A furniture purchase is the trigger for many subsequent actions and not least the start of a logistical sequence. In addition to the showrooms and salesrooms, the furniture company, which is located close to the freeway, also operates its own logistics center, where, according to the company, great importance is attached to sustainability and energy efficiency. Naturally, the interface between the warehouse and the truck is the "weakest point" in the outer shell of any hall and a cause of heat loss and draughts. Draughts in particular are often the reason for absenteeism due to colds.

Ramp weather protection renewed
The door seals on 18 doors for the delivery vehicles, which had become worn after years of use, could no longer provide the necessary tightness and so this time the company turned to Koch-Lagertechnik with the request for planning for the conversion. Koch has been a partner to the furniture trade for more than 50 years and offers both warehouse transport trolleys and the ramp weather protection required in this case.
During an on-site meeting with the owner, Wolfgang Schulze, it emerged that the door openings were so wide that the existing cushion door seals had been fitted with an additional side skirt on the right and left for functional use. The consultation led to the suggestion of moving the side sections of the new cushion door seals closer together and thus making the openings narrower. The Koch company makes this possible with special mounting brackets, so that no changes are necessary to the building itself. The existing fastening elements can still be used for the horizontal cushions. The proposal convinced the owner and Koch was awarded the contract.

The ordered cushion door seals type TAK consist of a two millimeter thick PVC material with Trevira high-strength fabric at the front, into which a special foam filling is welded in a watertight manner. White visibility strips on the side cushions help drivers to find their way around. Möbel Schulze has also ordered additional aprons on the transverse cushions, which form the upper end, so that even low vehicles can dock "tightly".

Approaching vehicles now press into the 30 cm thick cushions by around 10-15 cm. A crossbeam under the door, in this case made of wood, ensures that a certain distance is maintained and that the building cannot be damaged by the truck. During a follow-up meeting, the owner expressed his satisfaction, according to the Koch company.

The article appeared in materialfluss 11-12/20.