Destuff-IT Machine Review

Destuff-IT claims to reduce costs by 50%, but Is that true or false?

What is the

Destuff-IT and Restuff-IT Machine?

The machine in the video below is “designed to aid workers who load and unload floor-loaded product in containers and trailers”. It does this by combining a conveyor system with a belt system to push boxes out of the container, downs the conveyor and out to the floor to be sorted by crews of two or more. The Destuff-IT has Two models available – the Destuff-IT single direction device that unloads only, and the Restuff-IT two-directional device that loads and unloads.

Destuff-IT Claims

Reduce Costs By 50%

Destuff-IT gives an example on their website of a container taking 3 workers 4 hours to complete; at a rate of $16 per hour for a total cost of $192. Then they go on to claim that by using the Destuff-IT machine the cost would be 4 workers working for 1.5 hours at $16 per hour for a total of $92.

Lets take a look at these numbers

First off Destuff-IT is using numbers that do not match with current minimum wage laws. They are also assuming someone working at minimum wage will work at full speed unloading “800 boxes per hour” which will not happened. Destuff-IT also does not take in to consideration the cost of the Destuff-IT machine and the maintenance and repair costs associated with the machine.

The real costs

To break down the costs of unloading your containers using a Destuff-IT machine compared to a reliable Lumper service like Lumper HQ we need to look at four costs:

Labor Costs
Purchase Costs
Maintenance Costs
Storage and Space
Training Costs
Freight and Insurance Costs

#1. Labor Costs

Destuff-IT says it requires four people to unload a container using their machine, (but looking at the picture below you can easily see it requires 6 workers, 1 forklift and 1 Destuff-IT machine) which is two more then a lumper service like Lumper HQ would use. But lets consider you have four workers and a tens of thousand dollar machine working to unload a single container for 1.5 hours. Your cost according to Destuff-IT $95, but the real cost would be for four workers being paid $16 per hour for a full shift (because no one works for 1.5 hours and goes home) which would be $128 per employee times four employees which would be $512 in labor costs before employer costs which is an additional 20% (click for an article about actual employer costs) so the actual cost according to a $16 hourly pay would be $614 and not the $95 Destuff-IT claims.

#2. Purchase Costs

Destuff-IT fails to mention the actual cost of the machine on their website. So we gave them a call to find out the cost to purchase and rent a Destuff-IT machine. We are working on getting the exact purchase price including delivery, setup and training from the manufacturer.

#3. Maintenance Costs

Destuff-IT also fails to mention the cost to maintain their machines. But anyone with common sense would know that complicated machinery with circuit boards, motors, belts and metal wheels will cost a lot in repairs and maintenance. Maintenance schedule will be linked here

#4. Storage and Space Costs

The Destuff-IT machine takes up miles of space in your warehouse where product could be stored. The footprint of a Destuff-IT machine at minimum would take up a space that is a little over 4 feet wide and over 33 feet long this includes the conveyor and the loader/unloader. The 120plus square foot of floor space this Destuff-IT matching takes up is space that could be warehousing revenue generating products.

#5. Training Costs

Restuff-IT states on there website that “All customers using the equipment for a time trial or first time renters will be subject to training costs”. We are working on getting the exact costs of training and will update this post when the information is gathered.

#6. Freight and Insurance Costs

Freight costs are the responsibility of the customer. A quotation will be provided at the time of the rental, depending on the location of the rental unit. Freight insurance for the full value of the machine must be provided by the renter. We are working on getting the exact costs of freight and insurance and will update this post when the information is gathered.

The Real Benefits of the Destuff-IT machine

The Destuff-IT and Restuff-IT machines do not offer cost savings but they do provide a safer and less strenuous way of loading and unloading shipping containers. But the limitations on size and weight of the product that can be loaded with the Restuff-IT will limit its use to specific case scenarios. The Ontario Liquor board uses the Destuff-IT machines in some of there distribution centers they have not released any statistics regarding costs savings by using this machine.

The Benefits of Using Lumper HQ

By using a professional lumper service warehouses can reduce worker fatigue, increase safety and reduce costs. By outsourcing the unloading and loading to a company that specializes in it you are assured all the benefits of a Destuff-IT machine plus more.

Case Study

Two lumpers from Lumper HQ started a 1100 piece container, at the same time a crew of 5 and the destuff-it machine started a similar container with 1100 pieces. The crew from Lumper HQ took 3 hours to complete the container. The Crew and destuff-it machine took two hours to complete the container. If the Lumper HQ crew had five workers they could have unloaded a minimum of 2.25 containers in three hours while the five man crew on the destuff-it machine would finish 1.5 containers in the same time.