Fixed decks see double savings
February 1st 2009

Transdek says its mobile dock lifts deliver both efficiency and safety benefits, and that its fixed double deck lifts can realise significant savings – as verified by Boots...

It's well documented that loading bays are a high risk area, accounting for a high percentile of factory and warehouse accidents. Not only can such incidents lead to substantial statutory fines, followed by personal accident compensation claims, but an organisation's reputation can be severely damaged as a result of the consequent investigations conducted by the H&SE and relevant local authorities.

To address the problem, Transdek UK says it has developed a safe and highly efficient range of products incorporating strong safety/security features.

Transdek's range of mobile dock lifts is designed to meet customer's needs for fast and safe vehicle loading combined with a high level of operational versatility. The lifts are easy to manoeuvre, thanks to large running wheels mounted on heavy duty roller bearings and they pack a range of special safety features.

These include interlocked, hydraulically operated retracting wheels, a feature which prevents the lift being used until the chassis is firmly grounded and sitting square.

Access to the lift platform is safe and quick as the lead-on ramp lowers flush to the ground. Transdek units also feature an automatic bridging plate that, as the lift platform rises, lowers onto the vehicle floor removing the potential danger of operators and/or loads falling through any gap. As the lift platform descends any operator remaining onboard the vehicle is protected from falls off the rear by a fall prevention bar which deploys automatically.

Similarly, when used with forklifts in ground level operations, the lift features a sliding anti-fall bar that descends across the rear of the vehicle to provide the same operator protection. The front uprights of the chassis also feature built-in, manually operated, reversing traffic light guides to aid drivers manoeuvring and to help reduce the incidence of premature vehicle driveaway.

As well as tackling health and safety issues, Transdek says it has focussed on the provision of affordable, fixed double deck lifts – so the associated cost and environmental benefits are now universally accessible. As a result, the firm says many fleet operators and transport/logistics providers are recognising the commercial benefits that fixed double deck trailer operations can deliver.

Providing the necessary equipment and designing the infrastructure to enable successful deployment of this technology has been a major element in Transdek's corporate development over the past five years, as Boots' logistics director, Gavin Chappell, confirms: "We trialled powered double deck trailers but we couldn't achieve the payloads and forecast benefit levels we expected. Then we turned to lighter weight, fixed double decked trailers as a simpler alternative to overcome the problems but there were cost questions on installation, ongoing maintenance and reliability. Then we met Transdek..." Following a detailed analysis of Boots' needs and a through product evaluation, Boots subsequently made the decision to invest in 110 fixed deck trailers to be serviced by 50 Transdek 6.5-tonne, 12-cage lifts. This initial investment saved Boots 40 trunk runs per day – or an annual saving of around 3.1 million road miles and a cut in CO2 emissions of almost 4 million Kg.

According to Chappell, "The number of trailers is now planned to grow significantly".

Clearly there's an imperative to ensure the safety and wellbeing of staff working at deck heights of 2.9 metres. In response Transdek has developed a range of lifts for loading and unloading double deck trailers incorporating a wide range of safety features These include front and rear safety gates on the lift platform, with an electronic interlock which ensures that the platform only moves when operators have closed both gates properly. Movement of the lift platform can also be exclusively operator controlled through a simple, interlocked, push-button console. To ensure safe deck access and easy loading a hydraulic bridging plate lowers across the gap between trailer deck and lift platform, and in the raised position this plate also prevents the front gates from opening accidentally.

Extending hand rails are provided that automatically move into position and lock along the sides of the bridging plate, removing the danger of operators falling between the lift and the vehicle. A fully partitioned walkway is also provided across the lift platform to ensure access between the trailer and dock at all times.

The systems are also specially designed to allow loading with powered pallet trucks.

This not only increases speed of loading, boosting efficiency, but also significantly reduces the manual handling strain on operators and the risk of injuries.

In the event of a mains failure emergency power is provided for lighting and to ensure the lift can be lowered to dock height and offloaded.

In the current economic climate the benefits of double deck trailer operations are becoming a focus of close attention for a growing number of organisations.

Transdek aims to help them realise the savings, and safety improvements, that are readily available.

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