An installation of Stertil Koni ST4175 4-post vehicle lifts supports the overnight sorting of up to 720,000 parcels at DPD’s £100 million sortation and distribution centre at Logix Park in Hinckley.

DPD is a member of one of Europe’s leading parcels groups, DPDgroup, which is wholly owned by France’s La Poste, the second largest postal group in Europe. DPD has over 11,000 people in the UK, operating 3,675 vehicles from 56 locations, servicing 6,500 customers. Located on a 33 acre site, the new Superhub was constructed using 45,000 tonnes of steelwork and 75,000 tonnes of concrete. The centre is 470m long and 40m wide comprising a fully automated 3,000m conveyor and state-of-the art optical sorting technology plus 264 loading bays. Supporting many of the UK’s leading retailers and online businesses, the complex also features a small parcel sorting section which deals with goods such as clothing and telecommunications.

Four Stertil Koni ST4175 heavy duty 4-post vehicle lifts are used to simplify servicing and general maintenance duties on a fleet of vehicles including 2-axle tractor units, terminal tractors and 3.5 tonne vans. Accessibility is one of the key features of the ST4175. The absence of cross beams means that workshop engineers have unrestricted access to the underside of raised vehicles. Another important element of the lift’s design is its 6200mm long platform which provides a low drive-on height of just 240mm. This means that every vehicle in the DPD fleet can be driven onto the lift safely and easily.

All movement of the ST4175 lift is controlled electronically. Precise operator control of the lift is achieved by using a well positioned control panel mounted on one of the lifting columns. The control panel also allows workshop engineers to programme a number of functions into the lift including a maximum lifting height. The 4-post lift also features a maintenance-free synthetic runner wheel system and a patented mechanical locking mechanism that is always active.

The lifts’ microprocessor controlled lifting system, combined with Stertil Koni’s unique hydraulic synchronisation system, ensures extremely smooth lifting and lowering. Operating speeds are also impressive with the lifts reaching the full height of 1900mm in just 72 seconds.
To complement the ST4175 lifts and further simplify their operation, Stertil Koni also supplied LED lighting kits, air installation kits and 12 tonne jacking beams.

“The Stertil Koni vehicle lifts are extremely reliable in supporting our 24/7 workshop operation,” says Ian Davey, Fleet Services Manager at DPD. “I specified the lifts based on their proven technology and their design which is advanced yet simple enough to be reliable in use. I could have bought cheaper but, on inspection, the other products were cheaper for a reason, generally inferior build quality and robustness.”