CHEP highlights materials handling simulator

Opened in January, CHEP’s new materials handling simulator facility in Orlando provides testing for pallets and customer unit-loads.

The simulator includes a robotic vision system for assessment of pallet damage, durability and life-cycle; five impact sleds that simulate forklift-truck contact; and a storage and retrieval system mimicking typical rack configurations. The company is featuring videos of the simulator in action in Booth 2238.

“The simulator measures handling impacts throughout the entire distribution life cycle,” explained Derek Hannum, director of marketing.
CHEP developed the 63,000-square-foot facility to reduce the assessment period and cost for evaluating new shipping platform designs. The simulator dramatically cuts the time associated with field testing, as well as reduces the number of shipping platforms needed for each test by 90%.

“Later this year, CHEP customers will be able to test their unique loads in the simulator to compare pallet durability—and identify potential performance improvement measures—against current pallet platforms,” Hannum concluded.

ProMat 2011 will be held March 21 - 24, 2011 at McCormick Place South in Chicago. The tradeshow will showcase the latest manufacturing, distribution and supply chain solutions in the material handling and logistics industry. Modern editors produce the Show Daily for the show.

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