Mobile dock lift boost
December 1st 2007

A mobile dock lift from Transdek UK has increased productivity and efficiency at the United Co-op's Talke regional distribution centre in Staffordshire, while allowing the main vehicle access between the warehouse and the yard to be used when required.

Large quantities of waste cardboard generated by its 580 stores are delivered to the Talke RDC in roll cages every day. Previously, vehicles had been unloaded in the yard by tail-lift, but this method was slow.

Transdek installed a dock lift that could unload these cages more quickly and also be used to load empty cages on to double-deck trailers.

The equipment had to be movable to allow lift trucks to travel between the building and the yard – achieved via retractable wheels on the lift chassis.

"It has enabled us to reduce labour costs by freeing up our drivers far more quickly than using a tail-lift," says Paul Cross, the United Co-op's general manager for logistics. "Staff now have a weather-proof environment and we've retained the main level access into the warehouse." The Transdek kit required no civil engineering and was installed ready to use in just two hours. It has a safe working load of 4500kg and can carry 12 roll-cages on its 3500mm long x 2450mm wide platform. A bridging plate automatically adjusts for different vehicle floor heights, including doubledeck trailers.

training manager for Barloworld Handling. "We can all take short cuts to get a job done quickly which is why employees have to understand the risks." For a free copy of its product catalogue or advice, call the number below.

Lifting & moving www.hsssearch.com Certex for Gunnebo kit Lifting gear specialist Certex UK is now one of the main national distributors for Gunnebo Industries. As part of the arrangement Certex has been given 'Platinum' distributor status for its chain systems, including the newly launched Flexi-leg system.

Platinum status means Certex has full access to all Gunnebo Lifting products and can pass on to customers any special features or offers that are only available to Platinum dealers.

"We expect the chain systems to be popular with customers – especially the Classic (grade 8) and GrabiQ (grade 10) series," says Certex sales and marketing director, Charles Gillespie (pictured right with Gunnebo's Michael Gough) As well as service and support collaboration, the two firms will arrange factory visits and free customer training and product demonstrations.

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