Never afraid to use a good pun when we get the chance we can report that the amount of mechanised handling equipment used in garden centres up and down the UK is 'growing' fast.
It's true. As we spend more and more on our flowerbeds and patios, so the diversity and volume of product these centres are required to lift and shift increases. Major groups are expanding rapidly to add to this 'organic' growth and you have a recipe for bulk handling on a scale equal to that of many industries commonly associated with volume handling and distribution.
A quick glance at the recent sales records of Stanley Handling proves the point - ROBUR K9 Powered Pallet Trucks to Aylett Nurseries to handle palletised peat, bark, landscaping products etc; a reconditioned Still R50 and a BT Rolatruc to Staples Garden Centre, destined for bulk furniture handling; a reconditioned ROBUR B69E Powered Stacker to Welwyn-based Bypass Nurseries; not to mention ROBUR K9 and BLV 2500 Powered Pallet Trucks used extensively by a team of 20 gardeners in the nurseries at The Royal Botanical Gardens as Kew. The latter were featured in one of the relatively rare 'behind the scenes' insights on TV earlier this year into what makes such horticultural establishments tick.
Add to this racking, shelving and other equipment for the diverse range of point of sale locations and you have a varied combination.
Health & Safety
A key to the intensity of the handling pattern and to the robust nature of the loads being handled can be gleaned from the fact that what is being purchased is almost exclusively powered! Individual loads of compost, soil, aggregates and furniture can weigh anything up to a tonne - with many operations completed under the public gaze and all within the requirements of modern Health and Safety legislation.
Not surprising, then, is the fact that the ROBUR K9 series of Powered Pallet Trucks, and their predecessors the BLV range, are popular choices for everyday handling. Robust, easy to use with electronic stepless acceleration and deceleration plus extensive safety features, these trucks can be supplied with capacities up to 4000kg.
Value for money
Despite the phenomenal growth of this market in recent years and the collective wealth this has created, the individual outlets are not slow in seeking out bargains. A significant proportion of Stanley sales into the market, particularly at the heavier end for stackers and forklifts, have been for 'second life' machines following reconditioning and refurbishment. Such sales carry substantial guarantees and are supported by extensive workshop and field service facilities. Operator training plus contract service schemes have been a speciality for Stanley Handling for over fifty years.
The ROBUR range of safety handling equipment suitable for this wide market include Hand Pallet Trucks with capacities to 3000kg, Powered Pallet Trucks to 4000kg, Manual Stackers to 1200kg, Battery Lift Stackers to 1200kg; Powered Stackers to 3000kg and Counterbalanced Stackers with capacities from 600 to 1500kg.
For more information, please contact :
Mark Stanley at mark@stanleyhandling.co.uk or tel 01582 767711 fax 01582 765994