HGV Access Revolve Speeds Up Deliveries

British Turntable Co. has designed and installed the heavy goods vehicle access revolve that is streamlining loading and unloading procedures at Marks and Spencer store in Fenchurch Street, London.

The 9 metre diameter, 28 tonne capacity turntable was commissioned by HBG Construction to make efficient use of the confined basement delivery area at this prime city centre location.

In this instance, the turntable and two service lifts allow safe vehicle access and despatch to tenants without the need for vehicles to undertake multi-point turning procedures or difficult reversing manoeuvres in the restricted loading bay areas.

Safety in the area was considered of paramount importance.

Detector beams have been fitted near the service lifts to ensure that vehicles entering the delivery area via the lifts are detected and do not therefore compromise vehicles already using the turntable.

In addition, safety beams are installed close to the revolve to ensure that the turntable stops when the beam is broken should a vehicle overhang the maximum safety clearance area or if there is an obstruction.

Operated by British Turntable trained personnel using a wall-mounted control box, an encoder ensures exact positioning: the turntable is aligned with the loading bays at four pre-set angles, thus hastening the unloading process.

The revolve therefore allows just-in-time deliveries through a quick and safe unloading procedure.

The HGV access revolve is typical of British Turntable's work in this field, which, among others, has included a 15 metre diameter unit for Waitrose in Surbiton and a 6 metre unit for John Lewis in Edinburgh.

Built to the customer's specification from a standard design, the time from order to installation can be relatively short, a typical design and delivery schedule being around 12 weeks.

The company has also recently bought Hovair Systems to enhance its offering in air film technology, which is frequently used for this type of application.

Other organisations to take advantage of British Turntable's expertise in designing and installing large capacity revolves, both mechanical and air film units, include several Crown Courts, where the turntable allows the exit doors of the police or prison vehicle to be positioned accurately adjacent to the entrance to the courts, thereby making the delivery of prisoners to the courts quicker and more secure.

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