The RAVAS mobile scales and the Cubetapes integrated in DB Schenker Logistics' WLAN system has boosted the company's productivity.

Logistics specialist DB Schenker Logistics has "significantly" improved productivity after using the RAVAS-supplied iForks 2500 weighing forks for its forklifts together with Cubetapes to manually measure its boxes.

"The RAVAS mobile scales and the Cubetapes, integrated in our WLAN system, speed up our productivity significantly, providing us the right information for our data and documents processing," says Cynthia Herrema from DB Schenker's business solutions.

One of DB Schenker's customers, Brazil-based DAF Trucks, which is a division of PACCAR USA, is importing goods from over 200 subcontractors in Western Europe. All suppliers deliver their cargo to the DB Schenker warehouse in Rotterdam, where the goods are labeled, stored, order picked and consequently loaded, strapped and secured into dedicated containers as per the customer's order.

Incoming shipments are brought in with iForks. All data is entered into the PDA. The barcode is scanned with the PDA and the weight from the RAVAS iForks is received. The Cubetape sends length, width and height information to the PDA, using Bluetooth. From the PDA, all data goes in one package to the central IT application using a WLAN (wireless local area network) signal.

DAF Trucks insisted on obtaining actual dimensions and weights of all delivered individual boxes, as penalties from Brazilian customs for deviations are severe.

RAVAS Europe BV export manager Jacob Blom tells Forkliftaction.com News that shipments to Brazil have to have documents that accurately state weight and dimensions of containers. "Errors in this will cause delays in processing the container through customs. These delays are, of course, ultimately unaffordable for a 'just in time' system, which is demanded by PACCAR."

By 2014, DB Schenker will handle about 50 40 ft. (12 m) high cube containers weekly for DAF. The challenge for the logistics firm was to implement an efficient process that delivered the highest accuracy and productivity. Direct communication with the Warehouse Management System of DB Schenker was also a key requirement that RAVAS helped fulfill with its iForks.

DB Schenker, a wholly owned subsidiary of German logistics giant Deutsche Bahn AG, provides specialised logistics services in the fields of European land transport, multimodal transport, air and ocean freight, contract logistics, fairs and events, and supply chain management.