46 / 140
November 2018
44 \
World Cement
In such situations, a busted bag or two is the least of
the plant’s problems: staff safety is at risk.
Palletised bags offer a more efficient solution.
Cement plants can prepare stacks of bags on wooden
pallet bases regardless of whether a truck is waiting
to be loaded. Such simple storage enables the
creation of a buffer warehouse that will help to
handle sales peaks or cover breaks in production.
Ventomatic
®
palletisers offer the following:
z
Smooth bag handling for optimal stacking
quality.
z
Flexibility to handle multiple bag sizes and
various stack heights.
z
Ability to operate with slip-sheets and connect to
stretch-hood units or pallet-less systems.
Automatic palletising solutions answer concerns
about efficiency and safety. However, there are
instances when other factors come into play
and an alternative is required. For example, in
markets where bagged cement is predominant,
where wooden pallets are impractical, and where
weatherproofing is essential, pallet-less technology
is the logical logistics solution. Turkey and Russia are
two markets where pallet-less technology has been
adopted as the most convenient way to dispatch
bagged cement.
How does pallet-less export work?
A pallet-less solution is exactly what it sounds
like: a compact, contained stack of bags that does
not require a wooden pallet base. The stack is
formed automatically, in much the same way as a
conventional palletising system, with the exception
that the base of the stack is shaped to leave recesses
for forklift or crane transport. Increasingly, customers
are choosing stretch-hood technology that uses an
elastic plastic film to contain the bags, which is a
more cost-efficient option, as it does not require the
traditional shrinking process. For this method, the
stack is formed upside down so that the recessed
layer appears on top. It is wrapped in plastic, all
while being clamped firmly in place, then rotated
180˚, straightened, and wrapped in a second layer of
plastic. After each wrap the recesses are profiled to
ensure easy loading and unloading. The end result
is a secure, freestanding, compact stack capable
of withstanding long journeys and poor weather
conditions.
When less is more
Ubiquitous though they may appear to be, wooden
pallets are not convenient in every market or indeed
for every plant. Pallet-less solutions address those
circumstances where wooden pallets fall short.
In a traditional stack on a wooden pallet, the
bottom layer of cement bags has limited protection.
Exposed to the elements, cement bags can easily be
Figure 1. Ventomatic POLIMAT
®
palletiser.
Figure 2. Ventomatic pallet-less system.
Figure 3. Typical Ventomatic installation in Russia.