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Combi-WR keeps the fridge stocked for JDM Food Group

18 April 2016

Since JDM Food Group was established in 2000 it has experienced substantial growth and has had to increase factory space year on year after moving to its current site in Bicker, Lincolnshire in 2010.

As production expands, so does the need for storage space, and in JDM’s case there is the added requirement to make optimum use of every inch of the relatively expensive cold storage facilities. This has been achieved by using a Combi-WR pedestrian reach stacker from the Irish specialist manufacturer Combilift.  

JDM Food Group Ltd began as a supplier of bespoke ingredients to the food manufacturing sector and supplies such as garlic, roasted vegetables, sauces and dressings to restaurant chains and pubs. Its freezer store houses standard pallets and europallets containing a variety of raw and finished products which need to be easily put away and accessed, which is where the compact and manoeuvrable Combi-WR comes into its own in temperatures of minus 18°. 

“We built the new freezer a couple of years ago,” said Logistics Manager Mark Cooley, “and the  articulated truck we had been using was not up to working efficiently in this environment – both from the point of view of the low temperatures and the very tight spaces. We chose the Combi-WR as it offered a number of advantages over a ride-on model in our particular circumstances.” 

The easy and straightforward operation of the Combi-WR was a major attraction according to Mark: “Compared to training with conventional forklifts it is quicker, cheaper and more straightforward and 3 or 4 operatives can be proficiently trained in one day. A pedestrian truck is also beneficial from a safety point of view when there are a number of other personnel in and around its vicinity.”

Extreme changes in temperature put great demands on any piece of equipment but the very robust build of the Combi-WR and cold store specific features such as 32 grade wax free oil and a Vulkollan Tractothan rear drive wheel (which offers excellent grip) allow it to move pallets between the warmer drop off area into the freezer and out again with no adverse effects such as condensation build up.  

Mark Cooley: “As we have just the one truck for this application, reliability is crucial and when we need it, nothing else will do. The Combi-WR is a dependable no compromise machine that offers us the versatility to handle anything we need to – even buckets of purees that require very stable transportation – which is when its smooth lift is very advantageous.  I can’t think of anything that would be as versatile and easy to use in our very narrow aisle operations.”

 
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