Time is money – especially in 24-hour fast-paced industries such as warehousing, logistics and manufacturing. The task is simple: keep products moving 24/7. For Keith Rowles, Logistics Trainer and MHE Controller at Wavin Plastics UK, the leading supplier of plastic pipe systems for residential, non-residential and civil engineering projects, that means to keep the forklifts and trucks in the production halls moving. As easy as the task sounds, executing it can be rather difficult since Wavin Plastics’ customers rely on the adherence to very tight schedules.
Every day, we manufacture 100 tonnes of product, load 70 lorries, and pick 10,000 lines of product – we have to get the items out to the customer on time.
Wavin provides effective solutions for essential needs of daily life: safe distribution of drinking water; sustainable management of rainwater and waste water; energy-efficient heating and cooling for buildings. “Every day, we manufacture 100 tons of product, load 70 lorries, and pick 10,000 lines of products – we have to get the items out to the customer on time”, says Keith Rowles. Doing so, tires are a key factor when it comes to improving productivity and a crucial element to ensure that demands are placed on fleets on time. That means: every truck or forklift out of service due to a tire change costs Wavin not only precious time, but real money. As a result, the aim has to be to make forklifts and trucks as profitable as possible while of course adhering to the highest safety standards. The industry is working hard on innovations to increase efficiency and at the same time reduce costs. In the end, products and technologies must add a real value. When it comes to the day to day business at Wavin there is one point, where that value can really be added: the speed at which the tires of forklifts and trucks are changed. Dean Beddard, After Sales Manager at Linde National Tires, suggested the Continental CSEasy SC20+ as a time-saving solution. He says: “Seeing how the site operated and understanding the customer’s needs, we decided we had to come up with a bespoke solution, which involved the Continental CSEasy SC20+.”
The CSEasy SC20+ tire combines the unique CSEasy mounting adapter with a solid tire featuring the new Plus Compound. That offers a lot of advantages compared to conventional solid tires: the new Plus Compound on the one hand ensures both high mileage and low rolling resistance. With the adapter, on the other hand, the tire can be fitted quickly safely to any four-piece, Lemmerz-style rim with just a simple Allen key.
It means that, whenever the need arises, we can fit tires quickly, ensuring we get Wavin’s trucks up and running as soon as possible.
Dean Beddard explains further: “The CSEasy SC20+ was the ideal fit for Wavin, allowing both practical and flexible fitting, as well as offering extended wear life. It means that, whenever the need arises, we can fit tires quickly, ensuring we get Wavin’s trucks up and running as soon as possible.”
As CSEasy tires can be fitted on site and without the need for a hydraulic tire press or a tire fitting technician thanks to the unique CSEasy adapter, downtime and the related costs were reduced to a minimum. For Wavin, the time-saving effect was felt immediately, with tires changed in half the time and without presses disrupting product flow. Not only that, but the CSEasy SC20+ has helped to greatly increase safety in operations across the business. Keith Rowles added: ”The CSEasy SC20+ is of great benefit to us at Wavin. The tires ensure the productivity of the trucks was kept to a maximum.”
Keith Rowles, Logistics Trainer and MHE Controller at Wavin Plastics
Dean Beddard, After Sales Manager at Linde National Tyres
Gary Banks, Key Account Manager at Continental Tyre Group Ltd.
CSEasy SC20+ on Linde forklift at Wavin Plastics UK
Continental CSEasy SC20+
Continental CSEasy SC20+ at Wavin