Subscribe

Tag: dock shelters

Sectional Doors Support High-Security Logistics

Posted on by David Priestman

The B4 Development at Manchester Airport, delivered by McLaren Construction Group, is a key part of the airport’s £1.3 billion Transformation Programme. ASSA ABLOY Entrance Systems was proud to supply Secured by Design sectional doors and integrated loading bay solutions to support this high-performance logistics facility.

ASSA ABLOY Entrance Systems is proud to have contributed to the successful completion of the B4 Development at Manchester Airport, a key milestone in the airport’s wider £1.3 billion Transformation Programme. Delivered by McLaren Construction Group, this major logistics and cargo development required industrial door and docking solutions that meet the highest standards of efficiency, security, and durability expected at one of the UK’s busiest transport hubs.

As part of the project, ASSA ABLOY Entrance Systems supplied and installed 11 Crawford OH1042P Level Access Overhead Sectional Doors. These doors, certified under the Secured by Design (SBD) initiative, provide enhanced security along with excellent thermal insulation. Depending on door width, each opening features a single row of three or four Secure by Design certified rectangular vision panels, integrated within aluminium frames. All doors were finished externally in RAL 9003 white, in line with architectural specifications, and fitted with vertical lift track configurations to maximise internal space.

Each of the loading bays within the B4 Development was equipped with a complete suite of loading bay solutions. This includes OH1042P SBD dock doors, which match the security and vision panel specifications of the level access doors. To support efficient and safe loading operations, DL6010S dock levellers were installed. These heavy-duty units offer a 60kN load capacity and feature a hydraulic swing lip design, with a vertical working range of +570 mm to -350 mm.

Sectional industrial Doors

To ensure a tight weather seal and optimise energy efficiency, each bay was also fitted with ASSA ABLOY DS6060P dock shelters. These units feature self-adjusting roof frames and durable double-layer polyester curtains, designed to accommodate a wide range of vehicle sizes while shielding personnel and goods from the elements. The comprehensive bay solution also includes heavy-duty dock buffers, integrated dock lights and traffic light systems for enhanced safety, and wheel guides to aid vehicle alignment during reversing.

In addition to dock and access equipment, ASSA ABLOY Entrance Systems supplied seven SR2-rated hinged steel personnel doors. Certified to LPS 1175 standards and fully compliant with Secured by Design requirements, these doors offer robust, tamper-resistant access control for secure pedestrian entry.

Sectional Door Technology at Logistics Hub

Posted on by David Priestman

As the logistics sector continues to evolve at pace, the demand for smarter, faster, and more sustainable infrastructure is growing. In response, Assa Abloy Entrance Systems has played a key role in the delivery of two state-of-the-art industrial units at Fradley Link, equipped with cutting-edge technology. Of particular note is the UK’s first major installation of the Crawford OH1142P Dual Drive sectional overhead door — a next-generation solution redefining performance standards in speed, efficiency, and sustainability.

Strategic Development in the UK’s Golden Triangle

Fradley Park, one of the UK’s most strategically located logistics hubs, continues to reinforce its position as a first-class destination for distribution and manufacturing. Located near Lichfield in Staffordshire, at the heart of the country’s Golden Triangle of logistics, this key site offers exceptional motorway connectivity and infrastructure—making it an ideal choice for major occupiers seeking sustainable and scalable warehousing solutions.

Evans Property Group has successfully completed development on the latest phase of the site, known as Fradley Link. The speculative scheme spans approximately 280,000 sq ft and includes two highly sustainable, flexible-use industrial units of 204,500 sq ft and 78,500 sq ft respectively. Both are being delivered to exacting standards, targeting BREEAM ‘Excellent’ and EPC A ratings, and are equipped with EV charging capabilities, solar-ready roofing systems, symphonic drainage, and secure cycle storage.

Loading Bay Solutions Designed to Enhance Speed

Supporting this high-specification development, ASSA ABLOY Entrance Systems was appointed to deliver a comprehensive entrance and loading bay solution in partnership with architect Kilmartin Plowman & Partners, main contractor GMI Construction Group, and developer Evans Property Group. The project represents a significant milestone for ASSA ABLOY in the UK, as it marks the first major installation of the recently launched Crawford OH1142P Dual Drive sectional overhead door — an innovation designed to deliver a whole new level of speed, efficiency, safety, and security in modern industrial environments.

High-Spec Installations Across Two Warehouses

The larger of the two buildings, at 204,500 sq ft, has been fitted with a full suite of loading bay equipment to support streamlined operations. This includes 20 standard and tall loading bays, each equipped with swing lip dock levellers, OH1142P Dual Drive doors, and mechanical dock shelters designed to accommodate a range of vehicle sizes. Complementary accessories such as dock lights, traffic control systems, and wheel guides were also installed to ensure safety and efficiency across all docking operations.

In addition, four ASSA ABLOY OH1042P level access overhead sectional doors were supplied to align with the building’s architectural palette — finished externally in RAL 7016 and internally in RAL 9002. These doors not only match the visual identity of the site but also deliver excellent thermal performance, achieving an overall U-value of 1.3 W/m²K.

The second building, at 78,500 sq ft, has been completed to a similar specification, featuring ten loading bays supported by the same combination of dock levellers, OH1142P doors, and dock shelters. Four level access OH1042P doors were also integrated, mirroring the installation in the adjacent, larger unit.

First for the Dual Drive

A standout feature of the Fradley Link development is its status as the first major UK project to incorporate the Crawford OH1142P Dual Drive sectional overhead door—ASSA ABLOY’s most advanced overhead door system to date. This next-generation solution has been designed from the ground up to meet the evolving needs of high-performance logistics environments, with a focus on energy efficiency, operational speed, and minimal maintenance.

The OH1142P Dual Drive represents a leap forward in entrance system technology. Its state-of-the-art design operates without traditional springs or cables, significantly reducing the number of moving parts and thereby cutting long-term maintenance requirements. The simplified, maintenance-friendly configuration also eliminates the need for structural preparation or additional reinforcements—saving time and space during installation and streamlining integration with modern warehouse architecture.

Engineered for speed and efficiency, the OH1142P opens and closes up to 30% faster than standard overhead doors, helping to reduce energy loss and improve internal climate control. This faster cycle time not only boosts operational productivity but also directly supports the sustainability goals of modern developments such as Fradley Link, where energy optimisation is a core performance metric.

Enhanced security is built in as standard, with automatic electric locking and remote monitoring capabilities via integrated smart technology. These features allow facilities teams to oversee and manage door operations more effectively, enhancing both safety and operational visibility across the site.

By requiring minimal structural prep and offering lower lifecycle costs through fewer components, the OH1142P Dual Drive supports a future-proof, cost-effective approach to industrial design. Its inclusion at Fradley Link signals a strong commitment to innovation from Evans Property Group and sets a new precedent for UK logistics developments.

Enhanced Safety and Sustainability at Every Bay

The dock shelters used across both units have been carefully selected to enhance energy efficiency and maintain optimal conditions during loading. Unlike sloped-roof designs that allow water run-off onto trailers, ASSA ABLOY’s flat-roof shelters incorporate integral rain channels that divert water away from the loading area—helping to protect goods and improve safety on site. The shelters accommodate a wide range of vehicle sizes and maintain consistent performance in all weather conditions.

Each loading bay also features ASSA ABLOY’s high-spec rubber dock buffers with steel face and top plate, and all wheel guides were supplied with a yellow painted finish, ensuring enhanced visibility and long-term resistance to wear and weathering.

Delivering the Future of Industrial Infrastructure

This installation reflects not just a technical achievement, but a broader alignment with the values driving the future of logistics property development—efficiency, safety, sustainability, and future-readiness. Through collaboration with Evans Property Group and the wider project team, ASSA ABLOY Entrance Systems has helped deliver a logistics hub that sets new standards in operational performance and environmental responsibility.

Fradley Link is more than a new industrial scheme — it is a model for what the next generation of distribution infrastructure can and should be. With innovation like the Crawford OH1142P Dual Drive at its core, the site is now equipped to support occupiers with the performance, reliability, and resilience required in today’s fast-moving supply chain environment.

similar news

ASSA ABLOY Entrance Systems introduces a revolution in safe and secure truck docking

 

 

 

Keeping Loading Bays Safe

Posted on by David Priestman

Loading bays are busy places. People, vehicles and machinery are constantly moving and the risk of injury, property damage or disruption to the supply chain is high. In fact, it’s estimated that 25% of industrial accidents occur in loading bays – and for every incident, there are around 600 close calls.

Identify the risks

Any loading bay is a high-risk environment, but when workers are busy or fatigued, wearing hearing protection or facing language barriers, the potential for human error and accidents increases.

A vehicle pulling away from the dock prematurely due to miscommunication or lack of understanding can have potentially fatal consequences for forklift operators or others working nearby. And when trailers are not restrained properly, vehicle creep can occur causing gaps to appear between a trailer bed and the loading bay. Vehicles can also roll backwards and tilt sideways leaving those working between them vulnerable to becoming trapped and crushed.

To prevent these issues, vehicle restraint systems, such as the automatic DE6290AR or the manual DE6190MR from ASSA ABLOY, lock the vehicle’s wheels in place, preventing unplanned movement.

Preventing vehicle creep and drive off

The physical restraint combined with enhanced traffic lights sequencing and visibility minimises the risk of drive offs. The restraint system also acts as a parking guide whilst reversing onto the loading bay, to help correct alignment and positioning. Once the trailer is in the right place, the automatic system is remotely activated from within the building or the manual system is pushed into position, triggering a precision-timed restraining arm which blocks the rear wheels from any forward motion. The two-way interlocking system means the dock doors cannot be opened before the wheel restraint is engaged. Once loading or unloading is complete the blocking arm can only be disengaged once the dock door is closed and operatives are safe from any trailer movements. The intelligent blocking arm activation makes the system suitable for a wide range of trucks, including those with a wheel at the very rear. The retractable blocking arm tucks neatly into the restraint when not in use, preventing damage to truck wheels or tail lifts, additionally, a sensor can be added for vehicles with mud flaps.

The restraint systems can be used on their own or combined with optional equipment such as, the combined Dock-IN traffic lights solution, or control panel mounted camera system which provides visibility of the yard and improves safety for yard operatives.

The benefits of enhanced safety

The ASSA ABLOY system offers multiple benefits over traditional approaches to restraining vehicles such as wheel chocks, which are less effective in slippery conditions and offer a limited restraining force. Implementing the right restraint system in loading bays enhances safety by protecting operatives from unexpected trailer movements, boosting their confidence during loading and unloading. Although loading bays inherently carry risks, a proper restraint system can significantly reduce these hazards, creating a more secure and efficient environment that protects employees, assets, and the company’s bottom line.

similar news

Loading bay safety without high maintenance costs

 

Warehouse Energy Saving

Posted on by David Priestman

In the last year, global energy prices have risen by almost 30 per cent and energy saving in the warehouse has become paramount as a result. European energy prices have risen to historic levels and are expected to keep on rising well into 2023. Thorsten Mauritz offers some energy saving tips.

Warehouses and logistics facilities are vast spaces with heating, cooling, lighting, and goods moved by electric-powered forklift trucks. Not surprisingly, energy bills are typically 15 per cent of warehouse operating costs, and The Carbon Trust estimates that over 70 per cent of those energy costs are for lighting and heating alone. In the current economic climate, and with winter approaching, substantially reducing energy use is not just prudent; it could provide business resilience in these turbulent times.

Loading dock seals

As trucks or lorries arrive at the warehouse to load or unload goods destined for our high streets and homes, they back into a loading bay. Bay doors are essentially holes – somewhere between 8’x8’ to 10’x12’ large – in the wall of the warehouse, where cold air can rush in and warm air escape. Most loading dock shelters provide a seal along the top, bottom and sides of the truck to prevent snow, ice, rain and wintry air from streaming into the warehouse.

But getting a good seal all around the trailer can be a challenge. Corners are often problematic and can remain open. Unsealed hinge gaps can equal up to two and a half square feet of open air. For as long as the truck is loading or unloading, warm air escapes and is replaced by chilled air. Even the smallest gap can result in annual energy losses of £1,200 to £2,700 per loading bay. So, it’s important to have dock shelters with optimal sealing features such as weighted curtains and fitted corners, like those found in Rite Hite’s Eclipse shelter.

Destratification fans

When a lorry or truck pulls away from the bay doors, cold air rushes in from the outside, across the warehouse floor and forces warm air to rise rapidly towards the ceiling. The process is known as air stratification and can result in a floor temperature 30 degrees cooler than the roof. To keep employees warm, one solution is to turn up the thermostat. But every extra degree increases heating bills by eight per cent.

A better solution is to use HVLS fans to even out the temperature. HVLS fans have large, slow-moving blades which can propel air approximately 85ft in every direction. Multiple HVLS fans working together push these large volumes of air from one to the other and are extremely effective at mixing the air in large warehouses.

Warehouse energy saving

During the winter, HVLS fans can be run in reverse (clockwise vs counter-clockwise) to draw the cold air upwards and mix it with the hot air near the ceiling before it falls back down again. Rite-Hite’s HVLS fans can either be run in reverse, or if more airflow beneath the fans is needed, they can run at half speed or less.

Commercial HVLS ceiling fans can save up to 30 per cent in heating costs, consume less energy than traditional (faster) fans and will pay for themselves within a year.

FasTrax high-speed doors

Warehouses often have different temperature zones for warm and cold storage of various products. Supermarket warehouses, for instance, need to store goods at freezer, chiller or room temperature. Keeping cool rooms and warm rooms grouped together in zones helps reduce temperature leakage. But as forklifts and trucks move from one zone to another, high-speed doors are essential for keeping temperatures stable. Every second counts. And Rite-Hite insulated high-speed doors can open and close at speeds of 2.5m per second to save energy.

But whether it’s the loading dock, the chilling zones, or the fans overhead, inspecting and upgrading your warehouse climate control solutions should be a regular feature of your maintenance schedule. Rite-Hite’s experts in loading docks and indoor climate control can conduct a thorough on-site survey to help you find ways to close any energy gaps before winter.

Thorsten Mauritz is European Marketing Manager for Rite-Hite.

Subscribe

Get notified about New Episodes of our Podcast, New Magazine Issues and stay updated with our Weekly Newsletter.