Boosting efficiency with a loading bay lift

A homewares firm that imported items in shipping containers required an alternate unloading technique. Our approach resulted in a safer work environment, including improved manual handling and the elimination of the risk of falling from a height.

The challenge

When unloading, operators used a movable step system and an empty pallet on a forklift truck. In the country of origin s hipping containers are frequently packed with merchandise within a few centimetres of the doors, making it difficult to begin unloading, especially on buildings without a raised dock.

The solution

A loading bay with a bridge plate

We created a locking mechanism for the bridge plate so that it could be supported without falling into the container. This allows the operators to take the first few items and stack them on a pallet on the lift. When there is enough room, the vehicle repositions itself on the buffers, and the unloading process is resumed by taking pallets from the container.

The results

Better safety and hightened productivity

Up to six complete pallets may now be loaded onto the lift, which subsequently descends to the warehouse floor for retrieval by a pallet truck. The operators are protected from falling from a height by interlocking flex gates above the bridge plate.

“ By having two employees, we were able to reduce the unloading time of each container by approximately half. Previously, our work system needed 3-4 operators.

In addition, our accident rate has been greatly lowered.”

Operations Manager, Coopers of Stortford.