As the bottleneck of any warehouse and a hectic part of business operations, it’s no wonder that the loading bay is often where bumps can occur. In the distribution sector, the ability to load and unload goods safely is critical to the overall supply chain efficiency, safety and productivity. Without this you run the risk of having to pay for damages, as well as experiencing a loss of business and damage to your reputation.
This article was first published in the November 15th 2020 issue of Warehouse & Logistics News, subscribe to the magazine by clicking here.
Fen-Bay Services Ltd, one of the UK’s leading providers of loading bay equipment, industrial doors, gates and barriers, has announced the acquisition of Transdek UK Ltd. The move will see Transdek and Fen-Bay Services work side-by-side under the Fen-Bay Group umbrella, and will generate a combined workforce of 180 employees and £20 million turnover. Transdek manufactures a unique range of surface-mounted, modular loading bay equipment, which it supplies to many of the UK’s leading retailers from its South Yorkshire-based production plant.
Longer telescopic lip dock levellers have become a common addition as the need for flexibility of offloading various vehicle types on a single loading bay increase, according to Phil Thorpe, Industrial Division Manager at Hörmann UK. These include additional leveller options, such as increased lip projection and split lips that are suitable for standard trailers sizes, double deck vehicles and right down to smaller vans for loading and unloading. The addition of dock shelters designed specifically for van type vehicles, such as Mercedes Sprinters, are also becoming more prevalent across warehousing sites, as supply chain operators look to cater for “last mile” deliveries.
CopriSystems’ design solutions are bespoke to match customers’ specific requirements and ensure the loading bay can meet the flexibility required to cope as business trends and practices shift. A single span domed bay for example has no internal supports, providing a larger working area and making it easier for organisations to comply with social distancing requirements. Whether firms choose a freestanding or wall-mounted canopy, both will keep goods sufficiently sheltered and ensure high levels of performance.
Rentokil Pest Control has launched Flexi Armour Dock, an advanced pest proofing product which can be installed to dock levellers in the loading bays of supermarkets, factories and distribution centres, to prevent rodents entering a premises through this potentially vulnerable area. Analysis of Rentokil’s own PestConnect data has revealed that over 30% of infestations occurring in warehouses, supermarkets and distribution centres originate in the loading bay area. In a survey of 121 frontline pest technicians, 90% reported back that very often customers who experienced infestations had not fully rodent-proofed their premises.
Next-day if not same-day delivery is now commonplace and at the same time the supply chain is increasingly moving towards a just-in-time operation meaning logistics companies have less room for error. Efficiencies have to be gained at an operational level, saving time and money in the distribution process while maintaining the quality and appearance of items in transit. A well-designed loading bay will help.
George Simpson
Features Editor
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