Bespoke yard ramp for Nationwide Platforms

The desired location of the warehouse required modification to the building – including installation of an entrance – as well as a ramp to provide safe ground level access. However, the size and weight of the scissor and boom lifts being transported into and out of the workshop meant that a bespoke solution was vital.

“A standard ramp was unsuitable because of the nature of our machines, so we needed a high-capacity rating capable of taking 30 tonnes overall and 15 tonnes on a single axle,” explains Nationwide Platforms commercial services director Brian Stead.

“Equally, the ramp incline was limited to 3.7 degrees, due to the gradeability and under-clearance requirements of some of the machines and most importantly in order to protect workers from and potential accidents and incidents.”

Putting safety first, Nationwide Platforms would not compromise on quality, as any ramp failure could lead to serious injury or loss of life.  

“This type of ramp is not something you buy every day, so choosing the right supplier was critical,” confirmed Brian Stead. “With over 30 years in construction and logistics, I knew of only one company I could trust for this bespoke solution and turned to Thorworld”.  

The end result was a ramp 18m long and 3.2m wide. Due to the length, the ramp was supplied in three sections (upper, lower and entry), to be assembled and welded on site.  

For enhanced safety, the ramp features 300mm high curbs and plain plate decking with Bimagrip Antislip. An unusual challenge was that the ramp was installed before the entrance to the workshop. The Bristol facility went live in Spring 2022.

For more information, visit www.thorworld.co.uk