ARCTIC COLD STORAGE CASE STUDYARCTIC COLD STORAGE

COMPANY: Arctic Cold Storage; St. Cloud, Minn.

FOUNDED: Established nearly a half-century ago by Robert and Elizabeth Condon

FACILITY: 160,000 square-foot warehouse handling between 100-125 truckloads per day

PRODUCT: Eight to nine million pounds of frozen food per week for big box retailers like Wal-Mart and Target

For years, tractor trailers backing into loading docks at Arctic Cold Storage were secured manually using wheel chocks and Glad-Hand locks. A yard worker would notify dock personnel via two-way radio when the trailer was secure and ready for forklifts to enter. While this system had worked for many years, an OSHA inspector pointed out some potential problems, in particular, mishaps due to human error.

“We have always viewed our employees as our most important asset. Even though

we’ve never had issues with trailer security, we felt it was time to up the

safety level and put in an automatic trailer restraint and communication system.”

THE SITUATION

Prior to working with Rite-Hite, Arctic Cold Storage used wheel chocks and Glad-Hand locks to secure semi-trailers at the loading dock.

QUICK FACTS

GOALS: Increase the safety and security of Arctic Cold Storage employees, while realizing greater efficiencies, time savings and cost savings

SOLUTION: Rite-Hite RHR-600 Dok-Lok Vehicle Restraint with the Rite-Vu Light Communication System

RESULTS: The addition of Rite-Hite automatic vehicle restraints immediately increased worker safety on the loading dock, which was an important goal for Arctic Cold Storage. It also freed up workers to focus on other important tasks, saving the company approximately $20,000 per year in labor costs. In addition, the company expects insurance-related costs to go down by as much as 15 percent.

- JAY CONDON, CEO, ARCTIC COLD STORAGE

1-888-841-4283 RiteHite.com

ARCTIC COLD STORAGE CASE STUDY

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“The addition of the new restraint/communication system

frees up as much as half an employee’s time per day to be used

elsewhere – saving in the range of $20,000 per year. We’re also expecting our insurance-related costs to go down by as much as

15 percent.”

Jay Condon reached out to dock design consultants from Pugleasa Co., Inc. After reviewing a range of options, he decided to install Rite-Hite’s RHR-600 Dok-Lok system on 19 of the company’s 24 docks.

PREVENT TRAILER SEPARATION ACCIDENTSDesigned to prevent all types of trailer/dock separation accidents, the Rite-Hite rotating hook restraint is the industry’s original and continually improving vehicle restraint. Using the energy of the backing trailer, it positions automatically. Powerful extension springs provide upward force against the rear impact guard (RIG) to keep trailers secure (including air-ride suspension trailers). The system’s universal controls feature an audible alarm with override and easy interconnecting functions. In addition, the system provides full-time communication to truck drivers outside and to dock personnel inside when entering and exiting the trailer.

FULL-TIME COMMUNICATION SYSTEMParticularly important to Arctic Cold Storage was the system’s two-fold approach to communication with lift truck drivers. Since products are often staged in front of the dock doors, it can be difficult for lift truck drivers or other personnel to see the restraint status on the control boxes, increasing risk and slowing productivity. Corner-Vu, part of the Rite-Vu Light Communication System, features lights on the upper corners of the interior dock doors, providing clear, concise Dok-Lok status information directly in the forklift driver’s view.

THE SOLUTION

Corner-Vu, part of the Rite-Vu Light Communication System, clearly indicates that the trailer is secure and safe for a forklift operator to enter.

This RHR-600 Dok-Lok installed at Arctic Cold Storage automatically wraps around a rear-impact guard, preventing trailer separation accidents.

- JAY CONDON, CEO, ARCTIC COLD STORAGE

1-888-841-4283 RiteHite.com