SODISE Transforms Container Unloading with TAWI Mobile Vacuum Lifting Solutions

SODISE, a French distributor, struggled with slow, injury‑prone manual container unloading. Partnering with TAWI, they installed a container unloader and mobile vacuum lifter to automate lifting and palletising. The solution cut staffing needs per container, reduced strain and injuries, and increased warehouse throughput and logistics efficiency.

SODISE, a leading French distributor of tools, consumables and workshop equipment for the agricultural, automotive and heavy vehicle sectors, needed a safer and more efficient way to handle container unloading in its Briec warehouse. Each week, the logistics team manually unloaded around five multi‑product shipping containers, filled with bags and boxes weighing between 15 and 50 kilograms. Four to five warehouse operators were required for every container, spending roughly two and a half hours on repetitive heavy lifting. This manual handling created significant fatigue, back and arm pain, and a high risk of musculoskeletal disorders, all of which negatively affected warehouse logistics performance and productivity.

To optimise warehouse logistics and protect its workforce, SODISE partnered with TAWI to redesign this critical goods receiving process. Together they implemented a mobile lifting solution combining a TAWI Container Unloader with a TAWI vacuum lifter mounted on a mobile jib crane. The container unloader and conveyor now take the full weight of the goods, moving boxes and bags out of the container with minimal manual effort. At the palletising stage, operators use the mobile vacuum lifter to pick, lift and place items quickly and accurately, reducing physical strain while maintaining a high palletising quality. Thanks to interchangeable suction feet, the same ergonomic lifting system can safely handle a wide variety of product sizes and packaging types without interrupting the workflow.

Since installing TAWI mobile lifting solutions, SODISE has significantly reduced the number of people needed inside the container, enabling one trained operator to perform tasks that previously required a team of four. Warehouse staff report far less physical strain and discomfort, making it easier to unload multiple containers per day while maintaining consistent performance. At the same time, container unloading and palletising are faster and more controlled, increasing warehouse throughput and overall logistics efficiency. For businesses looking to improve warehouse logistics, optimise container unloading and reduce manual handling risks, SODISE’s experience shows how TAWI mobile vacuum lifters and ergonomic lifting equipment can transform a demanding process, boost productivity and protect employees without a complete warehouse redesign.