Let Transdek take the strain
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• TransDek, part of Lincoln Industries, has developed a moving and elevating loading platform for box vans or trailers used on parcels trunking.
The 1.0m-wide lifting floor spans a trailer deck like crossbars on twin rugby posts. It can be raised from floor level to stack parcels on top of each other or on to secondary deck sections.
Power for the lift comes from under-floor batteries on looped cables that follow the lift along the body; the remote-control unit can be magnetically secured to the upright A gearbox in the load platform, transmits the drive via cross-shafts to a sprocket arrangement in the side posts. Four drive cogs climb vertical chain sets simultaneously with idlers controlling the movement To move the lift into the trailer a button releases locking pins that locate along the running rails at each side and the lift is then pushed to the required position.
To load a trailer with packages the lift platform is taken to the front, closely followed by the parcels conveyor. As the stack of boxes rises the load platform is elevated until they are stacked as high as necessary The platform is then moved back to allow another pile to be formed. Once the trailer is filled and the platform is over the rear section, more parcels can be stacked over then under the lift.
Minimal stretching and handball loading is required: this kind of technology might reduce the 3.6 million working days lost to back injuries in 1990/1.
With a 50mm gap between sidewalls and lift columns there is no interference with any load locking or secondary deck bracketry. The TransDek loadlift weighs around 200kg including batteries. It can be tailored to suit any make of new rigid vehicle or trailer body with box van, curtainsider or tilt bodywork.
Building it into one of European Trailers' 13.6m boxvans with tandem TEC axles on Gigant air suspension costs some 120,000, but the system can be retrofitted for around £5,000.
The new TransDek will be built by RB International at its Lincoln site which also houses sister company European Trailers. More than £330,000 has been invested in the TransDek system, which carries world patents. Managing director Mark Adams believes it will attract the interest of many blue chip compaflies. He has designed a range of variations to handle compressed and loose foam blocks, beds,furniture, hanging garments, white goods and bicycle packs.
"There's no reason why a version should not be developed for rigid trucks used on local beer deliveries," he says.