Thirty-one low-level order pickers, which replace a fleet of older models, are used to assemble orders for the 4,000-plus Palmer and Harvey customers served by the Haydock distribution centre.

Atlet has supplied a fleet of its new Tempo PPL low-level order pickers to Palmer and Harvey McLane's ambient regional distribution centre (DC) in Haydock, St Helens, Merseyside, UK. Thirty-one of the new Tempo PPLs, which replace a fleet of older Atlet models, are used to assemble orders for the 4,000-plus Palmer and Harvey customers served by the Haydock DC. The Tempo PPLs join Atlet reach trucks and pallet transporters already operating at the site.

The centre operates round the clock seven days a week and is currently picking more than 100,000 cases of product each day, worth in excess of GBP 2 million.

Palmer and Harvey's Haydock DC supplies confectionery, drinks, tobacco products and grocery to supermarkets, newsagents, independent retailers and service station forecourts in the north west of England.

The DC is fully-racked, with more than 5,600 pallet locations, holding up to 6,000 individual product lines.

Incoming palletised loads arrive in the morning and are offloaded from delivery vehicles using six of Atlet's highly compact Piccolo PLL powered pallet transporters.

The pallets are put away in the racking by nine Atlet UNS Tergo reach trucks.

Palmer and Harvey also has four Atlet XLL sit-on pallet trucks specifically for transporting pallets long distances in the warehouse; two of the XLLs have extended forks to carry two pallets at a time.

Up to 850 customer orders arrive each day, by fax, telesales or EDI.

The orders range from full pallets down to single cases.

Picking is undertaken, from the first level in the racking, by the Tempo PPLs between 1400h and 0600h the following morning.

The trucks have been supplied with extended forks to carry three roll cages, enabling staff to pick up to three store orders simultaneously; the roll cages are also fitted with internal shelves to allow up to six orders to be picked at the same time.

The trucks can also carry pallets, onto which some items are picked.

The Atlet PLL Piccolos are also used for some pick-to-pallet duties.

The Tempo PPLs have Atlet's unique 'Ergo Steering' system that uses motorbike handlebar-style steering rather than a conventional tiller arm.

'This is a very clever, and infinitely preferable, system,' said Tony Healey, Distribution Centre manager.

'It is more comfortable, precise and intuitive for the operator, and without having to swing a tiller arm from side to side the arms are always within the confines of the chassis and the operator always has both hands on the steering.

This is much safer, particularly when manoeuvring in and out of the aisles during intensive picking cycles.' Goods are despatched from the Haydock DC between 0400h and 0730h.

Every day up to 60 delivery vehicles leave the site, each carrying up to 27 cages.

The order picking faces are replenished, using the Atlet UNS Tergo reach trucks, between 0600h and 1400h.

'Although the site is a long-term Atlet user, it was by no means a foregone conclusion that the company would be awarded the contract for the new order pickers, and we did evaluate other makes,' said Healey.

'But the excellent experience we have had in the past, in terms of truck reliability and after sales service, at this site and other Palmer and Harvey depots throughout the country, firmly established Atlet as the front runner.

And when it comes to low-level order pickers, the new Tempo PPL is arguably the best on the market.'