Timmer’s Vacuum Lifter Eases Work at ENO Telecom

When orders come in rapid succession at the end of the workday, the shipping department of ENO telecom GmbH is particularly challenged. For the employees of the electronics wholesaler from Nordhorn, this previously meant lifting many heavy packages, often under time pressure. With the use of Timmer’s quickLIFT vacuum lifter, the company was able to solve this challenge.

(Neuenkirchen/Nordhorn) Physically relieving lifting technology now ensures faster processes and an attractive, ergonomically designed work environment. ENO is thus investing in its own employer attractiveness and making it clear that efficient processes and appreciation for employees go hand in hand.

ENO telecom GmbH has been established as a wholesaler for telecommunications products for many years. Over time, the product range has significantly expanded: In addition to smartphones and tablets, electronics devices such as air fryers or fully automatic coffee machines, as well as large-volume products like large-screen TVs or sound systems, are increasingly part of the portfolio. This raises the demands on logistics in the electronics wholesale warehouse. In the shipping department, where numerous packages are processed daily, the physical strain on employees has noticeably increased, especially during peak order times.

High Throughput as a Strain Factor

“Individual boxes weighing 30 kilograms can be carried a few times, but not hundreds of times,” says Rainer Büter, authorized signatory at ENO. Especially at the end of the workday, when the orders collected throughout the day come in from customers to the wholesaler, numerous packages must be moved in a short time. Despite conveyor belts and work tables, the manual handling of these loads at high throughput represents an enormous physical strain. “It was increasingly difficult to keep employee motivation high for the shipping department. Working there was rather unpopular,” says Büter.

ENO examined various options to relieve employees. Among other things, exoskeletons were tested. “The concept was interesting, but too inflexible for our use case,” explains Büter. “You wear the suits permanently, but we handle very differently weighted goods, and support is only needed for particularly heavy or unwieldy packages.”

From Analysis to Practical Solution

To find the right solution for the challenges in the shipping department, ENO brought in the logistics planner Logistik Conzept Klette. Project assistant Sven Ludewig emphasizes: “Our goal was to find a solution for ENO that is both flexible and efficient and truly relieves employees.” It was crucial to integrate the lifting solution precisely into the existing workflow. “We are particularly pleased that our electronics wholesale warehouse in Nordhorn and Timmer in Neuenkirchen are only a few kilometers apart – regional proximity creates trust and short distances,” says Büter.

At Timmer’s location, the ENO team tested which lifting system best meets the requirements in the shipping department. The choice fell on the quickLIFT vacuum lifter with a rail system measuring five by seven meters. The uncomplicated operation, flexibility in use, and the ability to quickly and safely move different loads convinced Büter and his team: “The quickLIFT can be used as needed, and it can be operated immediately after a short briefing. That’s exactly what we were looking for,” says Büter.

Quick Integration and Immediately Noticeable Benefits

The implementation proceeded on schedule. Tim Kaldeweide, sales technician at Timmer, reports: “We were able to integrate the lifting system precisely into the conveyor technology at the shipping department.” The installation was completed within a few days. Rainer Büter is impressed by the expertise of the lifting experts: “The installers from Timmer were well prepared, and minor adjustments were made immediately.” The briefing was also straightforward: “The system is intuitively operable. Our colleagues quickly got the hang of it,” says Büter.

Since then, the quickLIFT has been supporting employees daily in lifting, moving, and lowering boxes weighing up to 32 kilograms, as this is the maximum weight accepted by the transport service providers. Lighter packages are still handled by employees themselves, while heavy or unwieldy shipments are conveniently moved with the vacuum lifter. “We use the system hundreds of times a day. The shipping department has thus become significantly more attractive,” reports Büter.

Initial evaluations also show fewer sick leave days. “By investing in modern lifting technology, we want to make everyday work easier for our employees while simultaneously expressing our appreciation for their work,” says Büter. A precise amortization calculation is not yet available, but the benefits for ENO are clear: “The lifting technology prevents fatigue, reduces sick leave, and strengthens our position as an attractive employer.”

Photo: © Timmer