|
HODSOCK PRIORY SELECTS CELLAR LIFT
PRESS INFORMATION
Issue Date: 7 February 2008 Ref: PEN08/01
When historic Hodsock Priory in Nottinghamshire extended its
wedding reception facilities during 2007 it selected a Cellar
Lift from Penny Hydraulics for handling drinks and related items
between the delivery area and a much older cellar beneath the
new building. The Cellar Lift has enabled Hodsock Priory to
simplify its cellar operations and eliminated the need for busy
staff to handle items manually.
“The Cellar Lift allows us to comply with manual handling
regulations,” says George Buchanan, owner of Hodsock Priory.
“Penny Hydraulics is a very slick company who provided
exactly what we needed and most crucially slotted into a tight
timeframe which suited our requirements.”
Located near Worksop, Hodsock Priory (www.hodsockpriory.com)
has been the home of the same family since 1765. Current occupants
George and Katharine Buchanan are the ninth generation of the
family to care for the property which is famous for its annual
display of snowdrops (www.snowdrops.co.uk) each spring. Recently
the Buchanans decided that the buildings were no longer practical
as their permanent residence but had excellent potential as
a venue for weddings, conferences and other events that would
generate income throughout the year.
Work on the extension to the existing buildings started early
in 2007. Bar operations are crucial to any successful wedding
day and one of the primary concerns during the design stage
was to ensure that staff would be able to handle drink items
safely and easily between the delivery area and an older cellar
below which dates back to the 16th century. A mechanical cellar
lift had been on the brief from the start and at the suggestion
of architect Philip Siddall of Guy Taylor Associates, the Buchanans
approached Penny Hydraulics for a solution.
After assessing the requirement Penny Hydraulics recommended
one of its vertical Cellar Lifts and provided details to the
principal contractor of the services required to complete the
installation. Working to the overall brief the company installed
the equipment and completed the work on schedule. The gardens
reopened on the first of February for the world renowned snowdrop
display.
“Penny Hydraulics slotted in with the day we wanted the
work doing and installed the equipment in a single morning,”
says George Buchanan. “A lot of the other contractors we
used have turned up and asked us to do more work before they
could do theirs. But with Penny Hydraulics this was not the
case.”
The cellar stores all drinks including champagne, wine and
beer required for wedding receptions and other events. When
a beer barrel is delivered it is simply rolled onto the Cellar
Lift’s integral cradle where it is supported safely and
securely while the lift is moving. A tray is mounted on the
cradle so that packs and cases of drinks and related items can
be handled more conveniently whenever required. In addition
to handling deliveries the Cellar Lift can be used to lift items
from the cellar up to ground floor level during an event to
eliminate the need for staff to carry items up the steps.
Penny Hydraulics provided a complete installation and commissioning
service that included training three members of the Hodsock
Priory staff on how to use the Cellar Lift and carry out routine
inspection and maintenance tasks. The company offers comprehensive
service packages with all its equipment.
“They offered good training to three people, including
me, who can now train our other members of staff,” says
George Buchanan. “They also made us aware of daily and
routine inspection and maintenance tasks to make sure we stay
within the regulations.”
The Penny Hydraulics Cellar Lift is designed for safe and reliable
handling of beer barrels, kegs, crates, bins and groceries between
the cellar, delivery and serving area in bars, pubs and restaurants.
The range includes vertical, sloping and compact models with
lifting capacity up to 300kg, equivalent to a full 54 gallon
barrel. It is manufactured in the UK to the precise requirements
of the specific location and customer.
The rapid lifting and lowering speed of 0.75m/s means that
an average 2.5 metre drop is covered in just five seconds to
help minimise delivery cycle times. A hold-to-run system cuts
power and stops the lift whenever the user releases the control
lever for optimum safety. Components are fully galvanised for
durability in the most arduous conditions, including damp cellars
and exposed exterior locations. The Cellar Lift can be installed
in almost any location. There is no need to excavate a lift
pit at the base and the unique hydraulic mechanism means the
Cellar Lift is quiet, simple and reliable. It runs off a standard
20 amp, 240 volt supply which means that it can be installed
in most locations with little or no additional electrical work.
Penny Hydraulics designs and manufactures lifting and load handling
equipment for use in a wide range of applications. Products
include the Swing Lift range of medium duty cranes for use on
pick-ups, drop-sides and flat-beds and the Step Lift, Load Lift
and Tail Lift lifting platform ranges for use on pick-ups, drop-sides
and vans. The company also manufactures the Mezz Lift for handling
loads between ground floor and mezzanines and specialist equipment
for handling wheels, tyres and barrels in vehicles and at customers’
premises. Penny Hydraulics is a privately owned family business
based in Clowne, Derbyshire.
< back to News & Events
|
