All shipments can be tracked fully automatically and at the individual package level via video. A complete solution involved installing 134 cameras at trans-o-flex's premises at the new distribution center in Hamm. 98 of these are located indoors. The works council was involved in every step of the process.

 The facility, built on a 33,000 square meter plot, opened on schedule in May 2020 and is setting new standards for the company. This also applies to the fastest possible resolution of shipment disruptions, which can occur from time to time given the approximately 40,000 parcels and 900 pallets handled daily in the pickup and delivery area. The company invested in a video management system from Divis .

In addition to parcels, trans-o-flex also transports pallets, which are handled together in a hall in Hamm. To be able to visually track both types of shipments with a single video solution, Divis supplemented the ParcelVIS system, developed for parcels, with functions from the CargoVIS solution designed for palletized shipments.

Photos: DIVIS

One of the project's particular challenges was a very tight schedule. This was further complicated by the fact that some suppliers were struggling with scheduling problems due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Finally, the strictest hygiene regulations had to be observed throughout the entire project.

The sorting system automatically directs packages from six receiving stations to one of 119 loading bays for trucks or vans. Along the way, the shipments are automatically scanned, measured, and weighed. Because the sorting belts run more than four meters above the warehouse floor, pallet-loaded forklifts can drive underneath them.

In addition to conventional cameras, panoramic cameras were also installed, based on the 360° concept developed by Divis. These cameras allow for a 360° all-around view, enabling comprehensive tracking of shipments, while eliminating the blind spot below the camera typical of standard cameras. A single panoramic camera, it is said, covers large areas and can replace up to four conventional cameras, thus minimizing cabling and energy costs.

Recording takes place at a frame rate of at least 8 frames per second (fps), which are stored on two recorders, each with a capacity of 96 terabytes. Thanks to the 4K resolution, even the smallest details can be zoomed in on in high quality. By entering the package number, ParcelVIS can locate any package in seconds and track its path through the sorting system. "All loading and unloading processes, as well as the sorting procedures, are now perfectly documented and traceable at any time," says CEO Wolfgang P. Albeck .

Trans-o-flex employees now only need between five and ten minutes to investigate the few outliers on a daily basis. "Compared to our other locations without automated package tracking, this represents a time saving of over 95 percent," notes Albeck, who, together with the works council, has appointed a five-person team to operate ParcelVIS.

The works council was informed about every step during the project phase. "In a kick-off meeting, practical examples were used to clarify that this is a video management system and not video surveillance," Albeck notes. All participants "immediately recognized that ParcelVIS significantly increases our productivity and avoids unnecessary search efforts."

www.divis.eu