A hydraulic lifting platform from Transdek UK Ltd is enabling Roadferry to dramatically reduce the time taken to unload double-deck trailers at its Belfast depot without the cost and disruption of installing a scissor lift.

Roadferry has a contract to supply the 22 Argos stores in Northern Ireland from stock that is delivered in cages on double-deck trailers from the British mainland. After unloading from the incoming trailers, the stock is delivered by separate vehicles to each store.

The Transdek platform can be lifted and lowered between the warehouse floor level and the two decks in the trailers, carrying up to eight cages at a time, which has reduced unloading times by 75 per cent, according to Davy Garrett, Roadferry’s group operations manager for Scotland and Ireland. A large hydraulic bridging plate gives safe full-width access between platform and trailer, and anti-slip floor plate and strong guard rails ensure safe working conditions.

While a scissor lift would have required civil engineering work, the Transdek equipment was installed in a single day and cost about one-third of the price. As it is only bolted to the building, it can easily be relocated in the future if required. The platform has a weatherproof cover, buffers and traffic lights.