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Parcelforce goes for double

28th january 1993
Page 17
Page 17, 28th january 1993 — Parcelforce goes for double
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EXCLUSIVE • Tidd Trailers has teamed up with the Post Office's Parcelforce division to develop a 4.2m highcube semi-trailer with elevating second deck, specifically for parcels trunking.

Using tandem RO-R air suspended axles with a 165mm ride height and running on 245/70R 19.5in tyres, the prototype tares out at 10,260kg (production versions will be lighter) and is ready to work at more than 32 tonnes GCW.

Parcelforce,which has a number of fixed second-deck trailers in its fleet, s evaluating Tidd's new trailer on its Scottish operation, runnffig between its Glasgow hub and Aberdeen or Inverness. "ft's a new concept for us," says transport manager Ken Mabbutt, "and seems very userfriendly" The 13m Parcelpak steppedneck design offers 57m2 of deck space, standing headroom for loading both decks and a body system that is compatible with most hub depot loading conveyors.

With projected EC and UK legislation (Directive 90/269/EEO covering the manual handling of goods, conveyors are likely to become more common for loose loading. Hector Tidd believes the insurance companies will make it work because they are being eaten alive by industrial injury claims.

Many larger companies such as Parcelforce are switched on, he says, "but there are others who will no longer be able to compensate for rudimentary equipment or manhandling. They will be forced to specialise."

Tidd's comments follow an 18month rebuild programme for the 112-year-old trailer manufacturer, which turned a £350,000 loss into a £150,000 operating profit.

The Parcelpak's raising deck is built in the form of a full-length 2.1m-wide tray with 1,200mmhigh aluminium sides and a hinged bridge-plate/end flap.

To load parcels into the trailer the elevating deck is lowered on four vertical hydraulic rams to a step-neck height of 835nun. A flow divider ensures that the rams extend and retract simultaneously to keep the floor level. In this position loaders have 2.85m of headroom.

Parcels are stacked to the height of the sides with infra-red devices warning of any protrusions above it before lifting the deck to its raised position.

This leaves 228m of headroom for loading parcels on the lower floor; the neck section has enough headroom to accept parcels up to a metre high.

The Parcelpak's 24V power pack is housed in a slim cabinet ahead of the trailer landing gear. Using wanderlead controls the full vertical movement takes about 30 seconds—Tidd designed the floor to rise steadily, rather than too quickly, for safety reasons.

Hydraulic safety is assured by spring-loaded shoot bolts at each ram position which lock the deck in place mechanically in intermediate 100mm stages and when fully raised.

Twenty years ago Tidd pioneered the use of GRP-faced plywood panels: the Parcelpak stays faithful to that concept. The 3.84m-sidewalls are believed to be the deepest ever cut from single panels.

The 23mm Eurokit panels give immense rigidity to the body structure, which is contained within a cantrail/rave/corner post framework with steel-faced fullheight rear doors.


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