Feature Loading Bays & Doors


Fast way to keep warm this winter A


One of the most important considerations during the cold months ahead is to minimise heat loss through frequent opening of doors. sara offers effective solutions to optimise insulation and help keep costs down


s we head into the winter months we should start thinking about keeping heating bills down. This is especially true for warehouse and factory managers who need to keep vast volumes of space at a suitable working temperature. sara LBS offers a solution with its Sprint range of high speed roller doors which minimise external exposure and help to improve overall insulation. With energy costs rising all the time the costs of heating warehouses, factories and other industrial spaces are also increasing.


In order to keep energy consump- tion down it is vital that thermal insu- lation is maximised. One of the most important considerations in achieving this is to consider the door system that is used, especially in busy warehouses as each time the door opens heat will quickly escape.


Extra insulation Specifying high quality, high speed roller doors can generate double the savings when it comes to maintaining the temperature of an industrial area. Not only can the doors drastically reduce the amount of time that a room is exposed to the external temperature thanks to their speed, good quality doors will include well insulated cur-


tains which add protection when the doors are shut. It has been estimated that the warehouse sector in the UK could reduce its energy costs by as much as 16% through investing in technologies such as high speed roller doors that improve insulation. The Sprint range is said to offer the fastest opening speeds of any high speed roller doors on the UK market


Good quality doors will include well insulated curtains which add


protection when the doors are shut


with a maximum speed of 2.5 m/s. Both internal and external doors are available with a range of curtain mate- rial choices which makes them suit- able for almost any application. The doors feature sara’s patented MCC vector control which ensures a smooth operation and reduces wear on the door for long lasting reliability. A non-contact safety beam is avail- able from sara LBS which travels ahead of the door’s bottom rail, provid- ing a ‘no touch’ safety system which stops the door closing on any obstruc- tions or personnel.


Innovative insulating slats Of particular interest to end users who are keen to improve thermal insulation and protect from external environ- ments is the Sprint 3000 ISO. The door is optimised for energy efficiency through the use of innova- tive insulating slats for the curtain in addition to double-glazed visibility windows. The curtain features alu- minium profiles which helps protect against break-ins and is wind resistant to EN 12424, class 3-4 which will pro- tect against hurricane force winds.


sara Loading Bay Specialists T: +44 (0)1442 245577 www.saralbs.co.uk


Your wish list for 2014: loading bay efficiency, speed and safety


ith the year nearly over, Thorworld Industries has made its suggestions for what companies need to ask Santa for in order to enhance the efficiency and safety of their loading bays. It’s the time of the year when many companies


W


are assessing their annual performance and prepar- ing forecasts and budgets. According to Thorworld Industries there is no better time to take a look at the effectiveness of the loading and unloading operation in order to determine what equipment a company needs to improve functionality. “Just as children are busy writing letters to


Santa, warehouse managers and H&S professionals are lobbying their managing directors and financial controllers for the funds to enhance operational efficiency,” explains managing director John Meale. “The difference is, Santa only has to worry about keeping kids happy for one morning every year; in business, making the right decision can affect performance for the whole year and beyond.” As a one-stop supplier of loading bay equipment and accessories, Thorworld Industries is well placed to advise companies on what they need to add to


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their Christmas list. The key drivers, according to Meale are efficiency, speed and health & safety: “Should any of these elements prove not up to scratch it’s time to consider looking at the available options. Doing nothing is a false economy if it leads to excessive downtime, poor throughput or creates hazards for warehouse operators and other employees. We’ve seen too many companies whose ‘make do’ attitude has quickly unravelled when an unanticipated setback has caused bottlenecks to their ability to take deliveries or supply customers.” Crucially, this need not be an expensive process; well-chosen low cost accessories can make a size-


able impact on solving problems and providing long- term benefits. Many items are multi-functional with cost benefits far exceeding the initial outlay. “For example, putting a seal or shelter over a load- ing bay can protect employees from the elements – reducing the likelihood that they’ll need to take time off due to sickness – but will also help to maintain a consistent temperature within the warehouse for reduced heating or cooling bills.” Ideally, the Christmas list should be topped off with the industrial equivalent of stocking fillers: items often overlooked but which should be regarded as essential. “You may never notice the long-term cost savings that can be achieved by deploying simple, inexpensive safety aids such as signage and traffic lights or restraint products such as alignment curbs or dock bumpers,” explains Meale. “Yet all it takes is a single accident before the company discovers the cost of NOT having these elements in place.”


Thorworld Industries T: +44 (0)1246 260981 www.thorworld.co.uk


NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 Materials Handling & Logistics


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