Automatic truck loading in record breaking time at SAS Automotive in Gent, Belgium

Ancra Systems has been awarded the contract by SAS Automotive to supply a large and complex system for fully automated truck loading at their brand new production facility in Gent, Belgium. By entering into a close cooperation with CSi industries, they have succeeded to design, build and install the system in record breaking time.

SAS is manufacturer of completely assembled dashboards and supplies these from a new production facility in Gent to the close by factory of Volvo. The new factory of SAS has been built to meet the increased capacity demand of Volvo. For the automated truck loading and unloading systems, SAS was looking for a supplier that was capable to deliver a turn key solution in a very short period of time.

Due to the short time line, Ancra entered into a close cooperation with CSi from Raamsdonksveer. By creating one project team, they succeeded in installing the complete system within 4 months. As planned, the systems have been commissioned in December.

The system is designed to automatically unload empty skids (2.2 meters wide) at two levels that come from Volvo and automatically transfer these skids to the assembly line. Meanwhile, full skids are taken from the assembly line and loaded in two levels in trailers in the exact right frequency. To meet these functional requirements, multiple chain conveyors, turn tables, elevators and a shuttle car are part of the overall design.

This advanced type of automation saves the customer substantial labour costs, decreases product damage and increases the supply chain reliability. Furthermore, less trailers are needed to shuttle the same amount of cargo to Volvo, due to a highly reduced ‘truck turn around time’ at the dock door.