The fast and the glorious: how the right track and trace system boosts DB Schenker parcel delivery

Logistics companies face constant demand for fast and accurate parcel delivery. In order to meet the needs of its customers while also offering best-in-class performance, DB Schenker needed to modernize five of their sites in Norway. This entailed implementing a new dimensioning-weighing-scanning (DWS) system that would reduce no-reads, thereby increasing throughput and cutting down on time-consuming manual re-handling. The challenge was to find a sensor solution that was reliable, cost-effective, and met the different requirements of each site. Together with Hanter Ingenjörsteknik, SICK was able to provide the solution.

DB Schenker sends parcels and freight where they need to go

With around 72,700 employees at more than 1,850 locations in over 130 countries, DB Schenker is one of the world’s leading logistics service providers. The company, a global logistics forwarder, operates land, air, and ocean transportation services. They also offer comprehensive logistics and global supply chain management solutions from a single source. 

Hanter Ingenjörsteknik AB, meanwhile, is a globally active supplier of pneumatic tube systems and material handling solutions based in Gånghester, Sweden. For many years, they have acted as an integrator for DB Schenker, providing conveyor systems and other solutions that utilize sensors from their long-time partner SICK.

Optimizing parcel scanning

At each of their logistics terminals, DB Schenker utilizes a DWS system for their conveyable shipments. In addition to the packages’ weight and dimensions, the system also provides sorting information about their destination, as well as important data for revenue recovery. When DB Schenker sought to make their DWS system more consistent, accurate and reliable, Hanter explained the benefits of working with SICK in terms of the quality of their solutions, as well as the after sales support. DB Schenker ultimately decided to entrust SICK with optimizing the identification and dimensioning.

High read rates, low cost

As part of the update to DWS systems at five of the company’s Norway sites, each system received the latest generation of the Lector85x matrix camera from SICK for the top, front and side reading of barcodes. Each system was also upgraded with two laser dimensioning heads and a dynamic weighing scale, both certified legal-for-trade and thus usable to recover undeclared revenue.

Comprising the “S” of the new DWS system, the new Lector85x matrix camera allows for high read rates of all sizes and types of 1D and 2D barcodes for shipment identification. The cameras’ wide field of view also made it possible to solve the application with fewer cameras, resulting in a cost-efficient offering. DB Schenker and Hanter were both impressed by the performance and the small system footprint.

Service that matches the high quality of the sensor

For DB Schenker, the high read rates provided by the new cameras ensure that there is little need for manual re-handling, and the LFT dimensioning and weighing allows them to recover undeclared revenue. In addition, the trustworthy after sales support by experienced SICK service technicians offers them increased peace of mind. Meanwhile, Hanter have praised SICK’s high level of flexibility compared to other alternatives.

Even though the sites had different demands in terms of capacity and supply voltage, SICK was able to develop one solution that corresponded to all of their demands. SICK’s approach of providing similar system layouts for all five sites across Norway ensures the availability of spare parts, and helps the customer to train their maintenance personnel on how to keep the DWS systems up and running.

Continuing strong customer relationships

This project builds on the long-standing relationship between SICK and Hanter. For many years, the two companies have worked hard to develop Hanter’s offerings to include more advanced sorting systems with high-end sensor solutions.

As a matter of their trust, Hanter invited SICK to enter into direct talks with DB Schenker. Through this, SICK has laid the groundwork for a close relationship and future collaboration. DB Schenker is already benefitting from its partner’s service competence, fast and reliable response from both presales and after sales, and the “one-system-fits-all” approach.

“We hope that this will be the first of many such projects undertaken together – with strong partners like Hanter and DB Schenker,” says Sebastian Lang, Project Management and Service Factory & Logistic Automation at SICK in Sweden.

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