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Alliance Group general manager processing and safety, Wayne Shaw, says the technology has improved the health and safety of employees, unlocked advantages of scale and lifted the efficiency and competitiveness of the plant.
Alliance Group has launched a new $16 million warehouse technology system at its Lorneville plant near Invercargill.
The fully integrated storage and warehouse management system for frozen products introduces automation to the warehousing process, using automated shuttle vehicles rather than manual lifting for the storage and retrieval of product.
Product is then automatically moved through the warehouse and palletised without being touched by human hands.
Wayne Shaw, general manager processing and safety, Alliance Group, says the technology has improved the health and safety of employees, unlocked advantages of scale and lifted the efficiency and competitiveness of the plant.
“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 22kg,” Shaw says.
He says that lifting poses a risk of muscular skeletal injury to Alliance’s employees.
“The system also includes a more effective stacking system for frozen boxes, minimising product damage and potential safety risks,” Shaw adds. “It has enabled improved handling of cartons and product and reduced the use of forklifts.”
Shaw says the investment in the system reflects the co-operative’s commitment to both the Lorneville site and the wider Southland region.
“We have been continually investing in Lorneville over the past five years including the opening of a new venison plant and the installation of primal cutters for processing,” he says.
No job losses have occurred as a result of the project, with existing staff re-deployed.
Alliance Group has secured greater access for chilled beef exports into China following approval of its Levin and Mataura plants to supply that market. With its first load of beef from Levin clearing Chinese customs in early January and a shipment from Mataura recently arriving in China, journalist Leo Argent talked to Alliance general manager safety and processing Wayne Shaw.
Alliance Group has secured greater access for chilled beef exports to China, following approval for two of its processing plants to supply the market.
Alliance Group says it has secured greater access for chilled beef exports to China, following the approval for two of its processing plants to supply the market.
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