Gardiner Bros & Co (Gardiners) distributes footwear on behalf of some of the most well-known brands including Hush Puppies and Hunter. Dealing with more than 70,000 SKUs, operating 12-hours a day and getting busier month on month, Gardiners opened a new, purpose-built distribution centre to help manage its growth.

Dealing with so many SKUs and operating on two levels, Gardiners needed to ensure the process of loading and unloading pallet loads of goods was as efficient as possible so not to mix-up or mislay goods.

It was integral that the lift was robust and durable to cope with their long operating hours to avoid break-downs and unplanned downtime, all of which would negatively impact on their business and its reputation. 

After reviewing potential suppliers, Gardiners contacted Advanced Handling on the back of its years of experience designing, manufacturing and installing bespoke goods and mezzanine lifts into a multitude of industries, environments and operations.

The company visited Gardiners’ site and conducted a full audit to ensure the solution would meet their specification, was within budget and was compliant with health and safety regulations. 

Bespoke lift, bespoke features:

Advanced Handling designed the lift with a special double entry point at the lower level so goods could be pushed in as the load which had come down the lift is pulled out the opposite side; separating goods in and goods out, and increasing the 'working time' of the lift. They also ensured the lift was durable and robust by fully-enclosing the shaft. 

Other features to improve the user’s experience included built-in ramps to help loading and unloading and a bridge plate on floor one to protect users from the gap between the lift floor and the first floor.

During the design phase, Advanced Handling also identified a potential health and safety concern which it was able to resolve quickly with some additional features fitted as part of the final installation.

Gardiners’ new facility is now open and the company is busier than ever. The new goods lift was installed, tested and signed-off by the Advanced Handling and is now a major part of their operation.

Advanced Handling revisited the site as part of their after-sales service to speak to end-users to hear about what they think to the new member of their team.

The Gardiners team commented on how quiet the lift was during operation and George, an end-user exclaimed how he 'wouldn’t be without it', adding: “It is so much more efficient than a conveyor." 

Advanced Handling specialises in providing standard and bespoke lifting and handling equipment including goods and mezzanine lifts, scissor lift tables and lifting trolleys.