Double lifts for double-decker
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• Initial Textile Services has completed the upgrading of a double-deck artic which replaced three 17-tonners on runs between its main laundry in South London and four distribution centres in the South-East. The four-year-old Cartwright trailer was refurbished by Ford & Slater of Leicestershire who fitted two Ratcliff lifts; one at the rear and one on the nearside.
Fleet operations manager Barry Roddis specified the 38-tanner for its ability to haul up to 76 roll cages and to service Iwo customer service units (CSUs) on each trip, delivering clean laundry and collecting dirty items. "Fitting a lift to the side as well as to the rear enables us to visit two CSUs on one trip," he explains, "using the front of both decks for one destination and the rear for another."
Previous vehicles hove been fitted with auxiliary batteries to operate the .lifts, with a split charger and a mains-operated trickle charger. But Rocidis Found that battery life was as short as three months and has opted for a mains-powered transformer plugged in at each depot.