A mobile dock lift from Transdek UK has increased productivity and efficiency at the new warehouse opened by A F Blakemore, regional distribution centre, while allowing the main vehicle access between the warehouse and the yard to be used when required.

Transdek was commissioned to install a dock lift that could load and unload 12 cages more quickly and could also be used to load cages on to double deck trailers. The equipment had to be moveable to allow lift trucks to travel between the building and the yard and this equipment was met by fitting retractable wheels on the lift chassis.

‘The dock lift has enabled us to reduce labour costs by freeing up our drivers far more quickly than using a tail-lift’ said Nathan Black, A F Blakemore’s manager. ‘It provides our staff with a weather-proof environment and has also enabled us to retain the main level access into the warehouse’.

The Transdek equipment required no civil engineering work, unlike conventional pit-mounted lifts and was installed and 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 between 1050mm and 1400mm, including powered double deck trailers.