Feature Materials handling What to look for in a goods lift


There are many reasons for installing a goods lift in a factory, warehouse or retail outlet. For some it is a matter of health and safety to avoid manual handling or carrying items up stairs. For others the aim is to open up previously inaccessible space on a first floor or mezzanine that can then be used for more efficient storage or additional sales space. Once the decision to install a lift has been made, the choice of equipment remains and there are a number of important considerations to take into account


ne of the most popular choices is a standard goods lift. These are often based on the same designs as passenger lifts which are then expected to accommo- date pallets and other industrial loads. Lifts like this are versatile, especially for heavy loads, multi-floor or high lift applications, but there are drawbacks. The initial investment can be high because of the structural changes that may be required in the building in addition to the capital costs of the equipment itself. Most standard goods lifts will require a floor pit to be dug out to accommodate essential parts of the mechanism and to allow the plat- form to recede and allow level access. Another potential issue with a stan- dard goods lift is safety certification and compliance. The typical size of these lifts and the way they are used often means they are capable of, and often used for, carrying people at the same time as the load. This means the lift must be inspected and tested more frequently and to a much higher stan- dard than other types of lift. Scissor lifts are another popular choice. This design is suitable for han- dling heavy loads between two floors


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but has its drawbacks. Most scissor lifts also require the excavation of a lift pit. Some may require certification for people carrying depending on how they are used. From an application point of view there may be some serious limitations. The way the mech- anism operates means, in general, this type of lift can only be used for handling items through a relatively short vertical distance without the legs becoming unduly long or the arrange- ment of components overly complex. Longer legs inevitably mean larger platforms which is often impractical and costly. This means the scissor lift is usually only good for handling items between two adjacent floors. If a second or third floor is added, an extra scissor lift may be required on each. With both standard goods and scissor lifts the complexity of the machinery can lead to unreliability. It adds to the maintenance burden and associated costs. So what is the alternative? Many companies are turning to sim- pler goods lifts such as Penny Hydraulics’ Mezz Lift. Robust and built solely for industrial applications, this does not require a floor pit because it has a relatively thin platform. This


Penny Hydraulics Mezz Lift does not require a floor pit to be dug out as it has a relatively thin platform which allows easy access and its hydraulic control equipment is typically


mounted on the side of the installation


allows easier access and its hydraulic control equipment is typically mounted to the side of the installation. One of the principal limitations of other types of goods lift is avoided which means it can, if required, be relocated more easily and with little or no work to the building infrastructure. The Mezz Lift can also be installed out- side the building.


From an application perspective the Mezz Lift allows users to match the configuration closely to the job in hand. They can be supplied with bespoke platforms, perhaps to fit through an existing opening in a floor or in a purpose-built self contained shaft. A variety of standard designs are available to meet customers’ individ- ual requirements. There are few restrictions on lifting height which means it can be installed, or extended, for multi-floor applications. The maxi- mum working load is generally in the 250-500kg class which covers most loads encountered.


Integrated solution delivers stock check accuracy L


uxury soft toy company Jellycat is benefiting from seamless integration between its SAP business software and its Accellos warehouse management system (WMS) from Balloon One. The wireless WMS eliminates duplicated data and paper documentation and enables accurate stock management. The solution gives full visibility of information across the business and has reduced administration time significantly, enabling Jellycat to recoup the system cost within one year. “Accellos has significantly reduced the time spent on back office administrative duties and has improved efficiency in warehouse operations. We have been able to re-assign staff from administrative to revenue generating functions, which has reduced the need to bring in agency staff during the busy seasonal peaks. These savings have easily justified the capital expenditure within the first year,” says Danny Olive, finance director, Jellycat. “Balloon One took the time to carefully assess our particular requirements,


resulting in a system that was customised to meet our needs. The team also provided carefully planned end user training. This meant we were able to see the benefits of the system immediately from day one,” he adds. The WMS uses Motorola radio frequency handheld computers with integrated bar- code scanners. These enable fast and accurate receipt and placement of incoming goods and provide rapid error-free order picking, which speeds up order fulfillment. Balloon One T: 0844 884 3033


www.balloonone.com Materials Handling & Logistics JULY/AUGUST 2011 Enter 358


Robust construction and simple design are said to combine to promote reliability and ease of use. Training is said to be straightforward and mainte- nance issues are kept to a minimum. An advantage of a lift like the Mezz Lift is it does not require the same level of safety certification as people- carrying lifts. Like other lifting equip- ment, it is covered by the LOLER and PUWER regulations, meaning it must have a statutory thorough inspection at least once a year. These regulations are are not as onerous as those cover- ing lifts designed for people carrying. Taking into account the pros and cons of different goods lifts, matching equipment to application requirement helps narrow down the options so a practical, affordable solution is found. Penny Hydraulics


T: 01246 811475 www.pennyhydraulics.com Enter 357 S13


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