Pentalift Blog - January 2020
What is the life expectancy of a lift table?
January 31, 2020, 3:33 pm - There is no definitive answer to that question but there are reasonable expectations. A lift table that is cycled up to 8 times per hour in a single 8 hour shift and a 5 day work week should last 20+ years if properly inspected and maintained. It is very important that lift tables be designed and equipped to suit the specific requirements of the application. For example a lift table operating in a wash down application or an outdoor application should have an upgraded finish coat such as epoxy paint or even be hot dip galvanized for longevity. Lift tables operating in a high cycle application are often equipped with upgraded bearings, central lubrication system and a continuous running power unit to extend the lift table’s safe, efficient performance. Knowing the application and equipping the lift table accordingly are 2 very important factors that contribute to the longevity of the lift table.
Is it a good investment to convert a mechanical dock leveler to hydraulic operation?
January 24, 2020, 10:51 am - The first step when considering converting to hydraulic operation is to investigate if the dock leveler is structurally sound. In its simplest form a dock leveler is a temporary structural bridge between the building floor and the truck to be loaded. A qualified loading dock service technician should first perform a complete front to back structural inspection of the dock levelers primary components. During the inspection the technician should check the deck, beam and headboard weldments, the lip and lip hinge weldments and check for signs of deck/lip deflection. Deck/lip deflection often indicates that the dock leveler is showing signs of being over loaded. If the dock leveler is not structurally sound or the capacity is underrated replacing the mechanical dock leveler with an upgraded hydraulic model should be a consideration. However if the mechanical dock leveler proves to be both structurally sound and there are no signs of structural deflection it is definitely worth the investment to convert to hydraulic operation.
Can a lift table have multiple control stations?
January 10, 2020, 2:43 pm - Although the majority of lift table applications have a single control station it is not uncommon to have multiple control stations. A typical example would be a lift table installation that services 2 different floor levels. One set of controls is located at the lower level and the secondary set of controls is located at the upper level. The lift table can now easily be called from one location to the other without the use of stairs. If the lift table can be operated from 2 locations both of the control stations are equipped with a highly visible emergency Estop button.
What are the benefits of converting a mechanical dock leveler to hydraulic operation?
January 2, 2020, 11:58 am - The most significant benefit of converting a mechanical dock leveler to hydraulic is the safety and ease of single push button operation at the loading dock area. Converting to hydraulic eliminates the need to repetitively bend and pull the release chain and then walk the dock leveler downward into position on the truck. When successfully converted to hydraulic operation it’s now as easy as pushing a button. Any brand of mechanical dock leveler will require an ongoing maintenance program that includes adjustments and lubrication to keep the dock leveler performing satisfactorily. Even between scheduled maintenance inspections operational failures can occur resulting in additional cost and downtime at the dock area. Hydraulic dock levelers are recognized to be the most trouble free, cost effective and safe dock leveler to use. Converting a mechanical dock leveler to hydraulic operation immediately increases both the safety and efficiency at the loading dock area significantly.