'Hot-Locker System' Saves Space and Time

CASE STUDY: NISA-TODAY'S
BUSINESS AREA: FOOD AND GENERAL WAREHOUSING & DISTRIBUTION
LOCATION: SCUNTHORPE, LINCOLNSHIRE

NISA-Today's is the UK's leading member-owned organization, providing benefits to independent retailers and wholesalers in food and drink markets.

A key element of the company's strategy is to negotiate the best purchasing deal for its members and then use the most cost-effective delivery process to deliver the goods to over 5000 retail stores and over 320 wholesale outlets.

A key element in this delivery process is its distribution centre in Scunthorpe. A 1000 staff at this warehouse requires locker space to keep their personal belongings in while they work their shifts. Previously all staff had their own locker, which meant a significant loss of space within the building.

In 2006, Clear Image, an approved regional distributor for Borer Data Systems, recommended to NISA-Today's management that a better solution could be found. Now as well as providing secure access control to 80 doors, Borer manages a 'Hot-Locker' system.

When an employee enters the site, a locker from the pool of available lockers is allocated to them, depending on their personal, pre-programmed requirements.

For example, wheelchair users would be allocated only low-level lockers, while wide lockers could be provided for staff with motor cycle crash helmets and permanent ones for diabetics who need to keep insulin and other emergency supplies on site.

As they present their access card at Borer’s Message Display Terminal, it shows the number of the assigned locker and that locker is automatically unlocked. It is then reserved until the user exits the site, when it is put back into the available locker pool.

The lockers are controlled by a web-based software application that displays the username against an allocated locker. The software allows a supervisor to remotely open a locker if required and also provided a full usage history.

The Borer system is particularly suited to this challenge as it can set up a 'One to Many' relationship which means one card reader can control many locks. Most other systems would require each locker to have its own card reader, adding considerably to costs. Using this system has reduced the need for locker space, with only half of the lockers being needed than would have been the case with other solutions.

Neil Smith, Managing Director at Clear Image said:

"From an installer's perspective Borer systems are easy to install compared to most others and we recommend them wherever possible. This installation was achieved using the site's existing cabling and power supplies reducing any disruption to the warehouse operations. We also know that ongoing maintenance will be simple and speedy which benefits both us and the user."

Russell Atherton, Operations Manager, at NISA-Today's added:

"We wanted to minimise the complexity and cabling requirements for our new access system and the Borer system appeared ideal as it doesn't require a mains supply to each door. The 'hot locker' system was an unexpected and very welcome bonus which has released floor space for other uses and reduced wear and tear on the lockers themselves. After 18 months of operation we can confidently say that the system has proved itself to be very reliable and highly cost-effective."

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