Matalan Reduce Manual Handling with 7000 Flexi

A busy Matalan retail store at Junction 1 Retail Park, Rugby, was having issues with manual handling and inefficient movement of goods in the back of house storage and staff areas. They required:

• Quick installation
• Quiet and efficient system
• Minimal training required
• Able to carry goods and heavier loads
• Attendant with goods possible

Daneka Entwistle, team leader at the store, said:

“We needed something to reduce manual handling –
important for the health and safety of our staff”

We suggested an Aritco 7000 Flexi, our most versatile lift which has additional features for use with goods and people, saving money over a full goods lift with attendant.

1. Curbed platform edge
2. Lowered safety edge around control panel
3. ‘Call and send’ function
4. Higher load capacity

We suggested a small pit (making the lift flush to the floor) instead of a ramp to make wheeled goods easier to load. Daneka commented:

“The curb has stopped any damage to the
lift shaft – it’s bulletproof!”

One deciding factor was that the top of a Gartec lift did not need to be connected to the ceiling – this was just spongy tiles on a frame, offering no support. The low noise levels were also important to prevent disturbing customers.

As the area available for the lift was mostly white, we suggested matching this with RAL 9003 (Traffic White), instead of a red and grey design which was considered.

As a back of house lift, disturbance was less of an issue – getting the lift installed quickly was more important to prevent injury to staff undertaking manual handling.

Following a site survey, a space was identified which would bring the lift out at the top of the stairwell – ideal for access.

Daneka said:

“The lift takes up very little space and makes it easy
to move all sorts of things between floors”

Gartec installed the lift in 3 days without any trouble, working around deliveries to the store.

The 7000 Flexi is neatly tucked away and has provided much needed relief for staff carrying boxes up the stairs, improving efficiency in the store rooms and opening previously unused areas for storage.

Daneka commented:

“We love how simple and easy it makes
things, improving efficiency in store”

With a quick handover to explain how to use the lift, the staff were away – no long training sessions required.

Gartec continue to service the lift and provide LOLER certificates for Matalan, and have installed lifts at many Matalan outlets nationwide.