New Zealand beef and lamb exporter Alliance Group has automated its Lorneville warehouse with a new NZD16 million (USD9.9 million) integrated storage and warehouse management system, removing manual handling from the process of storing and retrieving products.

Alliance Group general manager processing and safety Wayne Shaw explains automation of the warehouse will improve safety and increase efficiencies.

“Previously, more than 60 people were required to work in the warehousing operation during peak processing, manually handling boxes of fresh product, each weighing around 22 kg. That lifting poses a risk of muscular skeletal injury to our people.

 “The (new) system also includes a more effective stacking system for frozen boxes, minimising product damage and potential safety risks. It has enabled improved handling of cartons and product and reduced the use of forklifts.”

All staff who had been involved in the manual handling process were re-deployed within the company with no job losses reported. 

The supplier of the automation technology has not been disclosed.