Koenis, R.E.M.
Overslagsystemen voor de Citybox.
Literature survey,
Report 2002.LT.5593, Transport Technology, Logistic Engineering.
A new unit load device, called the Citybox, can be used for the
distribution of goods in urban areas. It is not clear how this unit load
is to be transferred. This paper looks into the different kinds of
transfer systems that would be applied to urban distribution of the
Citybox.
The system is divided into three categories according to the way
existing vehicles are capable of transferring existing load units. Each of
the transfer systems has been evaluated to determine their feasibility to
handle the Citybox as well as changes to the transfer systems to
accommodate the Citybox.
It is possible to fit 9 rolling containers, 5 europallets or 4 industrial
pallets into one Citybox. The box has a length of 2550 mm and a width and
height of 2150mm. The bottom of the box has been made suitable for
transport over roller tracks and slots are made on each side so the box
can be handled with a forklift. At this moment the weight of the Citybox
is fixed at 3450 kilograms, but in practise the average weight could be
lower at 2550 kilogram.
In the fist category, the transfer systems are fully installed on the vehicle.
Examples are the hook-arm system, the side-loader and the crane. Clear
advantages are the low investment costs, the ease of control and the good
transfer possibilities in the urban area. The disadvantages are the
adjustments to be made to the Citybox, high variable costs, bad mechanization
and automation possibilities and especially the bad fulfilment of the urban
vehicle demands.
In the second category are the transfer systems that do not
only need adjustments to the vehicle but also require machinery and/or
conformation of the surroundings. Examples are roller tracks, tail-lifts and
the swap body. Notably, roller tracks score from fair to good on all fronts,
except for the transfer at the city border since extra transfer facilities
have to be made there.
The transfer systems in the third category don't need adjustments to the
vehicle, but depend completely on fixed or mobile systems on the transfer
point. The advantages are the exceptionally fast transhipment and the high
rate of automation. Opposite to this are high costs and the need of separate
transhipment facilities.
It can be concluded that the transfer of roller tracks has the best results.
But in the start phase it will not be possible to have these kinds of transfer
systems installed in all the shops. So, to overcome this period, it is advised
to use a pallet truck and tail lifts.
The weight of the Citybox needs further consideration, since the current
design is not adjusted to a weight that conforms to the information of
other sources. Another recommendation is the adjustment of the urban
vehicle demands to the desired demands.
Reports on Logistic Engineering (in Dutch)
Modified: 2002.03.06;
logistics@3mE.tudelft.nl
, TU Delft
/ 3mE
/ TT
/ LT.