Door Industry Journal - Summer 2013

Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk HÖRMANN INDUSTRIAL - MORE THAN JUST DOORS Hörmann industrial doors are part of a package of service and equipment that has made Hörmann a one-stop-shop for all loading bay needs. The integration of doors, dock levellers and vehicle control systems has created a more sophisticated package and the opportunity to offer a client more than just a door. The attention to detail for which Hörmann is renowned, has led to improvements in both products and designs with peripheral equipment developed to maximise operational and environmental efficiency. One of the latest projects, completed for Asda at Rochdale, incorporates a number of the latest developments that have been prompted by Asda’s desire, to continue to improve safety, efficiency and the store’s environmental footprint. At this new CDC and recycling centre, Hörmann has installed 140 loading bays. Each bay has been designed to handle both double and single deck semi-trailers. The increased use of industrial doors to partition buildings has also led to the development of twin door sets to help further reduce energy losses. This technique has been applied on both the freezer and chilled areas of this new warehouse. In the freezer area 32 ISO Speed Cold doors are fitted to the internal part of the freezer loading bays and a secondary external door on the exterior creating a lobby. This outer door is fitted to close in front of the dock leveller, preventing this acting as a thermal bridge. All the dock levellers on this site are fitted with telescopic lips for this purpose; however this also adds flexibility to the range of trailer heights that can be accommodated. In the ambient section of the building, three “indoor” enclosed-canopy level- access unloading areas for trailers are a new design feature, created using interlocked door systems. In each area, three Hörmann HS7030 high speed spiral doors lead from the chilled area whilst two insulated SPU sectional doors are fitted to the exterior. The interlock prevents internal and external doors being open at the same time, minimising thermal losses. Energy efficiency extends to the use of LED dock lights that have the added benefit of providing a better spread of light into trailers being unloaded. Additionally PIR sensors are fitted to ensure these lights are only activated when needed, another energy saving measure. While a number of features and design elements add to the overall efficiency of the site and reduce energy consumption, safety improvements have also been made. As with other Asda sites, each loading bay is equipped with wheel locks and a driver button that activates the loading door and bay controls, only when the driver confirms the vehicle is parked safely and securely in the correct position. This safety feature has been pioneered by Asda and Hörmann. Originally, the Asda control sequence was connected to the loading bay panel on site, however, the complete integrated package is now factory manufactured by Hörmann and is available as a standard option for all projects. In order to ensure that the benefits of the new designs are maximised, Hörmann is also contracted by Asda to supply a service and maintenance package. By keeping the equipment in prime condition, reliability, safety and longevity are improved, therefore adding to the savings by minimising downtime and reducing whole life costs. By providing the service cover, Hörmann is also adding to its own extensive knowledge and can feed data back to its new product development teams to help shape the designs of the future. Continual improvement has always been at the heart of business success. When it comes to sustainability the same principles apply, in that small incremental changes can add up to significant improvements over time. For logistics operations, whether it is buying more fuel efficient vehicles, insulating buildings or investing in staff training to prevent accidents and downtime, the combined impact can be significant. A whole myriad of elements can be examined and improved, with sustainability identified as an area that is both beneficial to the greater community and can deliver cost savings. Working to create more sustainable developments is a continuous process. Treating every project as a blank canvas is one of the techniques that has aided Hörmann’s quest for constant improvement and new product development. By this method there is scope to readily incorporate new ideas and technologies while working on product design and new solutions that not only meet needs but do this in a better, more efficient way. The latest project for Asda at Rochdale incorporates a number of improvements that have been prompted by a desire, from Asda, to continue to improve safety, efficiency and the store’s environmental footprint. At this new CDC and recycling centre, Hörmann has installed 140 loading bays. Each bay has been designed to handle both double and single deck semi-trailers. Another design constraint was to accommodate the Cheetah Fastback trailers on Asda’s 22 THE door industry journal summer 2013 industrial doors Unloading a trailer LED doc light and PIR