Gebhardt’s latest two contract successes involve the design and installation of various goods lifts to household names – LIDL and Harrods.

The flexibility, cost savings and extended-hours use and reliability that goods lift provide – when compared to the use of alternatives such as fork lift trucks – are proving to be compelling reasons for many high street retailers and their distribution organisations to make the move to lifts for their materials handling operations.

Many distribution centres feature multi-level mezzanine floors (which Gebhardt also design and install) and the installation of a bank of goods lifts for pallet, trolley and carton movement is an ideal way to reduce labour costs, machinery maintenance and life costs, plus improve site safety, product damage, personnel access and the control of equipment down-time.

The Conver 147 model is becoming very much more popular as clients recognise the advantages of being able to send an individual trained operative up and down in the lifts with their goods – making for quicker throughput and happier staff – as stair-climbing is greatly reduced as well.