CPD Logistics took delivery of two Flexi trucks from Narrow Aisle to service its toy warehouse, which had been converted to a very narrow aisle system.
In April 2003, CPD Logistics took delivery of a further two Flexi's to add to its existing fleet. This rapidly expanding company specialises in third-party distribution in three main market sectors: toys, pharmaceutical products and automotive components. It has a total of 500,000ft2 of storage space across its three sites in Warwickshire, with the Flexi's based at the toy distribution sites in Wellesbourne and Long Marston.
The company currently stores and distributes around GBP180 million of leading toy brands every year to retailers such as Argos, TRU and Woolworths.
Goods are delivered from the manufacturers direct to the warehouse, stored and distributed on a 'just in time' basis to retailers throughout the UK.
Expansion CPD Logistics took delivery of its first two Flexi's in early 2002, after taking the decision to increase the capacity of its original toy warehouse rather than expand onto multiple sites.
'We decided to convert the building to a VNA (Very Narrow Aisle) system with two Flexi's unloading vehicles and servicing the aisles.
This enables us to increase the pallet capacity by 10 percent to 40,000 pallets.
Operating from one site has also delivered cost and efficiency benefits,' says operations director, Nash Patel.
Throughout 2002-3, the toy business continued to expand with the result that CPD is now the UK's leading independent distributor in its sector.
In spring 2003, the company took delivery of two more Flexi's to service a new warehouse, with a capacity of 80,000ft2.
The Flexi is able to maximise warehouse space and efficiency because of its articulated design that allows it to operate in aisles as narrow as 1750 mm, depending on pallet size.
This feature alone can deliver an improvement in storage density of up to 15 percent compared with a conventional reach truck - just by cutting out the extra space a reach truck needs to turn into the racking.
CPD Logistics also uses the Flexi's to offload delivery vehicles arriving at its warehouse loading bays.
Like many Flexi customers, the company has found this facility to be a major bonus as it helps to eliminate double handling.
As well as working within the warehouse, the Flexi's enhanced cushion rubber tyres mean it can work efficiently outside in the loading area or in a warehouse with an uneven floor surface.
In the past, companies had no alternative but to operate a two truck system - with a counterbalance working outside, feeding a warehouse truck inside.
This expensive, inefficient arrangement can be eliminated with the Flexi, which loads and unloads lorries with ease, delivering pallets directly into the racking in a single operation.
Impressed However, it is the all-round package on offer from Narrow Aisle that particularly influenced the distributor.
'We went to see the Flexi in operation at Narrow Aisle's Birmingham base and were impressed with what we saw and heard,' says Nash Patel.
CPD took advantage of the RTITB training courses run by Narrow Aisle to ensure its forklift driver team was fully trained to operate the Flexi.
One driver is also qualified as an instructor which means new drivers can be trained on site.
Nash Patel says: 'We looked at the complete picture when choosing our supplier, including cost, ease of use, reliability and after sales service provision.
The just-in-time operation we provide means the trucks are in operation continually so reliability and service is crucial - we can't afford to have unplanned downtime.
I have to say, the service we have received from Narrow Aisle has been excellent.
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