Tissue Roll Handling with AGVS, 1999 Papermakers Conference Proceedings

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Transporting tissue rolls between the paper machine and converting can be accomplished using conventional or unconventional means. Conventional methods for transporting tissue rolls include the clamp truck and conveyors. The clamp truck is convenient because clamp trucks are relatively inexpensive-low in capital requirements. Operators are required for industrial trucks to pickup and deliver many items within the mill environment and are a standard feature on the mill landscape. Clamps can be purchased in numerous configurations and capacities permitting exact sizing for the application. Industrial trucks are pervasive in manufacturing environments. Because of that, support is relatively easy to get from dealer trained in-plant maintenance staff or from the industrial truck dealer himself. The difficulty in using the clamp truck method is primarily the damage which is caused to the product by the clamps. Secondary damage to the product is caused by the normal, human errors which misapply the clamps. Additional damage occurs due to occasional collisions between the truck and stationary objects in the mill. Labor costs in the mill to operate the industrial truck fleet are typically high and rising. Any justification procedure quickly focuses on labor savings when “shopping” for techniques. And labor costs only increase over time. The biggest hidden cost associated with industrial truck use; however, is the liability associated with the potential for injury to plant personnel. Risks of injury and direct insurance costs are frequently overlooked when considering justification for alternative techniques for handling.