Tomakomai utilizes energy efficient SENNEBOGEN material handler

Tomakomai port receives massive volume of animal feeds and raw materials such as foodstuffs from different regions of Japan and the rest of the world. With the introduction of SENNEBOGEN 860 E in 2020, Tomakomai Futo Co., Ltd planned to carry out stable unloading work, and reducing CO2 emissions for a sustainable society.

 

Tomakomai Futo Co., Ltd is a comprehensive logistics company that contributes to the development of Hokkaido’s food industry based on the management philosophy of ‘Contributing of the community and society as a logistics enabler’. An enabler, in this case, is an entity that is indispensable for enabling the development and problem solving for the regions and customers — an ‘unsung hero’.

 

The company’s services include general warehousing, cold storage warehousing, raw material silo and oil terminal businesses. In addition, it has established bases both inside and outside of Hokkaido, forming a logistic network and contributing to the development of the food industry in Hokkaido. Raw materials that come in from within Japan and overseas are temporarily stored in the yard’s 190,000-tonne-capacity silos, the fifth-largest silo storage facility in Japan, before resupplying to feed manufacturers.

 

SYSTEM UPGRADE WITH ENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDLINESS IN MIND 

Tomakomai Futo Co., Ltd originally used four unloaders and a crane to unload feed raw materials. One of them had an outdated pneumatic system, and Tomakomai Futo was looking for a replacement. With environmental friendliness in mind, the company selected a port material handling machine with low fuel consumption, low CO2 emissions, and the ability to move quickly and delicately — the SENNEBOGEN 860 E equipped with Green Hybrid system.

 

 

 

“Currently, we use three unloaders and the SENNEBOGEN 860 E material handling machine to unload most of our cargo. The SENNEBOGEN 860 E is used as a replacement as an unloader and as a crane. Since the frequency of work that relies on cranes had decreased, we have also beenable to save costs,” says Seiji Hayashi, Executive Officer, and General Manager of Feed Silo Division.

 

“With the SENNEBOGEN 860 E, it is possible to unload the cargo while looking directly into the cargo hold from the driver’s seat. Confidence at work is much improved by checking the situation with my own eyes in comparison to getting instructions from the signal man,” says the person in charge of the cargo handling system and operation of the SENNEBOGEN 860 E.

 

In addition, the arm and bucket of the SENNEBOGEN 860 E is capable of delicate work and can pinpoint the material at the target location at the angle you envision. Feed raw materials in every corner of the bottom of the ship can also be grabbed. “This is very helpful in steering clear of other machinery and personnel deployed in the cargo hold with great confidence. Thus, it saves time and increase workplace safety for everyone.”

 

The port material handling machine, SENNEBOGEN 860 E, can be moved with tyres, so it can work in any part of the quay. This means that the degree of freedom in assigning ships in the port has increased.

 

 

Currently, the SENNEBOGEN 860 E is operated by three operators which two additional operators are being trained. The ease of operating the SENNEBOGEN 860 E means it is easier and faster to get new operators onboard. In that way, it is possible to keep the operation running constantly and keep the supply of feed ingredients in Hokkaido stable.

 

“Introducing the SENNEBOGEN 860 E has allowed us to reduce the amount of fuel we use. Reducing energy consumption also reduces CO2 emissions which is a top priority for Tomakomai Futo Co., Ltd. In the beginning, the SENNEBOGEN 860 E was mainly used for unloading, but now we are using it for both loading and unloading operations. We have also increased the variation of loading and unloading methods,” says Seiji Hayashi.

 

 

SENNEBOGEN 860 E operators (upper row) with Jason Ang, Marketing Manager, SENNEBOGEN Asia Pacific (lower row, first on the left)and Iwahana, branch manager of Hakkaido sales office, Sun Earth Co., Ltd (lower row, second from the right).