A collaboration between loading bay specialist Thorworld Industries and demountable industrial building supplier, HTS TENTIQ, has helped a materials manufacturing company to solve a considerable logistics challenge to support its new process, by combining loading platform and canopy.
The installation comprises two bespoke Thorworld loading platforms with ramp access, each surrounded by a HTS TENTIQ Industrial canopy, the first project to be completed since the two companies joined forces to offer customers a complete solution.
The need arose when the customer introduced a new process at one of its sites, which required the import of raw materials from overseas; likewise, once processed, the finished products were dispatched for the export market.
As the materials had to arrive by end-loaded container, the factory’s existing Goods In/Out set-up was unsuitable for taking delivery. Similarly, because the factory was on one level, there was no scope to introduce a typical loading bay.
The company therefore asked Thorworld about the possibility of using external platforms. Thorworld’s distributor Loading Bay Service (LBS) conducted a site survey and recommended two non-standard ramps / modular docks, for Goods In and Goods Out, respectively.
“This installation highlighted the flexibility of Thorworld’s design capabilities, because we had to use different configurations for the two platforms,” explained Warren Craig of LBS. “While the Goods In platform is L-shaped, the Goods Out was located in an area with less space, so had to be U-shaped to minimise its footprint.”
Each platform was fitted with a 3m long, 2.25m wide swing lip electro-hydraulic dock leveller, safety handrails, welded curbs, access steps, dock light and flared vehicle alignment curbs. Each ramp was a straight design to minimise the gradient, fitted with solid floor and bimagrip anti-slip coating throughout, to enable powered pallet truck access in all weather conditions.
Thorworld also supplied its solutions in charcoal grey, rather than the brand’s familiar red, to align with the colour scheme used by the customer across the site.
A crucial factor was to protect the high-value materials being loaded and unloaded, which could be impacted by adverse weather conditions.
Partnership enables combination of loading platform and canopy
This is where the partnership between Thorworld and HTS TENTIQ provided real value to the customer. Thorworld recommended HTS TENTIQ to design and install canopies; the two companies worked together to ensure a seamless fit around the platforms.
“The Goods In canopy provided a significant challenge due to the existing groundworks, which featured several manhole covers and warehouse access points,” said Kyle Lomas, Operations Director at HTS TENTIQ. “As a result, our canopy design needed to be a fully bespoke solution incorporating a number of non-standard bay sizes and an asymmetric 13.50m / 8.00m gable configuration. This enabled it to be installed around these obstacles.”
Both installations are now in place and providing the customer with a safe, efficient and seamless loading operation for its new manufacturing process.
“There were a lot of factors to consider, which required considerable ingenuity from all parties,” confirmed a customer spokesperson. “It is testament to the skill and support of Thorworld and HTS TENTIQ that we now have such a reliable and robust solution in place.”
