Double deck loading
April 1st 2008

Environmental and engineering demands have led Wincanton to choose specialised 'surface mounted' scissorlift vehicle loading platforms from Laweco for double-deck trailer loading at the Stoke distribution centre of a major high street retailer

The fact that the RDC in Stoke, run by leading third-party logistics specialist Wincanton, was built on 'brownfield' land – a former landfill site – will have been in tune with current environmental and land usage thinking. It has however presented users with certain engineering challenges.

To protect against the possible incursion of any detrimental gases or residues from the landfill beneath, a 'methane membrane' had been installed prior to the original construction of the warehouse. The depth of the membrane was uncertain and could not be established from plans or records of the building. With a depth of only 150mm being recommended as the maximum for any floor penetration, the civil engineering works necessary for the fixed installation of any heavy equipment became problematic.

Varied fleet This was certainly the case when Wincanton needed to install vehicle loading platforms to service a range of supplier vehicles and a varied client fleet which included several designs of double deck trailers. Without a conventional loading dock, any vehicle loading platform would stand proud of the floor. Added to this the area designated for 'goods out' had a significant cross gradient to be taken into account.

With a huge number of different suppliers delivering to the site, the challenge was to construct flexible loading facilities to handle a wide range of vehicle types and sizes including both standard and double deck vehicles. Scissor lift platforms would need to be used and the search began to find a supplier who could meet not only operational and cost requirements but also satisfy the particular engineering demands of the project, all to a very limited timescale. As Wincanton's contract engineering manager Malcolm Smith puts it: "We needed foolproof loading bays, we couldn't dig holes and we were in a hurry." Unable to excavate conventional lift pits, with space limitations both internally and externally and with the need for viable ramp gradients, it was clear that low closed-height surface-mounted scissor lifts were the order of the day. A number of potential suppliers were considered but most were either reluctant to commit to complying with such an unusual requirement or simply slow to respond.

Laweco UK, who had previously installed loading bay equipment for Wincanton elsewhere, was among the specialists invited to tender for the project. After detailed consideration of the engineering implications and liaison with engineers at LAWECO's manufacturing plant in Germany, they came up with an impressive solution.

By designing the lifts with the loading platform mounted between the scissor assemblies, it could be positioned substantially lower than in more conventional scissor lift designs. This technical approach enabled LAWECO to put forward detailed proposals for five surface mounted loading platforms, each with the capacity to handle a payload of 5000kg and with space for up to fourteen roll cages plus operators. Most importantly, the units would boast a closed height of only 150mm, a figure that exceeded the client's expectations to such an extent that the specification was queried at first! Cost savings Not only did the exceptionally low closed height permit the use of much shorter, space-saving loading ramps that still retained a gradient gentle enough for easy loading by hand but the advantages offered by the new design more than offset a slightly higher equipment price.

Considerable cost savings were achieved by the absence of civil engineering works making installation both faster and simpler, minimising any interruption to operations and able to be carried out by one company, Laweco. In the case of the 'goods out' platforms, the equipment was designed to enable the units to be sited across a gradient and the vehicle buffer system incorporated levelling plates, which maintain a safe, level operating position – all without the need for costly civil engineering works.

Since installation, not only have the LAWECO scissor lift platforms once again demonstrated their quality and reliability but the company has been able to generate additional financial benefits for the client.

Added to this, the beauty of surface mounted lifts like these is that they are a great deal easier to relocate if, for example, a warehouse lease expires. Lifts can be moved to new premises without the need for planning consent or extensive civil works and their associated costs.

Wincanton's contract engineering manager Malcolm Smith was succinct: "We wanted the best solution quickly. Laweco came up with it."

More articles from Laweco UK Limited: