Littlewoods

Retail giants Littlewoods have opted to install mobile loading docks at 26 of their outlying depots in a move to streamline their logistics operation. The Romadek XL1250 dock lifts have been specially designed by Transdek UK to handle Littlewoods’ large 2m3 bedding stillages.

All of Littlewoods’ furniture is packaged at Chester for distribution around the country. However, most of their larger items, such as flatpack furniture and beds, previously had to be sent via Shaw, where they were unpacked again and loose-loaded into van trailers. The reason for this: the stillages used to carry these products are simply too big to lift off the rear of a box van without docking facilities.

With the installation of XL1250 machines at each of their flat-floor, dockless depots, Littlewoods are now able to deliver beds direct from Chester, eliminating double-handling at Shaw.

According to Frank Henderson Distribution Director for Business Express, the distribution arm of Littlewoods, this will “not only provide cost savings in terms of heightened logistical efficiency, but also reduce product damage caused by excessive handling.”

The Romadek XL1250 has a specially extended 3.3m platform for manoeuvring the stillages. Fixed rear guards provide protection against falls, when the lift is raised.

“We chose the Romadek systems because they are robust enough to do the job, but easy to move away from our doorways between operations,” says Mr. Henderson.

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