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09/04/2010
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Hovair air film technology, combined with new flooring has effectively doubled capacity at London & Cambridge Properties (LCP) warehouse at Burntwood, Staffordshire.
 The warehouse specialises in storing items up to 100 tonnes and is the only storage facility of its kind within a 100 mile radius.
Richard Allen, building surveyor for LCP, says that, with only a third of the warehouse accessible by the main 100 tonne capacity crane, demand was exceeding its supply capabilities.
"With only a third of the warehouse having the capacity for larger items, and another third being used for smaller storage, served by a smaller crane and forklift trucks, we were left with the final third to convert to storage for 85 tonne electric transformers," explains Allen.
"A potential solution, was to construct a rail system that would criss-cross the warehouse floor, which was not very practical and wasted valuable space. The air film solution, offered by Movetech UK, has proved to be the most practical and cost-effective solution by far – particularly as we have been able to keep the whole of the rest of the warehouse operational during installation."
Movetech UK engineers used their in-house Hovair technology to design and manufacture the air film transporter, with the requisite 100 tonne capacity. Allen says that, as a result, instead of a conventional wheeled solution, using hydraulic jacks and machinery skates, the air film enables complete flexibility.
Eight 40-inch high pressure air bearings have been incorporated into LCP's transporter, along with a central guide wheel and 100 tonne lifting beams.
The air bearings allow loads to be moved in any direction, while steering and propulsion are provided by an air powered tug, which also houses the transporter's controls.
Separately, Allen explains that LCP have had a series of stillages made to accommodate the transformers. So now, once the transformer is in position, the 100 tonne lifter beams pick the stillage and transformer off the floor and position them on the transporter before moving them to their allocated storage area.
A new compressed air system has also been installed for the air film equipment and, to optimise performance, a specialist floor has been laid by Sika UK.
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Author
Brian Tinham
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