background

Leading the industry as a comprehensive logistics company while actively promoting SDGs

Nishitetsu Transportation Co., Ltd., which operates logistics such as truck transportation and distribution center operations in the "Nishitetsu Group" that operates railways and fixed-route buses based in Fukuoka Prefecture. Founded in 1948 with a focus on transportation business, the company currently has offices from Kanto to Kyushu, and is in charge of the domestic domain of international logistics while also developing various logistics operations for customers inside and outside the group. While advocating the management philosophy of "contributing to society through logistics services" and "providing 'safety' and 'safety', we are leading the logistics industry as a social infrastructure as a comprehensive logistics company.

The Kitakyushu branch, which develops business in the Kitakyushu trade area, is actively working on SDGs as sustainable development goals as its own measures. In fact, the city of Kitakyushu itself is promoting initiatives based on strategies to achieve the SDGs, and the Nishitsu Group is promoting initiatives for a sustainable society, such as collaborating with local governments on the SDGs. be.

Task

LED lighting expected to improve work environment while reducing environmental impact

The Kitakyushu Warehouse, which serves as the base for the Kitakyushu Branch, was completed in 1989. Even today, it handles a variety of cargo handling operations as a distribution base in Kitakyushu. . “Regarding mercury lamps, an international treaty has banned the manufacture, import and export of mercury lamps from the end of December 2020, and we have been considering switching to LED lighting for some time. It was difficult to see the labels attached to the packages on the upper level, so we wanted to improve the working environment,” explains Keigo Kimura, the manager of the Kitakyushu branch.

It became difficult to procure new mercury lamps, and the group was also working on decarbonization.

selection

ShinyU was expected to have a long life and high safety construction.

In preparation for the new environment, we began considering products based on LED lighting, and what caught our attention was Macnica 's high-efficiency industrial LED lighting "ShinyU." ``We were introduced to Spina Co., Ltd., a group company that operates real estate and equipment-related businesses.The warehouse we were considering replacing was one that handles food and packaging materials, and detailed picking work is always carried out. In that sense, we thought that ShinyU would be suitable for our needs because it would be able to secure sufficient illuminance compared to conventional systems,'' says Kimura.

In fact, we had received proposals for LED lighting from multiple companies, but they were all proposals of the base type that simply replaces the light bulb at a low cost. There is a danger that the mouthpiece type will loosen and fall in an earthquake, etc., and it was difficult to say that it was a safe work environment. On the other hand, Spina proposes ShinyU, a high-ceiling type with high safety due to bolt fixing. “It is certainly possible to switch to LED lighting cheaply by simply replacing the light bulbs, but that is not enough from a safety standpoint. It was Spina who suggested that we replace it from the very beginning,” says Kimura.

In addition, the warehouse currently in use is expected to be used for another 20 years, so products with as long a life as possible were required. In the case of general LEDs, the service life is about 40,000 hours, but ShinyU boasts a service life of over 70,000 hours, and the company's ideal long-life design is also a major selection point. .

Since fixed shelves are installed in the warehouse, Macnica implemented a light distribution design that uniformly collects light in the aisles using lenses that can focus light where it is needed. The company's proposal to create an environment that would improve visibility in aisles where forklifts and other vehicles come and go was also ideal for the company.

As a result, high-efficiency industrial LED lighting "ShinyU" will be adopted as a replacement for the mercury lamps installed in the warehouse owned by the company.

Current operation

Select the optimal lens for on-site work and improve the work environment

Currently, the 900 tsubo large warehouse operated by the Kitakyushu branch is divided into three parts, and the second warehouse part, which has a lot of picking work, has been switched to ShinyU, and a total of 27 lights have been installed. Specifically, they are installed on the aisles between the heavy-duty racks that the forklifts pass through and under the eaves of the openings that serve as cargo loading areas. talk. In addition, there are cases where glare is conspicuous with general LED lighting, but by using an optical lens that collects light and suppresses glare in unnecessary places, even 120W lighting with reduced power consumption is sufficient. We have created an environment that is easy on the eyes, such as ensuring the amount of light.

By switching to ShinyU, the actual illuminance measurement is still to be done, but it is said that it is clearly brighter from the site. "Everyone's facial expressions will be brighter, and I think there are many positive aspects to mental aspects," says Kimura. Kitakyushu branch assistant manager Daisuke Esumi, who has experience working in the field before, also said, "When we used mercury lamps, we had to pick in the dark, but now we are able to secure sufficient illuminance. Work efficiency should have improved, and there is no doubt that work has become easier.” In addition, by significantly reducing power consumption compared to mercury lamps, it is highly evaluated as it will lead to activities toward SDGs that the company is actively working on, including decarbonization.

In terms of operation, it was difficult to turn off the lights during breaks because the previous mercury lamps took a long time to turn on again. Awareness that leads to energy conservation is also growing in the workplace. "We were able to create an environment-friendly work space that can be turned on and off frequently without sacrificing workability in a bright environment," says Mr. Kimura.

from now on

All lighting will be switched to LEDs to create a sustainable environment

This time, the lighting of the second warehouse was switched to LED, but the remaining first and third warehouses are also planning to switch to LED lighting in the future. “Since we were able to confirm the effect of the switch this time, we will switch to LED lighting in the remaining warehouses as well.When developing into a new environment, ShinyU will naturally be among the candidates. There is no doubt about it," Kimura said.

In addition to the development of warehouses, it is said that the office will eventually be converted to LED. “From the perspective of the SDGs, it would be more effective to switch to LEDs as soon as possible, and there would also be economic benefits.” At the end of the interview, he said that there are some aspects that can be expected to be rolled out to each group company, partly because measures related to safety and the environment, such as SDGs, are being undertaken across the group.

Related product

ShinyU LED High Efficiency Industrial LED Lighting