Rathfinny Wine - Vertical Transportation System

The Client

 

Rathfinny Wine Estate is a prestigious UK-based winery specialising in the production of premium sparkling wines. Located in the beautiful South Downs of Sussex, the estate is dedicated to creating world-class vintages using traditional methods whilst embracing modern technology to enhance efficiency and quality.

The Challenge

 

Rathfinny faced a significant logistical challenge within its production facility:

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• Efficiently transport 1.5-ton stillages and pallets of premium wine between the ground-floor bottling plant and the second-floor storage area

• Maintain the integrity and quality of their high-value product during movement

• Implement a bi-directional system that could handle movement both up and down

• Operate within the confines of their existing building structure

• Ensure complete compliance with all current safety legislation

• Create a solution that would integrate seamlessly with their forklift operations

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The Solution

 

Central Conveyors designed and installed a comprehensive vertical transportation system specifically engineered to meet Rathfinny’s unique requirements:

 

• Custom-designed powered roller conveyor system capable of handling 1.5-ton stillages and pallets

• Robust lift carriage mechanism providing reliable transportation between the ground and second floors

• Indexing system allowing multiple products to be queued and processed efficiently

• Automatic transfer mechanisms for smooth movement in and out of the lift carriage

• Bi-directional operation facilitating both upward and downward product movement

• Integrated safety features fully compliant with current working legislation

• Docking stations on both floors for secure product handling

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The system’s workflow is elegantly simple yet highly effective. At the ground level, forklift operators load full stillages or pallets of premium wine from the filling and bottling plant onto the conveyor. Once loaded, the product is indexed forward, creating space for the next item to be placed on the system.

 

When the system reaches capacity, products are automatically transferred into the waiting lift carriage and elevated to the second floor. Upon docking at the upper level, the products automatically transfer out of the system to a designated unloading area, where they are collected by forklift and transported to their storage location.

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The bi-directional capability allows the same system to transport products downwards when required, maximising flexibility and operational efficiency.

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The Results

 

The implementation of this vertical transportation system has delivered significant benefits to Rathfinny Wine Estate:

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• Streamlined movement of valuable wine products between production and storage areas

• Eliminated manual handling risks associated with moving heavy loads between floors

• Increased operational efficiency through automated, sequential product movement

• Enhanced workplace safety with comprehensive safety features and compliance

• Improved product protection during the critical post-bottling phase

• Reduced labour requirements and operational costs

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