How a Truck manufacturing plant realized a $90,000 savings with Twergo.

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By Doug Backinger VP of Sales

Posted on: May 12, 2020

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Reducing Operating Costs and Push Force by Switching to Twergo^TM Caster Wheels.

Situation:

• Operating costs at an all-time high
• Worker injuries were increasing comp claims
• Productivity was down from injured workers and load weights requiring more transportation and handling

An assembly plant for a large American automotive manufacturer makes full-size pickups. The plant uses dollies for material handling to transport materials between the assembly plant and the metal center to cut down on shipping and handling time.

These dollies were moving loads weighing up to 2,100 pounds. With 15 workers over 3 shifts, overexertion injuries were taking their toll as these heavy cartloads were difficult to move.

As worker injuries increased, so did the plant’s operational costs. Productivity was also down as these carts couldn’t be loaded as much to try and reduce injuries. Morale was running low and costs were running high.

Solution:

• Set the company on track for $90K in savings
• Cartload push force reduced by 50%
• Worker injuries reduced
• Ability to increase cart loads decreased handling times

At this plant, carts averaged 60 pounds of push force. A 57 Series Maintenance-Free Caster with 8” TWERGO^TM ergonomic wheel reduced this push force to 30 pounds. This significantly reduced the risk of worker injury.

And, with the average cost of worker injuries costing $22,000 per person, per year, reducing push force to 30 lbs. reduced the chance of injury by a third. This added up to a potential savings of $90,000 per year, while making the workers happier and healthier, improving relations with the union, and minimizing maintenance costs.