White goods are one of the most demanding cargo commodities requiring specialized lift truck attachments.

Washing machines, refrigerators, LCD displays and ovens are prone to handling damage. These are difficult to handle and have a considerable unit value. Furthermore, the transport chain of white products is often very long and it is essential to use well-chosen, well-maintained dedicated equipment to handle them.

Bolzoni Auramo carton clamps fitted on VNA trucks and electric powered counterbalance trucks in a logistic platform, with very high level of product differentiation.

"The Bolzoni Group, one of the worldwide leading manufacturers of forklift truck attachments, is registering a significant increase of intelligent pressure control systems in its carton clamps order booking. This can be explained analyzing the household appliances and electronics end users' purchasing activity trends," says Vittorio Lucchini, Carton Clamps and White Goods Logistic Product Specialist of the Bolzoni Group.

Ecommerce sales worldwide had a massive growth since 2015 and are expected to grow steadily also on a medium term base, with much higher impact on the overall retail sales.

The forklift truck operator profile is changing

"We approach both the single type or limited range manufacturer and production facility and the ecommerce logistic platforms with very high level of product differentiation, from small CP products, coffee machines, hair dryers to big refrigerators, washing machine, TVs.

For these high level of product differentiation applications the change in clamping force is a key driver for load damage prevention. Well, if we combine this with another emerging trend in the Home Appliance Industry - the very fast turnover of truck drivers with consistent lack of experience and knowledge - it's easy to understand how much fundamental the expertise and wide portfolio of solutions of a worldwide player like Bolzoni Auramo is," says Vittorio Lucchini, Carton Clamps and White Goods Logistic Product Specialist of the Bolzoni Group.

Laser sensor Technology: Easy-MOVE

Through the years the Bolzoni Group has intensively invested in R&D with a dedicated team of experts fully dedicated to the innovation in white goods handling.

Besides standard carton clamps, they developped a laser sensor technology clamps range, to fit different load configurations and related handling complexity:

The three Easy-MOVE versions, which differentiate according to load configurations

Easy-MOVE 1 until 16 different load configurations
Easy MOVE 2 until 4 load configurations
Easy MOVE 3 until 8 load configurations and double sensors for presence detection


The Easy-Move Intelligent System uses laser sensors installed in a fully protected position on board of the clamp. The system is driven by the number and dimensions of the unit loads (boxes) between the arms. Through these inputs the correct clamping pressure is set by means of a proportional pressure relief valve.

The micro-control can be connected via USB to Bolzoni configuration tablet and through an easy procedure (touchscreen based) the operator can adjust the handling and load parameters, recalibrate the sensors if necessary, associate the opening ranges to the required pressure levels and possibly recalibrate them in case of introduction of new loading scheme. "It is also possible to switch to single pressure manual mode," adds Lucchini. "Easy MOVE is the perfect attachment for 3PLs. In facts, this system does not require any additional competence and knowledge from truck driver."

The Easy-MOVE clamp is a good attachment to improve efficiency at third party logistic platforms.

Custom interface: the Tablet

Bolzoni Group offers different customer interfaces, according to the level of expertise, from programming coding to easy and user friendly set up tablet.

"As standard," adds Lucchini, "all clamps are ex factory preset with load and pressure parameters agreed with the customer. In case the load parameters have to be updated, with a dedicated tablet, supplied by Bolzoni Auramo, the end user can adjust parameters, through a user friendly interface: adjust opening range, pressure values, to calibrate sensors and to set the clamp in manual mode."

The clamping load configuration has changed? You can update load parameters with the tablet, available as option.

In conjunction with some global players in household appliances mass production, the Bolzoni Group has a consistent plan for further technical developments in automatic force control systems, targeted to even fill the very minor gaps created by the demands of the new handling protocols. "This joint testing activity is now on going and results will lead us, within the end of 2020, to launch new automatic force control systems," says Vittorio Lucchini.


Wide Range of Cartons: Wide Range of Clamps

In addition to the focus on new trends and smart technologies, Bolzoni is enlarging the technical USPs of the conventional range as well working on one of the most sensitive aspects of the cardboard boxes forklift attachments: the total cost of ownership (TCO).

Each product or load schema requires an individually adjusted clamping force and pads configuration. This is the reason why Bolzoni Auramo designed a wide range of carton clamps customized for each specific end user's demand including:

• Rigid arms version
• Single and double oscillating version
• Tilting version
• Rotating version
• Single oscillating version with Force Balance

"The target is to generate tangible savings and assets for the end user," says Vittorio Lucchini. With new rigid arms KS-CF carton clamps the customer can count upon a steel panel with vulcanized rubber screwed on the carrier, that allows easy replacement after long period of use without changing the entire arm. This, maintaining a very limited thickness, only 26 mm, for easy knife-in operations between very tight spaces of products laying on the floor.

The same concept is also applied to the pallet handling version offering 180 mm high bottom rubber, or diamond plate tiles. "This massively reduces the cost of ownership in all cases where rubber can get quickly worn by the pallet friction."

Bolzoni Auramo carton clamp, both arms rigid, with long lasting vulcanized rubber pads.

Force-control: Force-Balance Pad

Thanks to the user friendly registration of four thread screws that impact on the arm camber, this patented Bolzoni Auramo system allows perfect distribution of the clamping force over the arm's surface.

This system has been tested and implemented for a long period in cooperation with one of the main distribution centers in Italy working 24/7. This pad configuration performed to be more resistant to mechanical deformations, in comparison to most of competitors' clamps after a long period of use.

"To make the clamp suitable to all possible load hardness and picking configuration, the clamp integrates a toe in adjustment," says Vittorio Lucchini. "And this in addition to the complete pads protection through hardox plates, vulcanized rubber, cut out of the alu panels' corners to ease limited tilting, total reversibility left-right / bottom - up which are common features to all types of Bolzoni Auramo Meyer oscillating carton clamps."

The Bolzoni Auramo patent pending Force-Balance Pad and the Four Pad Corner Pressure Distribution Tester.

Find out more on the Bolzoni Auramo clamping force control devices.

Complete Set of Pressure Control Devices

Bolzoni Auramo has a complete set of pressure control devices, such as the Four Point Clamping Force Tester. All carton clamps are tested as standard ex factory, and delivered with a defined set up of a single imposed pressure value.

Mr. Vittorio Lucchini, Bolzoni Group White Goods Handling Specialist.

For more information on White Goods Handling solutions, contact:

Mr. Vittorio Lucchini, Export Manager at BOLZONI SpA, Carton Clamps and White Goods Logistic Product Specialist. Send Mr. Vittorio Lucchini an email.

Ask him about our references on white and brown goods handling or to organize a demo unit at your premises.



For more information on Bolzoni Auramo products, please visit our website www.bolzonigroup.com and contact us by email, or contact the nearest Bolzoni Auramo representative.

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Bolzoni Auramo is a Bolzoni Group brand.
Bolzoni Auramo is a market leader in the production of forklift truck attachments, forks and lift tables. The company has manufacturing plants in Italy, Germany, Finland, America and China and through its network of direct branches and independent dealers covering all continents it is able to satisfy all market requirements.