Double deck scissors cut costs
June 1st 2007 Double deck trailer sales are booming, with even smaller hauliers recognising the rapid
ROI to be had from exorbitant fuel bills incurred on the UK's clogged roads. Which is good
news for Laweco, whose heavy duty double deck scissor lift turned heads last month at
Materials Handling Live
We are all too aware of the
increasing cost of motoring, not
just because of fuel price
increases but also the time spent stuck in
traffic. Logistics managers across the
country are similarly aware of the problem
but they have the solution to hand:
Increasingly large distribution companies
and retailers are turning to double deck
trailers in a move to significantly reduce
costs. Added to this are the environmental
benefits derived from a reduction in fuel
consumption, emissions and use of
replacement parts, such as tyres.
According to Chris Curzon, sales director
for Lawrence David, sales of double deck
trailers have increased by a staggering 750
per cent in the last five years. This is
verified by operations director for
Dawsonrentals, Truck and Trailer division,
John Fletcher, who states: "We have seen a
significant swing towards double deck
trailer usage, even amongst small
distributors and hauliers. In the last three
years rentals have doubled year on year.
"Another trend in the last two years is the
increased use of fixed double deck trailers,
as opposed to moving deck or those with
internal lifts," says Fletcher. "The driver for
this, again, is the reduction in capital cost".
The move to fixed deck trailers, however,
presents other challenges at the loading
dock but Laweco says it has the answer.
Laweco GmbH and its UK distributors,
Laweco UK, have kept pace with
developments to solve these problems. The
company recently demonstrated the 125th
scissor lift manufactured for this country's
distribution business at this years Logistics
& Materials Handling Live exhibition at
Stoneleigh, near Coventry. The
demonstration created significant interest
amongst the visitors, who realise the double
deck pattern is looks certain to continue.
Scissor Lifts have been manufactured by
Laweco in Germany for nearly 30 years and
using the latest 3D design software and
state-of-the-art manufacturing processes
the company has a firm grasp as to how to
produce what the industry needs. All
Laweco double deck scissor lifts are designed
to provide duty holders with every safety
feature required for compliance with the
Work at Height Regulations 2005, such as
fully interlocked load gates, goods retention
screening and bridge plate safety gates.
Much like the trailer manufacturers,
Laweco UK is seeing high demand for cost
driven change: Larger platforms, for faster,
more cost efficient loading and unloading,
are more often requested than ever before.
The latest and most popular version will
carry 36 standard roll cages or 20 pallets,
loaded by hand or powered truck, and with
gross loads up to 25,000Kg. "Recent
customer enquiries have included lifts for 45,
48 and even 54 cages," says Laweco UK's Jon
Tridgell. "All of which we can easily design,
manufacture and install." More articles from Laweco UK Limited: | 
