Project Background
Bremen Logistik Zentrum, a mid-sized distribution center serving northern Germany, needed to bridge the height gap between their truck yard and a raised mezzanine storage level. Forklifts could no longer reach the upper floor after a racking expansion, forcing staff to hand-carry smaller loads up a stairway — a slow and unsafe bottleneck during peak shipping hours.
Challenges
- European compliance: All equipment had to meet CE machinery directives and German BGV/DGUV workplace safety standards
- Cold-season reliability: Hydraulic systems must start and operate reliably in winter temperatures near -10°C
- Space constraint: The dock area left limited room for a permanent pit, ruling out a fully recessed installation
- Throughput demand: The lift needed to handle palletized loads continuously during two daily dispatch windows
Solution
GP LIFT supplied a 3-ton Hydraulic Dock Lift engineered for the European market:
- Load capacity: 3000kg (3 tons)
- Platform size: 2200mm × 2000mm with anti-slip checkered steel deck
- Lifting height: 1.2m, flush with the mezzanine floor level
- Hydraulic unit: Low-noise power pack with thermostatically controlled heater for cold-weather starts
- Safety package: CE-compliant toe guards, safety locking valves, emergency stop, and acoustic/visual warning
- Installation: Pitless design with integrated approach ramps to minimize civil works
Custom Features
- 230V/50Hz European electrical configuration with EN 60204-1 compliant wiring
- Overload protection with automatic cut-off
- Manual lowering valve for power-failure operation
- RAL-painted structure matching the facility’s safety color scheme
Results
Since commissioning in spring 2026:
- Loading throughput improved by roughly 40% during dispatch windows
- Manual handling between floors eliminated entirely
- Zero cold-start failures recorded through the following winter season
- Full CE documentation pack delivered for local authority inspection
“The lift integrated into our dock without major civil works. Winter starts were our biggest concern, and the heated hydraulic unit has been flawless.” — Operations Manager, Bremen Logistik Zentrum