2022
Kingsford, South Australia
Project Background
Orora Beverage, a leader in sustainable packaging, operates one of the largest glass manufacturing plants in the southern hemisphere. The South Australian facility utilises Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) to optimise warehouse operations. In 2019, Orora began upgrading to a more advanced AGV fleet but faced challenges due to numerous floor movement joints, which caused AGVs to slow down and required frequent maintenance. A durable, long-term solution was needed to enhance productivity and minimise disruptions.
Project Description
Orora Beverage is a market leader in the manufacture of a wide range of sustainable bottles, cans, and jars, supporting glass and aluminum packaging for the wine, beer, and beverage markets throughout Australia and New Zealand. Its South Australian facility is one of the largest glass manufacturing plants in the southern hemisphere. This large, state-of-the-art facility utilises Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) to navigate its expansive warehouse spaces. In 2019, Orora began a project to upgrade to a more modern fleet of AGVs and required a solution to ensure smooth transitions over the numerous movement joints.
Project Requirements
The AGVs in the warehouse operate 24/7, but the movement joints were causing productivity issues, as the AGVs had to slow down and required frequent maintenance on wheels and bearings. Traditional repairs were failing every six months and had to be reinstated repeatedly, creating an ongoing cycle of disruption. A more permanent repair solution was therefore required to ensure long-term performance and efficiency.
Sika Solution
After discussing the requirements and load specifications of the new AGVs with Graham Nicolas, Sika Corporate confirmed that Floorjoint S—designed for use in joints up to 30mm wide—would offer significant benefits to the customer. The Floorjoint S allowed the new AGVs to operate at full speed, greatly increasing productivity and virtually eliminating ongoing maintenance issues.
| Sika representative / Project manager | Tony White |
| Project size | 301 lm |
| Date completed | 2019-2022 |
| Location | Kingsford, South Australia |
| Contractor | Patch & Caulk |
