Bespoke loading system

The semi-permanent system – comprising a ramp, platform and dock levellers, bolted to the ground outside its warehouse facility in Evesham – provides IDS with an alternative to a permanent loading dock, something that the company was unable to install due to operational restrictions.

"Installing a fixed dock within the warehouse was not an option due to the civil engineering work required,” explains Derek Simms, director at IDS Transport. "At the same time, it made long-term economic sense to find a solution that we can remove and relocate should we move to new premises in the future.”

Thorworld designed a solution specifically for IDS, comprising a ramp, large platform and two dock levellers, accessorised with all the appropriate safety aids such as handrails, anti-slip surfaces and dock bumpers. The system enables loads to be forklifted out of the warehouse, before being safely ramped to a waiting trailer, with the process reversed for deliveries. In addition, a hinged barrier with locking gas spring permits goods to be (un)loaded from ground level where required.