UK courier delivery network relies on Vitronic's parcel identification and volume-measuring technology
Hermes, one of the UK's largest courier delivery networks that offers a range of services to leading high-street catalogue and on-line retailers, is relying on technology from Germany's Vitronic Dr.-Ing. Stein Bildverarbeitungssysteme GmbH for the efficient operation of its business.
The UK firm's national distribution hub in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, handles a large proportion of the company's UK deliveries, and uses Vitronic's parcel identification and volume-measuring technology to process up to 9600 items per hour. The hub distributes parcels to Hermes' nationwide depot network which, in turn, serves local couriers. This process must run efficiently for the company to operate a timely delivery service.
Parcels arrive at the Nuneaton hub in transit vehicles, which operators unload using telescopic boom conveyors. These transfer items onto one of two in-feed conveyors, each of which runs through a scanning tunnel. From here, parcels flow onto two sorters, which direct them to the appropriate loading bays for dispatch.
The scanning tunnels use Vitronic technology to capture detailed parcel-related data. In each, a VIPAC D1 volume-measuring unit builds a three-dimensional image of each parcel using lasers and calculates its dimensions. Hermes uses this information to optimise transit space in vehicles, verify package data provided by customers and automate invoicing.
After the parcels exit the VIPAC D1 unit they run through VIPAC, Vitronic's camera-based recognition system. Each of Hermes Nuneaton's two VIPAC units uses six high-resolution Vitronic VICAMssi2 line-scan cameras to capture images of five sides of each parcel at high speed. Software analyses the captured images and isolates parcel labels. It reads barcodes on the labels and passes data to the sorters, enabling them to send items to the correct loading bay for dispatch.
Two of the cameras on each VIPAC unit capture images of the top side of each parcel from different angles. This enables the software to read labels on uneven surfaces - a feature essential to the Nuneaton hub's operation because 60% of its parcel traffic comprises loose or bagged items, such as clothes.
VIPAC achieves reading rates close to 100%, virtually eliminating the need to input packages manually. At Hermes Nuneaton, the in-feed conveyors run through the VIPAC camera tunnels at speeds of 2 m/s, enabling the hub to automatically process and dispatch up to 150 000 parcels every day.
Peter Jones, who is the project and engineering manager at the Nuneaton hub, commented: "VIPAC is a fast, efficient, reliable system that reads even badly damaged or marked codes, and codes behind reflective packaging. It enables us to sort and dispatch parcels faultlessly at high speed, which ultimately means a better service for our customers."
"Vitronic installed both scanning tunnels in just two weeks, enabling us to get our new hub up and running on time."
Contact:
Vitronic Dr.-Ing. Stein Bildverarbeitungssysteme GmbH
Hasengartenstrasse 14
D-65189 Wiesbaden
Germany
Phone: +49-06-11-71-520
Fax: +49-06-11-71-52-133
Contact: sales@vitronic.com
Web: http://www.vitronic.com
The UK firm's national distribution hub in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, handles a large proportion of the company's UK deliveries, and uses Vitronic's parcel identification and volume-measuring technology to process up to 9600 items per hour. The hub distributes parcels to Hermes' nationwide depot network which, in turn, serves local couriers. This process must run efficiently for the company to operate a timely delivery service.
Parcels arrive at the Nuneaton hub in transit vehicles, which operators unload using telescopic boom conveyors. These transfer items onto one of two in-feed conveyors, each of which runs through a scanning tunnel. From here, parcels flow onto two sorters, which direct them to the appropriate loading bays for dispatch.
The scanning tunnels use Vitronic technology to capture detailed parcel-related data. In each, a VIPAC D1 volume-measuring unit builds a three-dimensional image of each parcel using lasers and calculates its dimensions. Hermes uses this information to optimise transit space in vehicles, verify package data provided by customers and automate invoicing.
After the parcels exit the VIPAC D1 unit they run through VIPAC, Vitronic's camera-based recognition system. Each of Hermes Nuneaton's two VIPAC units uses six high-resolution Vitronic VICAMssi2 line-scan cameras to capture images of five sides of each parcel at high speed. Software analyses the captured images and isolates parcel labels. It reads barcodes on the labels and passes data to the sorters, enabling them to send items to the correct loading bay for dispatch.
Two of the cameras on each VIPAC unit capture images of the top side of each parcel from different angles. This enables the software to read labels on uneven surfaces - a feature essential to the Nuneaton hub's operation because 60% of its parcel traffic comprises loose or bagged items, such as clothes.
VIPAC achieves reading rates close to 100%, virtually eliminating the need to input packages manually. At Hermes Nuneaton, the in-feed conveyors run through the VIPAC camera tunnels at speeds of 2 m/s, enabling the hub to automatically process and dispatch up to 150 000 parcels every day.
Peter Jones, who is the project and engineering manager at the Nuneaton hub, commented: "VIPAC is a fast, efficient, reliable system that reads even badly damaged or marked codes, and codes behind reflective packaging. It enables us to sort and dispatch parcels faultlessly at high speed, which ultimately means a better service for our customers."
"Vitronic installed both scanning tunnels in just two weeks, enabling us to get our new hub up and running on time."
Contact:
Vitronic Dr.-Ing. Stein Bildverarbeitungssysteme GmbH
Hasengartenstrasse 14
D-65189 Wiesbaden
Germany
Phone: +49-06-11-71-520
Fax: +49-06-11-71-52-133
Contact: sales@vitronic.com
Web: http://www.vitronic.com
