Offering improved efficiency
The recent headlines about the major UK gas companies increasing their prices again this year serve as a reminder that the cost of all types of energy is going to continue to rise exponentially for the foreseeable future. For managers of factories and warehouses it’s important that they act now to reduce their energy consumption and protect their profits in the long term. ALEM members are aware of the pressures that companies are under and offer many different high quality products and services
One of the biggest concerns for many warehouse managers is the cost of temperature management. Heating a warehouse, or indeed keeping it cool in some situations, can be costly due to the vast space that needs to be managed and the inherent inefficiencies of loading and unloading. It’s important that the thermal insulation is maximised and that exposure to external temperatures is minimised. This can be achieved with intelligent specification of loading bay equipment during the design stages.
BREEAM is the environmental assessment method for buildings around the world. It sets the standard for best practice in sustainable design and has become the de facto measure used to describe a building’s environmental performance. As part of many companies’ commitment to green practice they are striving to achieve rating of Excellent or Outstanding. Our members are able to work with architects and contractors to help specify loading bay and lifting equipment which will improve the overall efficiency of a building.
Insulation technology has improved significantly over the last decade or so and now many new buildings will boast walls and ceilings which let very little warm air escape, reducing the heating costs for the building. Having invested heavily in good insulation materials it’s important that the doors don’t let the building down. A large warehouse or distribution centre may have upwards of 50 loading bays, if they aren’t insulated to the same standard as the rest of the building then the overall efficiency rating will be reduced.
Christopher Knollys, MD of ALEM member company sara LBS, explains: “Specially insulated panels for use on sectional overhead doors and loading docks are available and specified by us and other ALEM members. This ensures that as long as the door is closed, it is providing high levels of thermal insulation to complement the walls and ceiling. Using such products on its new warehouse in Milton Keynes has helped River Island achieve a BREEAM rating of ‘Excellent’ “
Intelligent specification of equipment can also help to reduce heat loss while the loading bay is operational, normally the time during which the building is at its most inefficient. A well designed loading bay with the correct dock seals can yield substantial savings. With a good seal around the vehicle less air can escape while loading and unloading time will also be reduced meaning that the doors will be open for a shorter space of time. Alternatively loading docks may be specified which are completely self contained from the rest of the building. This way docking, loading and unloading can take place with the warehouse doors shut, only opening them to transport the goods inside.
Of course reducing heating bills isn’t the only way that ALEM members can help warehouse managers to reduce energy costs. Our members are able to work as specification partners to understand the requirements of a building and recommend equipment which is suitable for the job in hand. This can lead to long term savings over the life of the equipment.
When specifying roller shutter doors the most efficient solution may be considered to be the lowest cost product that is still able to do the job. For many, fast opening speeds and smooth, silent operation are perceived to be expensive luxuries that aren’t strictly necessary. However, in a situation where the door is in frequent use it’s likely that the premium product will cost less over its total life span than the cheaper counterpart.
This is endorsed by Ed Wilks, ALEM President: “We recommend that customers consider the whole life cycle when making decisions on cost. Some slower doors can take upwards of 30 seconds to open or close, compared to high speed doors which can take less than 3 seconds. Systems can be incorporated in doors to maximise the efficiency of each cycle meaning that it takes less energy to open and shut. These can also make the opening movement far smoother which puts less strain on the curtain and reduces wear. With the reduced running and maintenance costs, high speed doors are often less expensive to run over the long term than cheaper, budget doors.”
Lifting equipment can also reduce energy costs by improving operational efficiency. ALEM members have reported that a regular complaint from end users is equipment such as scissor lifts that has been poorly specified by a company that didn’t understand their requirements and is therefore not able to support the required loads. This will then lead to additional lifts being required per load which not only increases energy use but can also increase the amount of time that loading bays are open and heat is being lost from the warehouse.
Regular maintenance is another way to ensure that all loading bay and lifting equipment is operating as efficiently as possible. During installation most suppliers will explain how often the equipment should be serviced and it is important that these schedules are met, for safety as well as efficiency. Many ALEM members are able to offer regular maintenance and service contracts, even on equipment they didn’t install, as well as emergency repairs all over the country.
Membership of ALEM is only open to companies who are able to prove a continuing commitment to meeting the relevant manufacturing, safety and efficiency standards of the industry. As such, our members are all able to offer expert advice on installation and maintenance questions and help to reduce the running costs of your site. Many offer onsite surveys to test the operating efficiency of a site and make recommendations on how things might be improved.
