Door Industry Journal - Summer 2015

Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk industrial doors feature 42 THE door industry journal summer 2015 Hörmann Increases Loading Bay Flexibility for New TJ Morris Site British discount chain TJ Morris (aka Home Bargains) is the second largest independent grocer in the UK with over 370 stores. Rapid business growth has resulted in the need for larger warehouses, and with exciting expansion plans for the next few years, the company plans to grow its store portfolio to an impressive 700 outlets. The retailer therefore enlisted the expertise of construction specialist Bowmer & Kirkland and industrial door and loading bay manufacturer Hörmann to develop its new £12m regional distribution centre in Liverpool last year. The 200,000 sq.ft unit is located opposite TJ Morris’s existing high bay warehouse facility. The design features 21 loading bays, complete with dock levellers, shelters, bumpers, traffic lights and wheel guides. With the potential to service up to 700 stores in the next few years, the new Liverpool warehouse and distribution centre’s loading bays needed to be able to withstand frequent, day-to-day use from a variety of vehicles, lift trucks and other materials handling equipment. As TJ Morris’s fleet encompasses lorries with different loading heights, a solution with hydraulic dock levellers was the best choice, as lorry tail lifts can be moved underneath the dock levellers, which is also useful for the loading of heavy goods. Hörmann’s HTL 2 telescopic lip dock leveller allows the retailer’s pallets to be situated at the end of the vehicle’s loading surface, thus providing a better use of loading space. The telescopic lip can be extended and retracted in a targeted manner via separate control buttons, and can be easily controlled on the loading surface. Another clever way TJ Morris manages multiple vehicles is by using Hörmann’s longer dock shelters with inflatable heads. These adjust to a lorry’s size and create a seal around the trailer, irrespective of size, so they can be customised to most situations. High-quality top and side flaps are mounted on a galvanized, compressible steel frame, which results in a stable, flexible and robust construction. The scissor arm design ensures a higher degree of pre- tensioning, as the springs are pressed in parallel, which helps to increase the pressure of the cladding after the loading process. As well as providing increased insulation, these types of dock shelters minimise rainwater run-off in adverse weather conditions, helping to reduce any slip hazards. TJ Morris has also opted for three specific dock shelters that utilise Hörmann’s DOBO system. The solution allows trucks to dock on a