Tire Logistics Optimization at a Global Manufacturer

For a tire manufacturer, efficient distribution is critical. However, at a key European hub, the physical demands of manually handling tires had become a liability. The technical challenge lay in the “laced” stacking method, a technique where tires are interlocked to maximize density in high-cube trailers. While efficient for shipping, this creates a dense, unstable “wall” of rubber often reaching 8 feet in height. To unload these trailers, workers climbed the tire face to overreach and physically tug interlaced tires free. Conversely, loading required lifting and throwing tires to rebuild this stack. The sheer intensity of exertion, combined with the awkward twisting and stretching required to reach the upper zones of the trailer, presented an unacceptable health and safety risk.