The engineering capability and manufacturing flexibility of distribution solutions provider Easilift Loading Systems has been instrumental in creating the unique design interface of loading bays at Tesco’s Grocery Distribution Centre.
As Tesco’s flagship distribution centre, the 800,000 sq ft facility at Daventry marks an ambitious advance in loading bay design, made possible in part by Easilift’s 3D modelling CAD software – a key element of the £6.5 million bespoke project, the largest single order ever placed in the UK for loading bay equipment.
The unique elements of the project reflect Easilift’s ability to provide a tailored solution in which the dock pods have been designed and installed to the specific parameters of the overall building. Duncan Robertson, Project Manager at Tesco confirms, “We didn’t want an off-the-shelf loading bay solution but something that would complement and respond to our exact needs. Easilift worked closely with Tesco, our architects and the main contractor Volker Fitzpatrick to deliver a precise, perfectly optimised installation.”
Key challenges included Tesco’s requirement for an increased ratio of bays to floorspace compared to a traditional distribution centre. This challenge was met by Easilift with an innovative arrangement of paired scissor lift dock pods across a central walkway.
Another unusual design aspect is the bespoke resizing of dock leveller pods to match the height of scissor lift pods in order to ensure a uniform roof line along the building’s length – an impressive achievement that aids functionality as well as reinforcing Tesco’s desire to give its flagship distribution centre a bold, clean aesthetic appearance.
Easilift’s design and engineering innovations have been achieved using its Solidworks software, which employs a parametric approach to mapping out loading bay operations in a virtual 3D environment. By analysing the real-world parameters of the site, in particular those constraints or conditions that affect the building of the project, Easilift was able to determine in advance the size, shape, characteristics and behaviour of the finished distribution centre. This is further enhanced by photo-real, 360 degree CAD modelling to demonstrate how the finished building will look.
“The parametric nature of Solidworks means the dimensions and relations drive the geometry, not the other way around,” explains Darren Seward, Engineering Manager at Easilift. “By allowing my team to work and build a product within a 3D environment, we could accurately assemble a virtual product rather than spend valuable time and money in the workshop and eventually on site.”
Easilift devised the design interface to reflect spatial restrictions at yard level. By constructing the double deck bays in pairs, Easilift created a tandem pod around a single walkway to ensure safe and easy operator access / egress. The reduction in space was made possible by Solidworks’ simulation tool, which enabled Easilift to verify stress calculations on the dock pod. Going beyond simple hand calculations, the software applies known displacements that can affect stress and strain – for example, vehicles making contact with the loading bay’s front bumper, or forklift wheels rolling over the edge of the scissor lift platform.
The result is that Easilift has been able to reduce the amount of redundant or over-engineered material required for optimum functionality. Crucially, the dock leveller pod table width has been reduced by 30%, a space saving that not only allows room for the central walkway between paired pods but which also enables each pod to accept delivery of 30% more units per vehicle.
“Tesco is at the forefront of initiatives to cut transport costs – and therefore emissions – in order to promote sustainability, so being able to carry more goods into the Distribution Centre is a real advantage,” confirms Duncan Robertson.
The lifts are located within external modular pods, manufactured and partially preassembled prior to delivery and final on-site erection using a 60-tonne crane. This approach equated to a 60% reduction in installation time for this particular element, when compared with previous lift installations.
Just as impressive is the integration of both scissor lift and dock leveller bays into the building’s seamless roof line. As Darren Seward explains, this is something unique for the logistics industry.
“Often, pods can look like add-ons to the overall aesthetic, not least because double deck scissor lift bays and dock leveller pods are at different heights. Here, the architect specified that our bays should match the building’s own cladding to look like an integral part of the design.”
The crucial element was to co-ordinate the heights to match the building’s flashing joints – the vital gaps between cladding panels used by architects to provide drainage points that carry rainwater away from the building’s walls.
Since it is impossible to reduce the height of the double deck pods, Easilift raised the height of its dock levellers by 600mm to match the taller pods, ensuring a uniform roof line and enabling Tesco to alternate pairs of scissor lifts and dock levellers to suit the distribution centre’s operational needs.
“Nobody has attempted this in our industry before, but the results speak for themselves,” remarks Darren Seward. “Without adjusting the dock leveller height, the building would be marked by a zig-zag pattern. Instead, the line is clean, straight and made the project much easier to manage both for the architects, the developers and our own installation team.”
At the same time, the knowledge generated from the 3D modelling enables Easilift to employ a simpler method of cladding installation, which requires very little cutting and therefore produces less waste – another means by which Easilift’s careful planning has reduced the environmental impact of the project.
"Easilift’s hi-tech engineering expertise has been a huge help in streamlining the installation process," confirms Tesco Project Manager Duncan Robertson. "Not only have we been able to see exact prototyping of the finished loading bay environment, but the process has enabled Easilift to make significant savings on cost, space and waste without compromising on loading dock performance."
With 35 years’ experience in the design, manufacture, installation and maintenance of high quality loading bay equipment and industrial doors, Easilift Loading Systems is the UK’s leading specialist supplier of total loading bay solutions to some of the biggest names in retailing, manufacturing, logistics, distribution, warehousing, building, construction, and the service sector.
The company provides a complete range of loading bay equipment, including dock management systems, dock levellers, dock shelters & seals, industrial & high speed doors, advanced control centres and lifting platforms, together with a wide selection of accessories and safety aids such as dock plates, dock bumpers, dock & traffic lights, wheel guides & vehicle restraints and integrated control systems.
Easilift was also one of the pioneers in the design and installation of dock pod systems, which are complete stand-alone loading bay enclosures that can be installed directly onto the external face of a building. Suitable for new buildings, extensions and refurbishments, they can be quickly and easily re-positioned, if required, and are ideal for use with the increasingly popular and highly cost-effective double deck trailer units.
As the UK’s leading loading bay specialist, Easilift was one of the first in its sector to achieve the prestigious SAFEcontractor accreditation in recognition of its health and safety record and competency, confirming to prospective customers that effective policies and systems are in place.
Easilift is a member of the Loading Systems International Group, one of Europe’s foremost manufacturers of loading bay equipment. The Group has over 450 employees across Europe and a total turnover in excess of 60 million Euros.
Also an active member of the Association of Loading & Elevating Equipment Manufacturers (ALEM) and the Confederation of Construction Specialists, Easilift operates to the international ISO 9001:2008 quality management standard. The company has Investors in People Bronze status accreditation and is a participant in the Construction Skills Certification Scheme, with all its engineers fully qualified under the CITB Site Supervisor Safety Training Scheme.
For information about their market-leading total loading bay solutions contact: Easilift Loading Systems Ltd, Spring Grove, Penistone Road, Kirkburton, Hudderfield, HD8 OPL. Tel: 08451 301920. Email: sales@loading-systems.co.uk Web: www.loading-systems.co.uk
