Use-Case – SMITH Electric Pallet Jack With Scale SLL3C

The Challenge

A medium-sized third-party logistics warehouse located near Brno was responsible for handling approximately 280 pallets per day of varied outbound shipments. Pallets were collected using standard manual pallet jacks, then queued at two shared floor scales for weight checks before loading. Each weighing process required a separate journey of 20–30 metres and waiting in line.

This led to regular delays at the weighing stations. Time and motion studies revealed that each pallet incurred an average of 3–4 minutes of additional time solely for weighing, resulting in around 3.5 hours per day spent on unnecessary walking and waiting. Incomplete or missed weigh checks often caused weight discrepancies with carriers, leading to roughly €900 per month in extra freight charges and costs related to dispute resolution.

During busy periods, congestion at the loading docks increased the likelihood of handling mistakes and necessitated overtime to finish loading late vehicles, without any improvement in billable output.

The Solution

The warehouse introduced one SMITH Electric Pallet Jack With Scale SLL3C at each of its two most active outbound docks. This particular model was chosen for its 1,500 kg load capacity, integrated weighing scale, and compact size, making it ideal for use in narrow racking aisles.

Each pallet jack operates at about 60% of its rated maximum workload to ensure consistent reliability and battery life throughout the shift. Warehouse staff now weigh pallets automatically as they transport them from the picking area to the staging zone, viewing the weight directly on the jack’s display and entering it into the warehouse management system.

Key features in use include the built-in scale for immediate weighing, the 24 V / 30 Ah lithium-ion battery for rapid opportunity charging between picking waves, and the ergonomic handle, which allows operators to manoeuvre, lift, and weigh without switching equipment.

ROI Calculation

Prior to implementation – Manual pallet jacks and floor scales:

• Daily throughput: 280 pallets per day
• Additional time for scale trip and queue: 3 minutes per pallet (walking and waiting)
• Total time lost: 280 × 3 = 840 minutes per day, which is approximately 14 hours per day of non-productive staff time
• Freight weight claims and surcharges: around €900 per month

After implementation – SMITH Electric Pallet Jack With Scale:

• Extra time per pallet for weighing while moving: about 0.5 minutes per pallet (reading and entering data)
• Revised total time: 280 × 0.5 = 140 minutes per day, which is about 2.3 hours per day
• Time saved: 14 − 2.3 ≈ 11.7 hours per day, or roughly 234 hours per month (assuming 20 working days)
• With an average fully loaded labour rate of €12 per hour, the monthly time saving equates to 234 × 12 ≈ €2,800 per month
• More precise weighing at the pick point reduced weight disputes by approximately 70%, lowering claim-related expenses from €900 per month to about €270 per month, saving an additional €630 per month

Investment:
2 × SMITH Electric Pallet Jack With Scale SLL3C at €1,399 each = €2,798 total equipment cost
Combined monthly savings: €2,800 + €630 ≈ €3,430 per month
Payback period: €2,798 ÷ €3,430 < 1 month. Even with a cautious utilisation estimate and allowance for maintenance, the warehouse calculated a realistic payback period of less than 6 months.

Results

By weighing pallets at the picking location, the third-party logistics provider eliminated delays at the floor scales and released the equivalent of more than one full-time operator per shift. Dock congestion was reduced, outbound cut-off times became more consistent, and disputes over freight weights fell significantly.

“The SMITH pallet jacks with integrated scales have made weighing part of our picking process, rather than a separate task. We have eliminated wasted walking, cleared dock queues, and weight disputes with carriers are now uncommon.” — Jan Novak, Operations Manager, CentralLog 3PL/Brno, Czech Republic