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The
rollet® the unique logistics product that is taking the
materials handling market by storm. The rollet® is the ideal
replacement for the metal roll-cage and was the Winner of the Most
Innovative Product at the 2004 Entrepreneur Awards.
Statistical analysis from within the logistics industry
illustrated an annual 20% loss on all the metal cages being
operated.
Now some of this occurs naturally as a result of units being
disposed of because they are beyond economic repair. This in turn
creates a mountain of waste metal with the associated disposal
costs and environmental impact.
But also as many users are only
too aware, that as a direct result of theft, their own metal
roll-cages are appearing within a thriving second-hand market.
With this information in mind the rollet® research and development
team looked into the feasibility of creating a RTP product that
was RFID trackable, easily identifiable, made of maintenance-free
plastic as well as being extremely robust and very light. The
rollet® was born. The unit can be made in any colour thereby
making it more distinctive and coupled with the use of moulded-in
corporate graphics it creates visual exclusivity.
The subsequent development of the rollet® product fashioned a
pioneering and totally distinctive materials handling product - a
RTP evolution.
Find out more:
Construction
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As a result of its
moulded plastic construction the rollet® is light, in fact, just
40 kilograms in its standard height format of 1500 millimetres.
Compare this to the much heavier metal roll-cage which weighs in
excess of 60 kilograms and you can easily see that moving a
rollet® means moving over 20 kilograms less. This produces a
massive weight saving of more than 1 tonne for every trailer load
that leaves your depot. Can you imagine how much this will save on
fuel costs alone?
During the manufacturing process the choice of material was very
carefully determined to ensure the integrity of the product. As a
result the rollet® is incredibly strong and also totally
recyclable. This provides substantial long-term savings and
immense environmental advantages. This unique product recycling
initiative means that the rollet® conforms totally to impending EU
legislation.
The rollet® was developed in close conjunction with University of
Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST).
Specification
Due to the modular
design of the rollet®, its shape and configuration can be adapted
to suit any requirement. The development of the product has
completely astounded and is about to transform the materials
handling market. The RTP evolution is here!
Inherent problems with metal cages, such as the
cross-contamination of products within the health and food sectors
are significantly reduced by using the rollet®. With its modular,
lightweight construction, the delivery and management of survival
products in accident and emergency situations is greatly improved.
The rollet® can achieve all this and more because it can be
transformed into many different formats and can be put to use for
an incredible range of purposes. The RTP version can be completely
re-configured to suit any individual operating requirement and is
fully demountable. It can be used in two-, three- or four-sided
assembly, providing access from the front, back or sides. It has
multi-shelf positioning and for complete protection can include a
secure and robust top. A standard rollet® measures 800 by 700
millimetres, with optional panel heights of 1200 or 1500. But it
doesn't stop there. Its flexible design means that a rollet® can
be constructed to meet your exact needs. Our high quality
castors have a standard diameter of 125 millimetres.
Trackable
The rollet® has
been designed and developed to include full RFID capabilities.
So, what does that really mean?
RFID stands for Radio Frequency Identification and this allows an
individual rollet® cage and the products inside to be tracked.
In
association with our renowned partners in this field we have
initiated rigorous quality assurance routines, extensively testing
this procedure so that we can fully guarantee that it works.
The communication options of the rollet® provide endless
possibilities from local tagging through to accurate positioning
within a 50 centimetre radius anywhere in the world. This is just
one of the unique areas where the conventional metal cage cannot
even begin to compete. By using this cutting-edge technology,
products can be tracked in and out of any environment. Providing
secure handling of your goods with unparalleled product integrity.
Finally, the ability to facilitate Electronic Data Interchange for
goods in and out is increased dramatically.
Clean and Safe
The
predominately plastic construction means the rollet® is very easy
to clean and because of the crack and crevice-free design it is
extremely difficult for bacteria to form and multiply, unlike
conventional metal cages.
The rollet® does not
rust and will not contaminate products being carried.
Contamination is a key area of focus particularly relevant in the health
care and food transportation sectors. For complete protection there is
the additional option of an anti-bacterial additive which will ensure
that the most stringent standards are met.
In terms of safety the rollet® stands out on its own. The 2002 paper by
the Health and Safety Executive, 'The Safety of the Roll Container',
highlighted the fact that metal roll-cage accidents represented 453 of
the 2292 accidents that resulted in three or more working days being
lost.That is 20% of the total.
The rollet® has no sharp edges and no protruding parts which are the
hazards at the centre of the metal roll-cage accident figures. These
features, coupled with the fact that the rollet® is at least 20
kilograms lighter than its metal cage equivalent, makes it easier to
manoeuvre and reduces the risk of accidents and physical injury. And
unlike the A-frame metal cage, the design of the rollet® means that it
cannot be overloaded, is far more stable and much less likely to fall
over.
Finally, with more and more retail outlets now operating 24-hours a day
with the result that metal cages are continuously in use within public
areas, the incidence of personal contact has risen sharply. The
construction of the rollet® means that it is considerably safer to use
within such environments, with the major benefit of reducing or even
eliminating injury to members of the public.
Colour
The rollet® can be supplied in any colour to match your
requirements, complementing your corporate identity or emphasising
a specific usage within your organisation.
As a
result, coordinating colour styles allow for more efficient product
control and help reduce the cross-contamination of conflicting products.
To further emphasize corporate styling, moulded-in graphics on the side
panels of the rollet® help provide greater product or company identity.
Quiet
We are sure you are all familiar with the sound of a squeaking wheel.
The level of noise emanating from a metal roll-cage is due not just to
the wheels but the construction of the cage itself. The rollet® is
significantly quieter. Noise emission is mainly limited to the wheels
and this can be further dampened by the optional use of specifically
developed sound-reducing castors. This is particularly interesting as it
is very possible that future EU legislation could recognise this noise
as an environmental hazard. Indeed it is very likely that legislation
will come into effect reducing permissible noise levels associated with
product deliveries.
Product Development
The
rollet® is constructed using a rotational moulding procedure. This
process generates products that have a natural interior cavity which can
be pre-filled with other materials to provide the rollet® with
additional properties such as extraordinary insulation or immense
strength.
Firstly, insulation.
We have created a prototype which is undergoing intense trials utilising
a Rotofoam© process technology. This will allow the delivery of frozen
goods and products within non-refrigerated vehicles. The Rotofoam©
expertise combined with the unique benefits of the rollet® construction
process can create an individual rollet® freezer that will maintain
products at approved temperatures without power. With the ability to
convey frozen, chilled and ambient goods within a single load, the
financial implications this will have on the transport industry are
massive.
Secondly, strength.
A low density Rotofoam© infill combined with reinforcing fibres provides
immense strength and an exceptional rigidity-to-weight ratio.This
strength is particularly relevant in disaster control situations with
organisations such as The Red Cross. When combined with its unique
colour coding system and GPS tracking facilities, emergency supplies
would be able to be securely transported directly to specific points of
need, saving lives in the event of a national or global emergency.
How can you acquire this revolutionary product?
The
means to acquire the rollet® are very simple, you can buy, you can rent,
or indeed you can pay for the use of.
The options outlined allow you to choose; however, the rollet® company
is extremely keen to have involvement in the equipment's future
disposal. The reasons are threefold.
Firstly, the unit is totally recyclable. And given today's environmental
requirements rollet® wishes to create products from a known initial
source that can be put back into the market with quality assurance
guarantees.
Secondly, rollet® is totally willing and able to conform to the
impending "manufacturers return legislation" with all its products.
And finally, in collaboration with our customers, having control of the
rollet® at the end of its normal lifespan will help reduce the
availability of the units on the second-hand or black markets.
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