Dock levelers are available from many manufacturers and are designed to suit either a preformed three-sided pit installation or a pour-in-place dock leveler installation. So, what’s the difference?
Preformed Pit Dock Leveler Installation
Pit model dock levelers are shipped to the construction site, off-loaded, and positioned into a preformed three-sided pit.
Preparing the pit requires a combination of costly on-site labor and materials. These materials typically include:
Plywood ... Read More
Eventually, the time comes when an existing dock leveler has to be replaced. Typically, the dock leveler is removed from the existing pit, and a replacement dock leveler is ordered to suit the existing pit dimensions.
The Pentalift Dock Leveler Site Inspection Sheet has been developed as a resource and guideline to assist in determining the correct model of replacement dock leveler to specify. When replacing a dock leveler, there are a significant number of measurements and factors to conside... Read More
Hot dip galvanizing loading dock equipment provides the best level of corrosion protection available; however, it is initially more costly than other finish options.
Hot dip galvanizing is a corrosion-resistant coating process in which steel components are cleaned and dipped into molten zinc to protect loading dock equipment from rust and deterioration.
What Is Hot Dip Galvanizing?
Hot dip galvanizing loading dock equipment is a multi-step process that involves several cost-increasing s... Read More
Dock levelers are essential pieces of loading dock equipment designed to move freight efficiently between the loading dock and a parked, secured truck.
Loading Dock Heights and Dock Leveler Function
Most modern loading docks are designed to be 48 inches high. Incoming truck bed heights, however, commonly vary from 46 inches to 52 inches, measured from the driveway to the top of the truck bed. Trailers transporting ocean containers can reach heights of up to 60 inches.
Dock levelers func... Read More
Vehicle Restraints: A Key Advancement in Dock Safety
One of the most significant improvements to loading dock safety over the years has been the introduction of vehicle restraints in conjunction with dock leveler installations.
Vehicle restraints perform two very important functions:
They act as visual communication between the truck driver and the dock attendant, advising the truck driver when it is OK to enter or depart the loading dock area.
They advise the dock attendant when t... Read More
Why Foam-Insulated Decks Are Used
The primary reason for equipping dock levelers with foam insulated decks is to eliminate or reduce condensation from forming on the dock leveler deck surface.
Condensation can form on the dock leveler deck surface when there is a significant temperature difference between the exterior temperature and the building’s interior temperature at the loading dock area.
Safety Concerns Caused by Condensation
Condensation on the dock leveler deck creates a s... Read More
What Is Dock Leveler Float?
With a truck backed into position at the loading dock and the vehicle restraint engaged it is safe for the dock attendant to now operate the dock leveler.
How the Dock Leveler Is Positioned for Loading
The dock leveler platform is raised and as the platform raises the hinged lip assembly extends from the vertical, stored position to the fully extended position. The dock leveler platform with the extended lip assembly is then lowered until the lip assembly mak... Read More
Determining Dock Lift Capacity
There are several important factors to consider when configuring a dock lift to accommodate a lift truck application. One of the first items to identify is the lifting capacity rating of the dock lift. Determine the overall weight of the lift truck, fully loaded, and then add 20% as a safety factor to determine the lifting capacity rating of the dock lift required.
Most dock lift applications are used with manual or powered pallet trucks, with capacities gene... Read More
As standard, dock lifts are provided with a hand-held, 2-button (Up/Down) pendant on a 10’ cable.
There are many optional dock lift controls to select from; the most popular being a hand-held, Up/Down push button control on a 20’ coiled cable. This cable is 4’ long in the retracted position and extends up to 20’ in length. This provides a significant walking range for the dock attendant to operate the dock lift with the minimum amount of cable on the floor when the controls are not in... Read More
Dock lifts are a scissor lift design that is most commonly used to load or unload trucks from the truck bed height to grade level. Dock lifts can be ordered to suit either a surface installation or a preformed recessed pit installation.
Surface Installed Dock Lifts
Pentalift Low Profile Dock Lifts are installed directly on a concrete slab. Installing a dock lift on a concrete slab eliminates the need for a preformed, recessed pit. For retrofit applications, the cost of creating a pit can b... Read More