Cross-docking made easy

Cross-docking equipment helps companies meet customers' demands for quick and accurate product delivery.

By Staff -- Logistics Management, 10/1/1998

Cross-docking--the movement of goods from the receiving dock directly to the loading dock, without being stored in a warehouse or distribution center--allows companies to expedite the flow of products to their customers. To make sure this process runs smoothly, it's important that shippers choose the right equipment.

Shippers today can choose from a wide array of equipment, ranging from automatic-identification technology to carousels to dock levelers. The following is just a sample of what's currently available.

White Systems Inc. has introduced an inserter-extractor system that can execute up to six transactions per minute. This fully automated carousel system is designed for high-throughput picking, staging, and buffering operations in manufacturing, warehousing, and distribution applications.

The inserter-extracter automatically removes totes from up to a quadruple-tiered carousel system and transfers them to conveyors, automated guided vehicles, or other tote-moving systems.

The standard unit is designed to handle plastic, steel, or cardboard containers. It can accommodate loads of up to 300 pounds per tote, with maximum dimensions of 38 inches by 38 inches by 24 inches.