The Porsche Centre in Swindon, part of the prestigious Dick Lovett Dealer Group, was the first company in the UK to invest in the Hänel Lean-Lift technology within the automotive retail industry. This introduced dramatic improvements in its parts department’s efficiency. Used throughout Europe and the USA, the Hänel Lean-lift increases the amount of available floor space by up to 80 per cent; this, in turn, reduces the floor space needed for a parts department. These machines are distributed exclusively throughout the UK and Ireland by Industore Automated Storage Systems. Prestigious motor dealerships are usually sited in prime and expensive locations, it is therefore important to minimise the amount of space allocated to the storage of spares, tooling and documentation. Dealer Principals understand that it is important for all dealerships to maximise showroom space. Hänel Lean-Lifts, which are simple to operate, can dramatically reduce the area of the parts department whilst improving the working environment for staff. The system also improves productivity and results in faster storage and retrieval of parts. With a footprint of just 2.8m x 2.8m the Hänel system uses 'Lean-lift' technology; a vertical storage and retrieval system which enables thousands of components to be stored in a motorised storage unit. Operated by a single user, parts can be immediately retrieved at the touch of a keypad eliminating the need for large stock-holding areas. The Porsche Centre store all their small to medium parts inventory in the Lean-lift. The machine will also accommodate archives, brochures and general consumables.
Ronnie Campbell, Sales Director at Industore, comments on the new system: “With many dealer groups experiencing increasingly tight margins, the need to lower overheads and internal costs whilst at the same time improving efficiencies is key. “We believe that dealers in the UK will quickly follow suit with their international counterparts and increasingly opt for an automated approach to their parts operations.”
