At Smart-Space, we see first-hand the impact that covered loading bays and industrial canopies have on day-to-day operations. Every winter, our enquiries increase as businesses look to protect their teams, safeguard products and maintain productivity, whatever the weather decides to do.
Here’s a breakdown of some of the key reasons why such a simple structure makes all the difference.
Bring deliveries under cover – inbound and outbound
Most organisations manage a continual flow of incoming goods and outgoing orders. As delivery times can be unpredictable, having a designated, weather-proof check-in area is essential.
A covered canopy creates a controlled space to receive, inspect, process and redistribute products. Whether you’re allocating items to internal departments, preparing goods for storage, or organising outbound shipments, doing it undercover keeps everything running smoothly and safely.
A recent Smart-Space customer, Central Mailing Services in Birmingham, has added two covered areas for goods in and out, leaving its main warehouse entrance area completely clear. As a leading supplier of print, mailing and fulfilment services, their paper-based business relies heavily on clean, organised and dry workspaces. The final part of the CMS goods out area includes a canopy that protects its products just before transit.
Protect your people
If there’s one thing more unpredictable than delivery schedules, it’s the great British weather. A dedicated loading or unloading bay shields your team and visiting drivers from rain, wind or extreme temperatures.
The addition of a covered space at the entrance of your main building provides a really effective buffer from the weather and can help maintain a more consistent temperature inside.
IAC Halewood in Liverpool installed short, covered tunnels at the entrance and exit points of one of its main warehouses. These small structures included visible panels on either side for visibility and security of pedestrians, but importantly they provided a welcome buffer against the weather for vehicles entering and exiting with materials in or finished goods out.
Keep your products in perfect condition
No customer wants damaged packaging, wet materials, or products that have been exposed to the elements. Moisture can compromise stock quickly and cold, slippery items can introduce handling hazards.
A canopy or loading bay ensures that every stage of handling takes place in a protected environment. It’s a straightforward addition that significantly reduces product damage and safety risks.
Smurfit-Kappa in Norfolk is well-known for its sturdy paper-based products. Their Smart-Space permanent building includes a canopy which extrudes by just a few metres - but it is enough to keep the rear of vehicles, people and product all protected from bad weather conditions, specifically keeping everything dry. The spec also included some bespoke flashings for a more stylish finish.
Support a more efficient workflow
Many clients come to us to improve the flow of goods through their site. For some, deliveries enter at one point while outbound movements happen at the opposite side of the building. Others manage multiple stages of production and need seamless, covered access between them.
Our canopies, loading bays, and covered tunnels, create clear, efficient routes that keep teams and goods moving safely and effortlessly. By looking at your operational flow as a whole, we can often identify improvements you may not have considered as a result of our work for other organisations.
We worked with a logistics business in Cannock and actually joined their warehouses by installing covered tunnels from building to building.
Maintain a clean and tidy site
Health and safety standards are higher than ever and a clean, organised site plays a big role. Structured loading areas, protective canopies, and clearly defined storage zones help keep everything tidy and compliant while presenting a more professional image to staff, clients and visitors.
Martin Bullimore, Head of Logistics at Avon Freight, explained: “We have found the loading bay invaluable for our side-loading vehicles. To operate most profitably means to fill the lorries to maximum capacity safely and that is done most effectively from the side access as we can load more efficiently.”
Choose flexible solutions built around you
For decades, Smart-Space has been delivering both temporary and permanent canopy and loading bay solutions. Our experience enables us to design structures that fit your exact site layout and operational needs. Buildings can be relocated, extended, hired short-term, or purchased outright when it becomes financially sensible.
With no footings or foundations required, our installations are quick, clean, and easy to dismantle - ideal for anything from a few weeks to several years.
