Split Tray (Bomb Bay) Sorter Compilation: Versatile High-Speed Sortation

Technology Overview

Split Tray Sorters, also known as Bomb Bay or Flat Tray Sorters, are a class of high-speed, carrier-based sortation systems designed for a wide array of industries and item types. As showcased in EuroSort's compilation, this technology is a workhorse in modern logistics, transforming chaotic flows of mixed items into organized, destination-sorted streams. The system's core design—using trays that open at the bottom to drop items into designated chutes—makes it exceptionally reliable and gentle, suitable for everything from rigid books to flexible polybags. Its adaptability is demonstrated by its use across postal services, e-commerce, pharmaceuticals, and apparel logistics, handling the critical final sort before dispatch to stores, homes, or next-stage distribution.

How It Works

Core Principles

The core principle involves individual items being placed onto dedicated carriers (trays) that circulate on an endless loop. Each tray is assigned a destination based on a scanned barcode or RFID tag. When the tray reaches the correct discharge location above a collection chute or tote, its bottom splits open (like a bomb bay door), releasing the item directly downward by gravity. The tray then closes and returns to the induction area.

Key Features & Capabilities

Scalable Throughput Models: A key feature is the wide performance range, from 5,000 items/hour for smaller operations up to 35,000 items/hour for major hubs. This is achieved through different models (Single vs. Dual Split Tray) and configurations, allowing businesses to choose a system that matches their volume and growth trajectory.

Extreme Item Handling Versatility: The system is engineered to handle a "plethora of items." This includes rigid products like books and boxes, soft goods like apparel, and flexible packages like polybags and mail envelopes. This makes it a single solution for facilities with diverse product mixes.

Configurable Automation Levels: EuroSort offers these sorters with manual, semi-automatic, and automatic induction. This allows companies to balance capital investment with labor, starting with a more manual system and potentially upgrading induction automation later without replacing the core sorter.

Advantages & Benefits

The primary advantage is reliable, high-speed sortation for a broad spectrum of items, which is foundational for efficiency in parcel delivery, e-commerce, and retail distribution. The gentle drop-by-gravity discharge minimizes product damage. The system's versatility reduces the need for multiple, specialized sortation lines. By offering a range of throughputs and automation levels, it provides a future-proof investment that can scale with business growth. The proven technology offers high uptime and reliability, which is critical for 24/7 operations in postal and e-commerce sectors.

Implementation Considerations

Selecting the right model (single vs. dual tray) and induction method is crucial for meeting target throughput and ROI. The system requires significant overhead space for the conveyor loop and vertical clearance for the discharge chutes. It is a fixed infrastructure system, so the layout must be carefully planned for current and future needs. While versatile, extremely heavy, large, or fragile items may require special handling or a different system.

Use Cases & Applications

Ideal For

This technology is ideal for any distribution, fulfillment, or postal operation that needs to sort a high volume of small to medium-sized, unitized items into many destinations quickly and accurately. It is particularly valuable in omnichannel retail, e-commerce, and direct-to-consumer logistics.

Performance Metrics

The provided performance metrics are a throughput range of approximately 5,000 to 35,000 items per hour. The specific rate depends on the sorter model, induction speed, and item characteristics. Other key metrics include sortation accuracy (typically >99.9%), system availability, and mean time between failures. The "efficiency, speed, and versatility" are the qualitative pillars of its performance.

Conclusion

EuroSort's Split Tray Sorter family represents a mature, highly adaptable, and high-performance sortation technology that has become a standard in numerous logistics sectors. Its ability to reliably handle a vast array of products at impressive speeds, combined with configurable automation levels, makes it a compelling choice for businesses seeking to automate and scale their sortation operations. Whether for sorting the latest online fashion order, a parcel for delivery, or pharmaceutical products, this technology delivers the efficiency and reliability required to power modern, fast-paced supply chains.