TOTALKARE provides lifting boost to workshop’s expansion plans

A national distribution centre for the company behind some of the UK’s best-known brands has taken delivery of the latest fixed-post lift from TOTALKARE as part of plans to expand its fleet workshop operations.

The United Biscuits facility in Ashby-de-la-Zouch is home to a fleet of 55 tractor units, around 200 trailers and five yard shunters, and the busy onsite workshop is making further investments to improve capacity.

The move, which has included the installation of the new lift from the UK’s leading provider of heavy-duty vehicle-lifting solutions, will enable it to extend its maintenance and repair services to independent contractors.

The workshop already sees 12 to 14 tractor units and 15 to 22 trailers pass through its gates every week for servicing, minor repairs and some warranty work on the company’s predominantly Mercedes fleet. As part of its expansion plans, the company recently took down an interior wall in the workshop and installing a new fixed-post lift will enable the workshop to operate a bay dedicated to tractor units.

United Biscuits, the company behind brands such as McVitie’s and Jacob’s Crackers, has enjoyed a long relationship with TOTALKARE, operating two sets of six mobile column lifts for a number of years, which  replaced older, cabled lifts.

The new equipment is covered by a comprehensive service and maintenance contract that means engineers can get on with looking after the company’s trucks while TOTALKARE organises all the essential lift servicing required by Health and Safety legislation.

Alongside the new fixed-post lift and the existing mobile column lifts, United Biscuits also operates a wide range of ancillary products, including an air-assisted jacking beam for the fixed-post lift that helps to make steering tests easier. Standard trailer beams, transmission jacks and other products from Halesowen-based TOTALKARE are also widely used.

Tristan Johnston, Sales and Marketing Manager at TOTALKARE, commented: “We enjoy a very strong relationship with United Biscuits, and look forward to providing them with a comprehensive range of heavy-duty vehicle-lifting solutions for many years to come.

“We are particularly pleased the company is one of the first to benefit from our latest range of fixed lifts, especially as it will play such a crucial role in plans to make the workshop at United Biscuits a thriving business in its own right.”

Available in a range of capacities from 16T to 33T and lengths of between 7m and 18m, the fixed-post lifts from TOTALKARE can be surface mounted or recessed into the floor for a flush fit. Optional galvanised versions are also available for outdoor or wash bay use.