.
Speed Gates ensure all industrial machines – such as forklifts and reach trucks – are travelling at an appropriate speed for its surroundings.
The system is easily deployed at entrances and exits within materials handling facilities and caps maximum speeds on any piece of industrial equipment passing through the zone.
A worksite may be set up to include four safe speeds per site ensuring the materials handling equipment can only travel at designated speeds within defined locations.
The Speed Gate system consists of a gate located above entrances and exits which communicate with a Machine Location Tag mounted on or close to the roof of an industrial machine.
The Machine Location Tag then communicates with a Muirhead® Speed Limiter to manage the speed of the machine.
Additionally, depending on machine type, the Speed Gates may be able to interface directly with OEM speed limiting features.
RCT Product Manager Mick Tanner said the system will effortlessly enable safer materials handling operations.
“Speed Gates will ensure machine operators are fully compliant with site-specific speed limits and keeping in-line with government safety regulations,” he said.
“Improved speed control within your warehouse will reduce the chance of accidents and protect machine operators and other workers.”
“The system is simple to install and requires no ongoing maintenance essentially the system is set and forget.”
“The system can be applied to any type of materials handling equipment regardless of manufacturer so is ideal for both large and small sites that operate mixed fleets.”
RCT has so far received positive feedback from fleet managers at sites which have been using Speed Gates.