Cold Link Africa VOL. 01 - No.01 | September / October 2015 | Page 27

FEATURE
INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN

Tail lifts can add to productivity in logistics chain
By: John Ackermann – editor
#TailLifts

More and more goods vehicles are being fitted with tail lifts to improve
productivity at loading and offloading

L

ogistics service companies report that
many clients now request vehicles
with tail lifts to avoid having an
expensive fork lift at loading or unloading.
In the supermarket sector, between display
counters (DC) and stores, it is now common
practice for interlocking plastic trays to
be stacked on pallets with wheels, (roll
tainers). Offloading at stores and more so at
convenience stores, is more efficient when
tail lifts are used.
Although there are many products on
the market, Dhollandia tail lifts in particular
have been receiving very good publicity
lately, ranking in the top two in the world
when it comes to design. Their product
shows just how quickly the market is
advancing and the various benefits the
supermarket sector can now enjoy with
regards to efficiency.
“Tail lifts offer total independence
and save time,” explained Pol Derie,
commercial export director of Dhollandia
who recently visited GEA in Cape Town. In
Southern Africa, Dhollandia tail lifts are sold,
installed and serviced by GEA Refrigeration
Africa. “With a tail lift the vehicle can be
loaded and unloaded virtually anywhere
and requires the least amount of labour.
The loading and unloading is done in the
shortest time and minimises breaks in the
cold chain. There is also less chance of
damage to product and harm to staff or
back injuries. In Europe, the use of tail lifts is
expanding at a rapid pace, because of the
very reasons mentioned.”
“We are proud to have represented
Dhollandia since 1999, who are leaders in
the field of tail lift design and technology,”
said Francois van der Westhuizen, national
sales manager, GEA Refrigeration Africa.

Cantilever tail lift for all types of goods vehicles.

“The brand is a quality product which has
captured 30% of the world market. Further
evidence of their engineering capacity is
their ability to respond to the specific needs
of a client. In a matter of only three weeks
Dhollandia were able to design a new tail
lift for the specific needs of a South African
operator. Reliability and quality of product
has given Dhollandia a leading edge in the
supply of tail lifts.”
Advanced design options
The design features of Dhollandia tail lifts,
aimed to minimise damage from abuse
at loading docks, for extended life and
maximum operator safety, include:
• KTL epoxy primed frame with powder
coating; or
• Hot-dip zinc plated or galvanised
frame.
• Operator toggle switch with 1P.67
rating.
• Robust battery guard.
• Limit switches for safety.
• Cycle counter to assist in preventative
maintenance.
• Choice of ergonomic and easy-to-use
control boxes.
• Accredited with compliance with the
European Manufacturing Directive.
Operators have a choice of weight-saving
aluminium or heavy-duty steel platforms.
The unique mounting solution for trailers has
shortened the time for installing Dhollandia
tail lifts on trailers.
After each installation, GEA Refrigeration
Africa provides a lifting mass certificate
and a Lifting Machinery Inspector (LMI)
certification, which is issued by an
independent inspection authority.

The tuck away tail lift has become
popular in South Africa

Depending on usage, tail lifts require a
service on average three times per annum
and can be done at any of the eleven
branches of GEA Refrigeration Africa in
South Africa and neighbouring states.

About Dhollandia
In 1971, Dhollandia, based in Belgium,
manufactured their first tail lift and
annual production has since expanded
to an average of 50 000 units.
Approximately 90% of all components
are manufactured in house at one of the
five plants in Europe and a sixth in Brazil.
The wide range of Dhollandia tail
lifts offers different configurations with
lift capacities from 150-10 000kg. The
range includes cantilever, slider lifts,
tuck away (fold-away) lifts, column lifts
and passenger lifts. The range caters
for the smallest of run about vehicles
doing small drops in cities to the largest

Tail lift adapted for remote loading docks which are ideal for
cross docking.

Robust remote
toggle switch
adds to
operator safety

of rigid distribution vehicles or trailers.
Dhollandia also manufactures a range
of hydraulic ramps with capacities
up to 32 tonnes for large trailers.
Approximately 60% of production is
for the European market and 40% sold
in Asian-Pacific region, Middle-East &
Africa, North and South-America. CLA

Built-in counter of lift operations to assist in planning of
preventative maintenance.

COLD LINK AFRICA • September | October 2015 www.coldlinkafrica.co.za

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