Looking for a solution to deliver on their specific needs while keeping an overall construction project on course, the Virginia-based grocery store chain tapped MINER for dock door and interior door installation for its newest regional food distribution warehouse.
The Challenge
Alexandria, Virginia- based Lidl US, a grocery store chain with 174 stores along the east coast, was set to construct an 880,000-square-foot distribution facility in Covington, Georgia. They needed a reliable partner to manage an on-time and on-budget installation of loading dock doors, pit levelers, restraints, dock shelters and rolling steel fire doors.
The Solution
MINER offered more than a set of quality products to match the need. They delivered proactive, all-in-one solutions that spurred efficiency, aligned teams and kept the overall construction project on track. And after the project, MINER delivered a seamless transition from installation to maintenance as Lidl US prepped the facility for food distribution.
The Results
A finished-on-time project that MINER continues to maintain as Lidl US ramps up the facility for food distribution to planned stores in the region.
SEEING IS BELIEVING: SITE VISITS AND IDEA-DRIVEN PROPOSALS
Before the first presentation meeting, the MINER team visited Lidl US’s food distribution center in Perryville, Maryland, to do a survey and see the operation and equipment firsthand.
“A facility like that has a lot of critical parts to keep it running,” says Mike. “There’s refrigeration. There are racking systems. If they can’t get a product in and out of the facility quickly using loading dock equipment and overhead doors— not to mention the doors going in and out of freezers and fire doors—that operation isn’t going to function efficiently.”
This fact-finding mission not only showed the scale Lidl US wanted to replicate and enabled MINER to tailor a presentation to those needs, but also gave the team ideas they could add in, such as going from galvanized coating to a zinc-enriched powder-coat paint process and making the control panels more secure.
At the meeting, Lidl US was impressed with the presentation, price, product and new ideas to earn MINER a next step. The final step was a visit to a facility about 45 minutes away, with our equipment in it. They were impressed by the machinery, the installation and attention to detail.
It wasn’t long before receiving word: Lidl US had awarded MINER management of the dock door and equipment installation.
And it was time to get to work.
164 restraints
164 dock doors
164 shelters
3 pit levelers
2 high-speed doors
9 rolling steel fire doors
THE DETAILS MAKE THE DIFFERENCE
With docks and doors being one of the last components of the construction, it was imperative that MINER stay on task. But they went one better. And for that, Lidl US was thankful.
The overall project had faced some weather- related adversity and was behind schedule. As it got closer to MINER’s part of the project, Lidl US’s management asked MINER if the team could finish 60 days sooner than their forecasted duration.
“Basically with all our resources and being prepared for delays and unforeseen circumstances [those items built into the proposal], we had to turn up the heat to get this done,” says Mike. “Through our project management and working with our team of suppliers, we were able to better our duration date by 60 days.” But getting it done sooner didn’t mean things got rushed. “There was no sacrifice of quality of work.”
In a full-scale construction project, roles can be divided and subdivided. The added moving parts mean a higher chance of disruption. It’s why MINER takes on as much as they can.
“We offer the complete package, from managing submissions and approvals, to coordinating the deliveries and installation, to overseeing electrical work, training and support,” says Mike. “We’re as involved as we can be, from start to finish.”
This process enabled smoother handoffs rather than unmanaged drop-offs. In the case of the electrical, MINER managed much of the wiring installation and worked with Lidl US’s on-site electrical team to ensure they understood the kind of equipment MINER installs, saving time, reducing troubleshooting and removing blame games. “They liked the fact we were able to do the job as a turnkey solution,” says Mike. “Our approach is, give us the whole contract, so if you have to point a finger, it’s at us.”
And before the final handoff, MINER trained the Lidl US team on door operation.
As a result of the successful Covington project, Lidl US awarded MINER with additional maintenance work at some of its other facilities.
The MINER team maintains that their all-in-one approach, unmatched preparedness, tools for efficiency, ongoing communication and focus on bringing new ideas and real- time problem-solving to the table to lighten the load for everyone and make MINER the heroes of the whole operation.
“Our service offerings can fulfill all your needs,” says Jim. “But we aim to exceed your needs.”
Download the full case study to see photos of the project and learn more about this story!
With our national service footprint, breadth of solutions and extensive network of industry experts and service professionals, we offer best-in-class dock and door solutions, delivered right every time.
Request a free quote today and get your project started.
