Extra specializes in cleaning and maintenance products and buys large lots,
which we prefer to process in-house. However, with the scale-up of the Extra shops, this was no longer logistically feasible. So we went in search of a solution to optimise our internal operations. And that solution was obvious: we needed to wrap the pallets faster in order to reduce our pickers’ waiting times.

Pavel Campens, Distrilogistique: “Until 2017 we wrapped all pallets manually. Then we invested in a stand-alone arm stretch wrapper. With that machine, full wrapping still took two minutes, which adds up when you wrap two hundred pallets every day. An automatic system allowed us to halve that time.”

Our products are not all uniform: a pallet can be filled with different shapes of boxes, bags, products and even loose furniture. So the wrapper had to be flexible and protect the entire load well. The system therefore includes a top sheet dispenser, which covers the top of the pallet with a layer of film that automatically drapes nicely over the goods.

1. The pallets to be wrapped are placed on the attachment roller track at a height of 80 mm using a forklift.
2. Then a lift system brings the pallets to a height of 500 mm.
3. Once wrapped - and possibly labelled - the pallets move to the exit buffer zone, where they can be taken down again at a height of 80 mm.

A simple control panel allows the operator to choose whether the pallet should be wrapped with or without a top sheet, and whether it should be wrapped tightly or loosely, depending on the type of load. Through data tracking, the system keeps track of each pallet.

The result?

Our pickers’ waiting times have been considerably reduced as the new wrapper can handle up to 60 pallets per hour and they can carry out
other tasks in the meantime. In addition, the wrapping is of better quality: we use thicker film and both the top and the pallet itself are wrapped automatically.

Michiel Bellemans, supply chain manager at Distrilogistique: "We have
now started with a basic system that we can build on in the future. An expansion of the scanning system and fully automatic labelling can be integrated as soon as we need them. In addition, the system is designed to integrate a lift at a later stage, which can take the pallets directly to the loading dock.”

Michiel: “We were looking for a partner who could help us in the long term.
Fraxinus understood what we wanted and brainstormed along with us, keeping in mind our current infrastructure. Furthermore Fraxinus focused strongly on safety, so the working area and the material are better protected than before."