Lean Logistic: material arrives at the line on wheels

A dolly is a wheeled base for KLT containers, boxes or pallets: you put the stack on the dolly and take it from the warehouse to the line without lifting it. It pays off when operators move containers and components by hand several times a day: less lifting, fewer trips, containers that arrive at the workstation ready to use. Empty dollies stack: 15 units in less than 2 metres.

They all have a 600×400 deck (Type I, II and VII B also 600×500) and 100 mm castors. Type I has 2 swivel and 2 fixed castors and no drawbar: it runs straight and is pushed by hand. Type II has 4 swivel castors: it turns on the spot and is handy in tight spaces. Type VII B is like Type I but with a sliding drawbar and Easy Lock hitch, for coupling several dollies into a convoy. Type VII C adds a raised deck to the drawbar: containers reach the line at gripping height; it carries up to 70 kg, the others 250 kg.

A tugger train is an electric tractor that tows several trolleys or trailers along a fixed route. In a milk run the train makes a round at regular intervals, like a milkman: it delivers materials to the points of use, collects empty containers and kanban cards and returns to the warehouse. Compared with single forklift trips you reduce traffic, waiting and line-side stock.

In a convoy, dollies and dolly pallets are coupled one behind the other with the drawbar and uncoupled in order, starting from the last; with the Milkrun Drawbar Assembly you connect them to the towing vehicle. The Taxi Liner is a 3-bay trailer for 600×400 dollies: take the dolly you need from either side, without uncoupling the others. The LiftLiner® lifts LL Trolleys, up to 1000 kg per bay and 8 trolleys per train, and unloads them from both sides, tilting them towards the operator: it is the solution for pallets and heavy loads without forklifts on the shop floor.

It depends on the trolley: up to 7–8 Dolly VII B and 1000 kg; up to 5–6 Dolly 800×600 or 1200×800 with drawbar and 1600 kg; up to 6 Dolly Pallets and 4000 kg. The recommended maximum speed is 6 km/h, 4 km/h with VII C. The right number depends on the towing vehicle, bends and gradients: we check it with you on the route.

Polyamide is the standard castor: hard and free-rolling, suitable for smooth industrial floors. Elastic rubber is softer and quieter and is kind to delicate floors. ESD polyamide dissipates electrostatic charges and is used where electronic components are handled: it is available on Dolly Type I, II, VII B and on the 800×600 Dolly. Dolly Pallet and Dolly Taxi have Ø 160 mm polyurethane castors with brake; LL Trolleys have Ø 200 mm polyamide castors.

With the Lean Adaptor Pallet, the steel pallet for dollies: it carries 4 dollies of 600×400, or 2 dollies of 800×600, 1 dolly of 800×600 and 2 of 600×400, or one 1200×800 dolly, up to 1000 kg. You move it by forklift from the long and short side and stack two loaded Adaptors; on arrival the dollies roll off without lifting. To close the load there is the lid with retractable straps in a version for Dolly and Adaptor Pallet.

The FIFO Station is a yellow self-adhesive PVC profile: it adapts to almost any castor width and guides trolleys on one or both sides. Monorails are aluminium rails that guide the castors on one side only: the 40 for castors up to 40 mm wide, the 55 for up to 55 mm and for larger trolleys and heavier loads; with the connecting plates you build multi-lane stations without drilling the floor. The Monorail Individual has separate guide sides, for custom widths. The Flatrail is a 75 × 5 mm adhesive flat guide, with length on request.

The aluminium one is the robust solution: high, low or mixed profiles, adhesive mounting or screw holes, and spacers for castors even over 180 mm. The plastic one is yellow, light, self-adhesive and easy to cut: it suits light trolleys, up to 150 kg, and workstations that need to be set up or changed quickly.

Yes. We start from your flows: what you move, in which containers, where and how often, on which routes and floors. We propose dollies, trolleys, castors and accessories, put the train together with you using the towing vehicles you have, and lay out FIFO lanes and trolley places at the line side. Then we deliver, commission and remain your point of contact for spare parts and support.