The name Sovex Systems has been around for over 50 years, and is synonymous with high quality conveyor systems. The Sovex business became part of Caljan in the 1990s, re-emerging as an independent force in 2002, when the present directors David Lindfield and Malcolm Dooley took the opportunity to buy it, re-energising the business and re-establishing the link between the name Sovex and high quality conveyor systems. There’s no denying their achievement: today Sovex’s solutions span boom conveyors, conveyor systems and storage systems, plus rentals, service and maintenance, and its client list features blue chip clients such as Home Delivery Network, Parcelforce Worldwide, D.H.L., Sleepmasters plc, Business Post, Otto Group and TNT.
The innovation continues in 2008 with the latest introductions including a new boom conveyor with free running rollers, which the company describes as a step change in the way parcels are loaded for transport. Malcolm Dooley, Operations Director of Sovex Systems, spoke to Warehouse & Logistics News.
Warehouse & Logistics News – What shape was Sovex in when you bought it?
The business was doing fine, but the Sovex brand had been overshadowed as part of Caljan. We’ve gone through many changes over the last five years, and now we’re going all out to tell the market Sovex conveyors are better than ever and we’re here to supply them.
WLN – What were you and David doing before you bought Sovex?
We were both in materials handling: I was with Newland Conveyors and David was with Caljan. Before Caljan bought Sovex, we had both been there over 10 years.
WLN – What are your roles day to day?
I look after operations, including manufacturing, technical, service and installation. David runs the commercial aspects, including admin and sales.
WLN – Who heads up your customer relationships?
Obviously we have our own contacts but as from 1st June we were extremely lucky to bring on board Steve Nuttall as Sales Director, to co-ordinate all aspects of sales and marketing. To compliment this, we have also recently employed Mark Hammond to oversee all projects and installations.
WLN – Do you sell direct or through distributors?
We don’t use outside distributors at present, but may do in future as we expand here and in Europe.
WLN – How big is Sovex Systems now? Where is it based?
This year we expect our turnover to pass £4m, a double-digit increase on 2007. Sovex Systems is based in Prenton on the Wirral, and employs around 40 people. We operate from modern manufacturing and warehousing facilities covering 20,000 square feet.
WLN – Where do you develop your technology?
Our technology is developed in house and through our close contacts with customers: we design our machines, which are generally bespoke, in liaison with them.
WLN – It’s great to see a British company not only supplying but also manufacturing this equipment. Where do you rank among world manufacturers of quality conveyor systems?
We’re one of the top three suppliers of telescopic conveyors, our core business. We believe in offering the best, tailor-made, solutions together with a level of service and value for money that is second to none.
WLN – What different boom conveyors do you supply?
We manufacture telescopic loaders; fixed belt boom conveyors; fixed roller boom conveyors; mobile belt boom conveyors and flexible conveyors. They are all made to various standard sizes, but we also supply tailor made systems.
WLN – What are these different items used for?
Lorry loading conveyors, also known as boom conveyors, are used for rapid handling of mixed cargo such as packages, boxes and loose goods like tyres and furniture. They come in many shapes and sizes, and we classify them as either fixed, mobile or van loaders. Flexible conveyors can also be used for vehicle loading and unloading. ‘Fixed boom’ conveyors are so called because they are installed in one position and are not easily moved, ideal for loading docks. Fixed roller conveyors have gravity rollers, installed in one position, ideal for loading vehicles. Mobile boom conveyors have a sub frame with wheels that enables the conveyor to be moved easily as required, eliminating the need for a loading dock. Flexible conveyors are conveyor sections that are easily manoeuvred into position on braked swivel castors. They are ideal for loose loading applications.
WLN – What is your single biggest selling piece of equipment overall?
Telescopic booms and mobile sortation systems represent 50% of our business.
WLN – You’ve just brought out a new telescopic roller loader with free running rollers, which you’ve described as “a step change in the way parcels are loaded for transport.” Can you tell us about that?
The Sovex Roller Loader features free running rollers and uses gravity to transport parcels. Boom conveyors fitted with rollers are ideal for loading vehicles and are fast, efficient and cheaper than the powered alternative. The Roller Loader combines the advantages of free running rollers with proven extending boom conveyor designs to produce a highly efficient vehicle-loading device.
WLN – How does the Roller Loader work?
The Sovex Roller Loader slopes from the loading dock into the vehicle trailer. As the vehicle fills, the operator retracts the boom using its optional powered extend/retract system to maintain a comfortable loading position. We are offering the Roller Loader with three different roller widths and three different extensions to cover most applications. Customers can specify additional options to tailor the conveyor to their application, including traversing chassis, full under guarding and gallows lighting.
WLN – What are your other recent launches?
Our other recent launch is a mobile van loader, at the lower end of the price range, with a telescopic boom at the front, eliminating the need for loading docks.
WLN – What tailored conveyor systems do you offer?
We offer four systems: roller conveyors, belt conveyors, mobile conveyors and mobile sortation systems, all highly flexible and suitable for any application.
WLN – Can you talk us through the benefits of each?
Roller conveyors come in modular form for easy installation and added flexibility, in various widths. They are available as powered or gravity rollers. In powered there are three drive types – belt under rollers, line shaft and roller drives. Powered belt-driven conveyors are ideal for horizontal or inclined product transfer. A range of belts is available for handling different products. Mobile conveyors offer the ultimate flexibility, reconfigured in moments to accommodate changing operations.
WLN – What storage systems do you offer?
Sovex supplies a range of automated retrieval systems, carousels, software and associated equipment for every application. These include vertical carousels, automated stacking systems, automated office storage systems, automated tool dispensing equipment, Silo storage systems and Lifts. Gyroclass is a vertical carousel for filing, which moves the appropriate shelf to the consulting bay and identifies the right file by light. Gyroclass utilises height to save up to 70% space and allows users to store large numbers of documents securely. Silo is a compact, high-density storage system, combining cellular racking with bins and trays. A crane running down a central corridor retrieves requested drawers and brings them to a workstation. Silo utilises available height, making more efficient use of floor areas than traditional shelves.
WLN – How long does it take to deliver a solution?
The period from first conversation to quotation varies widely: manufacturing and procurement can take up to 12 weeks, depending on the degree of customisation.
WLN – What service and maintenance support do you offer?
Our engineers are experienced and expert and respond efficiently to callouts and maintenance requests. Our nationwide service network restores both Sovex and other manufacturers’ equipment to first class working order with minimal downtime and disruption.
WLN – How quickly can you get an engineer round?
We have contracts with a 2-hour response time in mainland UK and Ireland, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and achieve 96 plus percent first time fix.
WLN – Do you carry out maintenance inspections?
Yes, we do, both our equipment and other suppliers’. We also carry out on-site audits during maintenance, inspecting existing equipment, and making a full report on its condition and recommendations for action. This report also covers health and safety issues.
WLN – How often should equipment be inspected?
We recommend maintenance four times a year for equipment used in a 7-8 hour daily shift, more often for heavier usage.
WLN – What technical support do you offer?
We have a UK-based technical support phone line with advisors on hand 24/7. We also offer information regarding hardware and software programming for customers’ equipment and can guide callers through problem solving procedures.
WLN – What rental or leasing packages do you offer?
We are fully accredited leasing providers, and offer clients the best financial solutions for their business through our flexible acquisition packages. Our leasing plans include easy to monitor monthly, quarterly or annual direct debit payments – no capital outlay and no deposit, just regular agreed payments over the contract. Our packages are tax efficient; payments may be deducted from taxable profits, lowering the equipment’s net cost.
Hiring machines is a cost-effective means of meeting peak or seasonal demands with reduced capital outlay. We offer short or long-term hire of static and mobile vehicle loaders. Rental units are serviced free. Breakdown cover is also included, covering everyday wear and tear and full technical support.
WLN – Do you do ‘refurbs’ of used machinery?
Yes, we do. We’re unique in offering full or part refurbishment of used materials handling machinery, including telescopic conveyors. We remove old conveyors from site and refurbish them, and provide temporary replacements. We also sell re-furbished units. Our refurbished units are renovated to the same high specifications as our new machines and include full electrical re-wiring, replacement rollers and bearings, new belts and full re-sprays in the colour of the customer’s choice. Also included in the refurbishment options is a new front end which removes the old push bar arrangement, eliminating the cause of a large percentage of machine downtime. We also supply a comprehensive spares list, at very competitive prices.
WLN – What size companies in what industry sectors are your target customers?
Our clients are mainly companies with big parcels handling operations, including Home Delivery Network, Otto Group, Business Post, DHL, Parcelforce and TNT. Our tailor-made solutions for them are either fixed systems for loading and unloading operations, or mobile sortation systems. For Business Post, we supplied a modular system, clipped together to save working space and able to be moved around for more efficient working. As more companies appreciate the benefits of this approach, we expect demand to grow.
We are frequently involved in larger contracts requiring loading and unloading solutions, where we integrate our equipment with large scale handling systems. We work closely here and in Europe with the larger integrators such as Van Riet of Holland, FKI and SDI Greenstone, on projects where our telescopic and fixed conveyors are used alongside their systems.
WLN – You’ve recently updated your web site. Can you tell us about that?
Our new site, www.sovexsystems.com, is fast to load and easy to use. Split into clearly labeled sections, it details our main product groups and the models and options available. Comprehensive technical specifications are at hand and each page includes an online contact form to request further information.
WLN – What proportion of your sales are UK-based?
Up to 2007 our sales were 100% UK-based. We have recently been working on contracts for DPD in Germany, GLS Netherlands, the third largest parcel and express company in Holland, and Geis Group in the Czech Republic, all through Van Riet Holland, the main integrators in each case.
WLN – How important is safety in the design of your equipment?
Safety is paramount in our business: all our equipment carries the CE mark and our safety precautions either comply with industry standards or higher. We ensure all our machinery is fully safe for use, and is used safely. Our manuals provide full details of operation instructions and safety precautions, and we train customers’ operating staff in safety. All our new machines can be under-guarded if required: we can also retrofit under-guards on existing Sovex machines. We strive for safety throughout, including fitting sensors on chains as standard and putting pressure strips on the front of machinery to detect trapping. We also put warning signs on the side of equipment, to communicate the danger.
WLN – How strong is your order book?
Our forecast sales are very strong for the immediate future: we have orders booked for six months ahead and a good quotations bank. We’re taking on more technical and sales staff: we’re already very strong in these areas, and we like to think we will shortly have the best team and management structure in the industry in the UK.
WLN – Are you seeing any signs of a slowdown?
I can’t say we’re seeing any signs of a slowdown, because we’re still recruiting service engineers nationwide. The credit crunch hasn’t affected us yet, but careful management is central to our business.
WLN – Where do you see Sovex going from here?
With Internet shopping and home deliveries booming, we’re enjoying unprecedented demand for our equipment. The new telescopic Roller Loader will continue that trend and win new customers in parcels handling and other areas. Our service and maintenance side is growing rapidly and we’re one of the UK’s leading companies servicing materials handling and equipment, including dock levelers, scissor lifts, conveyors and control systems.
A key part of our success to date is that we know many people in the business personally. The Sovex name is well known in the parcel handling industry, and in some parts of the market it is synonymous with vehicle loading conveyors, but there are still a wealth of opportunities to win new business, and it’s a matter of building on that, both here and in Europe. Meanwhile, David and I are very proud of our achievements, and we would like to thank our customers and staff for their support.
Sovex Systems
Tel: 0151 608 2323
www.sovexsystems.com
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