Movetech UK (British Turntable Co Limited) have worked closely with the management teams at one of the UK’s leading retailers, Marks & Spencer, to design, manufacture and install a bespoke 12-metre diameter vehicle access turntable, sited at their prime city centre store in Chester, England.
The 44-tonne capacity turntable, which is used to rotate decoupled articulated trucks up to 16.5-metres long at a speed of 0.5rpm, has been installed in the stores service yard, and has continued to prove to be a great asset to the business.
The new turntable, is in fact a direct replacement, with the original turntable being installed in May 1990 by Movetech UK, then British Turntable Co Limited, with the new contract being agreed to replace the unit after the results of a recent inspection showed the turntable was no longer serviceable.
The stores service yard, where the turntable is located and where deliveries take place, can only be accessed from a small busy one-way street, and strict local restrictions permit vehicles to enter and exit the street in a forward direction only. Therefore, the vehicle access turntable is a vital piece of equipment to the store, and is not only key to assisting with the store’s busy delivery schedule, but also helps adhere to the local council’s stringent traffic safety rules.
After 32 years of use the turntable had most definitely surpassed its design-life requirements, exceeding expectations for many years. The new more modern and efficient unit also allowed for a new and improved, better equipped, control system, and in addition to vastly improving logistical efficiency, the new turntable and control system is compliant with modern standards and regulations.
“It’s a great feeling when a unit we designed, manufactured and installed over 30 years ago has lasted so long,” said Craig Wright, Movetech UK’s Technical Sales Director. “I wouldn’t expect anything less to be honest, but it just goes to show the quality of our products, and what we strive to offer our customers, even after years of continuous demanding use.”
“Unfortunately, it had got to a point where it was just unserviceable, and after an inspection earlier this year, the decision was made by the management teams at Marks and Spencer to completely replace the turntable with a new and improved unit, and we were more than happy to get involved.”
“We worked closely with Marks and Spencer servicing partners, Cole Mechanical Services, who both fully entrusted us to complete the job, and with a strict turnaround time, and an active store to contend with, the pressure was most certainly on to complete the project on-time and to strict deadlines.”
Craig finished by saying: “After the turntable installation was completed, and was handed back over to the store, it has continued to be one of the company’s key tools, and I am sure this one will still be operating in 30 years’ time too, just like the original one did, if not longer!”
Movetech UK worked closely with the in-store management team at Chester, M&S Head Office Project Management team, and their servicing partner Cole Mechanical Services. Specialist sub-contractors appointed and supervised by Movetech UK removed the old turntable at the site whilst a civil engineering subcontractor were appointed by M&S to undertake repairs to the turntable pit and its surround, ready for Movetech UK to install the new turntable. Whilst onsite, Movetech UK were also asked if improvements to the service yard lighting could be achieved, and as the company like to offer a full-package, when possible, the turntable experts were more than happy to appoint this task to their qualified electrical specialists, and this was also completed to a high standard the store management where more than happy with.
Dan Collier, Operations Director for Cole Mechanical Services praised Movetech UK for their hard work throughout the project, his feedback read: “I would like to thank you for all your hard work and time over the course of the project, it is truly appreciated and the result is a happy customer and a great looking new asset for them to get years of use out of!”
“I would also like to pass on my thanks to the engineers who worked on the install, for their diligence and council over the weeks on site, a big thank you to you all.”
Movetech UK will continue to work closely with Marks and Spencer and their partners Cole Mechanical Services Ltd – to service, repair and help with any queries or issues that may arise.
For more information on this particular project, product or if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us, telephone; 01204 525626, or email; info@movetechuk.com. Alternatively visit www.movetechuk.com.
