Containers are nearly ubiquitous in the modern world of logistics. Their internationally standardised form makes them incredibly easy to integrate into global supply chains, along with numerous other benefits. The result is that a number of systems have been designed around containers themselves, including loading systems.
There are quite a few different options to choose between, and it can be tricky trying to work out which ones are best for your requirements. This article goes through the basic steps involved in that process, from establishing your logistics needs to ongoing reassessments.
Start with your basic logistics needs
In most cases, to understand which modern system will be best for your loading requirements, you need to work backwards, starting with the very basics. For example, what size container are you loading? What kinds of items are you loading into the containers? What kind of volume are you dealing with on a daily, weekly and monthly basis?
You need to get clear on these initial questions before you can start to even think about what solution might be best for your needs. Doing it the other way around is a recipe for ending up with an ineffective, inefficient solution, and it’s important not to fall into that trap at the very beginning.
Understanding your options
Modern container loading systems have come a long way in recent years, and there are now an almost confusing number of diverse solutions to choose between. That being said, there are some simple, highly effective solutions that will work in a diverse array of scenarios.
For example, skate train container loading systems from providers like Joloda Hydraroll can load items up to a weight of 28 tons in just 15 minutes, so long as they’re pre packed and ready to load up. These kinds of solutions don’t require any additions to the containers being used, and are relatively portable, allowing for flexible usage throughout warehouses and other loading environments.
The advantages of modern loading systems
There are a number of important benefits to adopting modern loading systems based on a skatetrain model. These include the aforementioned rapid loading speeds, gravity-aided self-loading (meaning that there are no external power requirements) and the amount of control that the operator has over the loading process at all times. The exact advantages you stand to benefit from will, of course, depend to a certain degree on your needs and the precise solution you choose to adopt.
Ongoing reassessments
It’s important to realise that while a specific solution might have been best when you adopted it, as your requirements change, that solution’s ability to meet your needs will likely change as well. It’s vital that you reassess at regular intervals how effective your solution remains, and whether there might be another solution that’s better suited to new loading needs.
Understanding your container loading requirements is an important process, and not one that you can afford to neglect. By going through these basic steps, you can maximise the effectiveness of the solution you end up with, ensuring that your logistics operations run as efficiently as possible.
