PRWIL16
Date: June 2013

WILMAT'S POWERED LIFT REACHES NEW HEIGHTS AT COMMUNITY MAUSOLEUM

Materials handling specialist Wilmat is rapidly enhancing its credentials in the UK funeral sector after being commissioned to develop lifting equipment for use in a new community mausoleum.

The Birmingham-based company provided a customised solution involving the design and manufacture of an electrically operated powered hoist to lift and manoeuvre coffins into position in the individual burial chambers. It was contracted by Mausoleum Management, the company responsible for operating the Bletchley-based facility.

Steve Sheridan, finance director at Mausoleum Management, said: "We spoke to funeral directors and looked at the lifting equipment currently on the market, but it just wasn't suitable because we need to be able to raise the coffins to

2.1 metres, which is the height of the floor of the top tier vault.

"Having researched the materials handling marketplace we contacted Wilmat for advice because it not only specialises in lifting equipment, but also understands the funeral industry and appreciates the sensitivities.

"The company was extremely helpful and has come up with a product that meets our particular specification and is ideal for use in the mausoleum environment."

Manufactured at Wilmat's Birmingham factory, the new power lift is based on the company's well-established powered stacker truck design and has a 250kgcapacity.It can be operated by a single mausoleum worker and other features include infinite lift/lower lever controlenabling easy and accurate positioning of coffins.

The new equipment follows the success of Wilmat's Dignity range of mortuary trucks thathelp reduce the health and safety issues faced by mortuary workers while also maintaining the dignity of the deceased. The range includes the latest Dignity 78, with increased capacity of 78 stone, whichwas purpose-designedin light of a growing obesity problem.

Andrew Capella, Wilmat Technical Director, explained: "We pride ourselves on being able to respond quickly to individual customer needs and, drawing on our experience of working with funeral and mortuary professionals to develop specialist equipment.

"We are delighted to have been able to provide a cost-effective solution that meets Mausoleum Management's unique requirements."

The community mausoleum is located within the existing Selbourne Avenue Cemetery in Bletchley and represents the realisation of a long-held ambition by the town's Italian community, which worked closely with Mausoleum Management to bring the project to fruition. Inside the building are 104 crypts, positioned in tiers of four, which are made from fibreglass clad in marble and feature a marble front panel that can be inscribed. The mausoleum also contains 40 niches for the interment of cremated remains

Mausoleums date back to the 4^thCentury BC and are popular in the United States, Australia and Italy, particularly among Catholic communities. In the UK they tend to be private, family-owned facilities and even the few community mausoleums are relatively small concerns. However, the shortage of burial plots has already led to a rise in the development of private cemeteries and woodland burial sites and there is growing interest in community mausoleums as an alternative to traditional grave burial.

END

Editor's Notes

Wilmat Group

Wilmat Limited designs and manufactures bespoke, pedestrian-operated materials handling equipment for clients across a wide range of sectors.

Clients use its consultancy service to find cost effective solutions to their materials handling problems. All bespoke products are manufactured in the UK at Wilmat's factory in Birmingham.

Products include industrial fork lifts, tow tractors, scissor lift tables, stackers, pallet trucks, prime movers, cranes, mould / die handlers, platform trucks.

Clients include major companies such as BMW, Ford, Caterpillar, BT, Siemens, Schneider, London Midland and Southern Railways, KP Foods and Aga.

Wilmat Limited provides its clients with a full after sales and maintenance service through its Servicing Division. All service engineers are employed by Wilmat to ensure exemplary service and increased operational life for its manufactured products.

Wilmat can also fulfill its client's day-to-day materials handling needs through its catalogue service for standard materials handling and lifting equipment products.

The company's headquarters is in Steward Street, Birmingham.

Media Contact:

Martin Farrow

Changeworks Communications Ltd

T: 01785 247588

M: 07771 970025

E:mfarrow@changeworkscom.co.uk