Independent third party logistics
(3PL) service operator, Bowker,
provides a range of contract
distribution and dedicated and shared
user warehousing services from three
strategically located facilities at
Preston, Leyland and Hull. The
company has a diverse client base and
stores and distributes anything from
hazardous chemicals to foodstuffs.

After taking the decision to reevaluate
materials handling
operations across all three sites, the
company has introduced a fleet of 12
Flexi articulated forklift trucks from
Narrow Aisle. Five Flexis are in
service at both the Leyland and
Preston facilities, with a further two
trucks working at the Hull site.

Throughout its business Bowker
has standardised on narrow aisle
widths with some block stacking
capacity at each of its facilities.

Although the Flexis can operate in
aisles as narrow 1.8m wide, Bowker
chose to set the aisle widths at 2.0m
because it was felt that the extra space
would allow the most efficient speed
of throughput.