Proven systems to ease the challenge of on-board handling of
cargo, munitions and provisions in a variety of load types and
stores configurations, using our established handling
technologies.
ON-BOARD AUTOMATED MATERIALS HANDLING
- The management of cargo on-board is currently a highly
labour-intensive activity. In addition to the time taken to move
cargo, the process of manually managing inventory is time-consuming
and inefficient.
- Land Based warehouses enjoy the benefit of mechanised systems
delivering improved performance with minimal staff supervision. In
addition, computerised inventory management increases process
efficiency by eliminating the common problems of maintaining an
accurate record of stock levels.
- Proved through demonstration by the UK Aircraft Carrier
Alliance (ACA) for use on the Queen Elizabeth (QE) Class Carriers,
our technology brings the latest handling solutions in a safe,
efficient manner to the stowage and retrieval of airborne weapons
from the deep magazines to the hanger and flight deck, using a
third of the personnel usually associated with this operation.
INVENTORY MANAGEMENT
- Our solutions are controlled by the Inventory Management
Systems (IMS) that provides real-time status of the equipment and
its performance, whilst tracking all materials in, out and through
the handling process, using barcode or radio frequency
identification technologies.
- The IMS includes all control hardware from sensors to servers
and can be configured to operate on your preferred platforms and
hardware.
FROM CONCEPT TO SOLUTION
- The concept for an automated solution to weapons handling was
born from the sortie generation rate demands of the QE Class
Aircraft Carrier programme, and a drive to reduce the personnel
requirements of the weapons handling process whilst greatly
improving operational safety. In partnership with the ACA, we have
developed an unmanned system that enables the simultaneous strike
up and strike down (SUSD) of materials whilst requiring only a
third of the manpower to carry out the process manually.
- Proven through demonstration to Sea State 7, the system has
subsequently been developed to support the movement and stowage of
QUADCONs, TRICONS and JMICs to provide a flexible handling system
that delivers high efficiency, availability, space utilisation and
safety.
CONTAINER HANDLING
Our systems handle fully loaded QUADCON and TRICON solutions,
providing flexible modular storage, with the capability to deliver
power directly to the containers, for use as refrigeration units or
controlled environments.- These systems allow the containers to be loaded and unloaded
with all common load types, such as standard Navy Pallets and JMICs
to minimise the manual handling demands of onboard stowage.
BENEFITS OF MECHANISED MATERIALS HANDLING
The following benefits can be expected through the application
of mechanised materials handling techniques on-board:
- Reduced Manning - Fewer personnel through
automation reduces through-life costs and related services and
support.
- Safer to Operate - The stores and magazine spaces can be
completely unmanned, and interlocks incorporated in the working
areas - this results in an intrinsically safe system.
- Greater Stowage Density - Greater inventory is
achieved through the total asset viability.
- Low Maintenance - High Reliability - Proven
technology, high levels of redundancy and simple, line-replaceable
units, ensure a dependable system. Bulk movement also results in
fewer system cycles.
- Improved Inventory Control - The Inventory
Management System tracks all items in and out and maintains usage
history.
- Flexibility in Installation - Modular design
ensures the system can be retro-fitted or adapted at a later
date.
MINE LAYING APPLICATION
- These technologies have been applied on-board to mine laying
vessels, where multi-level mine warehousing has been installed.
They deliver a fully automated mine laying process that interfaces
with the ship navigation system, integrating mine deployment,
charting and ship position with GPS. This system is currently in
operation and demonstrates our ability to apply world-class
handling expertise derived from commercial applications, in to the
challenging marine environment.