Easilift Pod System Chosen For Tesco's Greenest Store

An innovative unloading system from Easilift Loading Systems has been chosen by Tesco for the loading bays at its flagship environmental store in Wick, Scotland. It was designed, built and installed by Easilift to meet Tesco's specific requirements for what has been described as 'Britain's greenest supermarket.'

Given the geographical location of the store it was imperative that the equipment chosen facilitated the use of both standard trailers and double-deck trailers which are the most cost effective and environmentally friendly method of transporting goods by road.

The project comprises two lifting platforms, one of which is specifically designed to accommodate the fixed bed, high capacity double-deck trailers, loading pods, insulated sectional overhead doors and other associated equipment.

The two free-standing modular pods are installed on the outside of the building's loading bays, flush to the external wall, minimising disruption and avoiding the loss of internal floor area. The fabricated side and roof frames are clad with insulated wall panels to create a sealed working environment.

One pod contains a lifting platform 4000mm long x 2650mm wide, with a 6000kg capacity. It is designed to offload fixed bed double-deck vehicles and can accommodate 12 of Tesco's standard wheeled cages, measuring 500mm x 850mm x 750mm, or ten cages plus a member of staff.

The scissor lift, housed inside the second pod, is designed to integrate with retail double-deck trailers and also standard height trailers. Measuring 3200mm long x 2650mm wide the pit-mounted lift has a lifting capacity of 2500kg, which increases to 4500kg when descending. It incorporates roller blind guarding at both ends, safety drop bar systems and has a 5.5kw remotely mounted power unit.

Easilift electrically-operated sectional overhead Powerdoors are fitted to the front and rear of each pod. Those in front of the pod measure 2010mm wide x 4900mm high and those at the back 2600mm wide x 2600mm high, all 40mm thick. They incorporate double-glazed acrylic vision panels. As part of the contract Easilift also supplied double-deck rubber bumpers, inflatable dock seals, two LED traffic lights, three sets of loading dock lights and fluorescent pod lights with each installation, plus composite electrical control panels fitted with an override facility and an isolator switch.

The 50,000 sq ft store is the most environmentally-friendly of its kind and is expected to have a 50% smaller carbon footprint than a conventional supermarket of comparable size. The experiences gleaned from the store will be used in future developments as Tesco strives to cut its energy consumption per square foot in half by 2010 compared with levels in 2000.

Said Phil Dinning, Managing Director of Easilift Loading Systems Ltd: "We were delighted to have been chosen by Tesco to be a major partner in its flagship 'green' store in Scotland. We have been providing similar loading bay equipment to Tesco stores and distribution centres for several years and worked closely with them on this special project to ensure that we met their stringent environmental requirements."

"As part of the Dutch-based Loading Systems International group of companies, one of Europe's leading manufacturers of loading bay equipment, we are able to meet the requirements of the largest contract as well as those for smaller projects", he concluded.

Easilift Loading Systems provides everything necessary for the safe, efficient and profitable operation of loading bays. This includes dock levellers, shelters, seals, pods, industrial doors, high speed doors, vehicle restraints and lifting platforms, plus a wide range of accessories and safety aids, from dock plates, bumpers and wheel guides, to traffic lights and control systems.

It has an extensive customer list that's a roll call of some of the biggest names in UK manufacturing, retailing, logistics, distribution and the service sector and is one of Europe's foremost suppliers - with more than 60 per cent of orders representing repeat business from existing customers.

Further details of their market-leading loading bay equipment can be obtained from: Easilift Loading Systems Ltd, Spring Grove, Penistone Road, Kirkburton, Huddersfield, HD8 0PL. Tel: 0845 130 1920 (local rate). Fax: 01484 601401. Email: sales@easilift-loading-systems.co.uk Web: www.easilift-loading-systems.co.uk

Photo Caption:
Easilift's innovative pod system was chosen for Tesco's flagship environmental store in Wick, Scotland.

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ISSUED ON BEHALF OF:                
Easilift Loading Systems Ltd,                
Spring Grove,                                     
Penistone Road,                                 
Kirkburton,                                         
Huddersfield, HD8 0PL.                   
Tel: 01484 601400.                             
Fax: 01484 601401.                                   
Email: sales@easilift-loading-systems.co.uk                  
Web: www.easilift-loading-systems.co.uk
Contact: Phil Dinning, Managing Director,       
or Dave Whyatt, Sales Manager

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