Door Industry Journal - Summer 2020

Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk 82 THE door industry journal summer 2020 Industrial Doors & Shutters Loading Bays: Looking to the Future The design of warehouses and the specification of the loading technologies installed throughout them continues to evolve to support supply chain operators in successfully meeting the ever-changing demands placed on the logistics sector. With the current climate presenting the industry with one of its toughest challenges to date, Phil Thorpe, Senior Product Manager at Hörmann UK at Hörmann UK, shares his insight into the latest innovations being developed and the importance of regular servicing to not only ensure the highest standards of safety and security, but minimise potential downtime. Latest research by the Office of National Statistics discovered online sales reached a record high of 22.3% in the UK throughout March 2020, as consumers purchasing habits shifted online due to the lockdown enforced by the government in response to the Coronavirus pandemic. As the internet continues to take a larger share of the retail sector, supply chain operators are not only having to facilitate the successful transition of their traditional intake of orders, but also assist with ‘last mile’ deliveries. The increasing pressure to ensure the delivery of all types and sizes of products is creating additional issues relating to the nature of warehouse design. Potential occupiers require multi-faceted warehousing hubs that incorporate a diverse offering of technologies to help them not only meet the consumer demand of today, but the expectations of the future. Historically, swing lip dock levellers were commonplace in warehouses, as only larger fleets were catered for. However, in today’s fast-paced e-commerce environment, landlords, together with end users, are looking to specify new technologies to streamline processes and improve operational output.