According to the company, the production facility in the centrally located Volkmarsen has been equipped with modern equipment such as robotic welding systems so that production speed can be significantly increased to meet the growing demand on the European and international market. The technology is supported by a lean manufacturing process to ensure efficiency and productivity while reducing energy consumption and waste at Rite-Hite.

Commitment in Europe signaled
Thorsten Mauritz, European Marketing Manager at Rite-Hite, underlines Rite-Hite's expert status in loading bay safety products: "Our Global Wheel-Lok system is part of a range of solutions specifically designed and proven to improve safety, productivity, energy savings and environmental control in logistics environments," he says.

"By continuing to invest in our global production capacity, we are clearly signaling our ongoing commitment to European customers. At the same time, we are raising awareness not only for our Global Wheel-Lok System, but for our entire portfolio of safety solutions for industry."

With the Global Wheel-Lok System, trailers of all kinds can be secured at the loading point. This can prevent common causes of accidents such as slow creeping away or driving off too early. Thorsten Mauritz explains that conventional wheel chocks are often very unreliable, especially in unfavorable weather conditions: "They are usually not strong enough to prevent the vehicle from coming loose unexpectedly. In addition, someone is always needed to attach them to the vehicle. With the Rite-Hite system, all the driver has to do is reverse the vehicle up to the loading point, where wheel guides ensure correct positioning in the Global Wheel-Lok. As soon as the tire moves behind the locking arm, the locking mechanism lifts and moves backwards with the tire due to the trailer's thrust until the trailer hits the bumpers and stops.

Robust and easy to maintain
The tire is then locked in place and a green/red signal system indicates to the driver and loading bay staff that it is safe to continue working." When loading or unloading is complete, the loading bay employee presses the unlock button to release the lock and a green light is displayed to the driver. The locking arm follows the trailer's tire back to its original resting position so that the vehicle can drive off safely.

Thorsten Mauritz emphasizes the reliability and ease of maintenance of Global Wheel-Lok, which is due to the system's self-propulsion and the fact that it consists of only four components. He adds: "The system is also particularly robust and has a tractive force resistance of up to 142 kN. It is therefore hardly surprising that the system is the only restraint system in Europe to exceed the high requirements for a FEM Class 3 vehicle restraint system with both empty and full trailers."

The article appeared in materialfluss 11-12/20.