A new warehouse may have dozens—or even hundreds—of loading dock positions. Each one must work with the building, the trailer fleet and the material handling operation. Yet the dock equipment is sometimes addressed only after critical building decisions have been made. That can create avoidable changes to concrete, electrical infrastructure, door layouts and installation schedules.
The most effective approach is to plan the loading dock equipment as part of the overall construction projec... Read More
Loading dock equipment often works as a system. The dock leveler, vehicle restraint, overhead door, control panel, communication lights, and other equipment all need to operate in the correct sequence.
An overhead door kit, often referred to as an OHD kit, is used to help coordinate loading dock equipment operation with the position of the overhead door. In simple terms, it helps the control system know whether the door is open or closed so the dock equipment operates in the intende... Read More
Dock seals and dock shelters both help close the gap between the building and the trailer at the loading dock. Both help reduce weather entry, energy loss, debris, pests, and product exposure. However dock seals and dock shelters do not work the same way, and they are generally not interchangeable.
A foam compression dock seal is often a good choice when trailers are relatively consistent in size and the goal is to create a tight seal by compressing foam pads against the trailer. A dock shelt... Read More
Many loading docks are designed around a fairly standard trailer height. That works well when a facility primarily handles conventional tractor trailers. However, not every operation has a consistent fleet of vehicles.
Some facilities receive or ship using a mix of semi-trailers, ocean containers, straight trucks, cube vans, pickup trucks, step vans, low-bed vehicles, and specialty delivery vehicles. In those situations, a conventional dock leveler may not provide enough vertical op... Read More
Dock lifts are often selected because they can solve loading dock problems that a conventional dock leveler cannot. They can provide vertical travel between ground level, truck bed height, and dock height, making them useful for facilities that handle varied vehicles or do not have a standard loading dock.
However, selecting the dock lift is only part of the process. The installation configuration is just as important.
A dock lift may be installed in different ways depending on the buildin... Read More
Loading dock equipment is often discussed using industry terms that may not be familiar to every buyer, contractor, purchasing person, or facility manager. Even experienced warehouse personnel may use different names for the same equipment. For example, customers may use “dock plate” and “dock leveler” interchangeably, even though they are different products.
Understanding the basic terminology can make it easier to request a quote, describe a service issue, review a specification, or... Read More
Loading docks are designed to move product efficiently, but they also create safety risks that need to be managed. One of those risks occurs when a forklift approaches a dock leveler that is parked and not positioned on a trailer.
If the dock door is open and the leveler is in the stored position, there may be a risk of a forklift or pallet truck rolling toward the edge of the dock. A roll-off stop dock leveler, also sometimes referred to as a barrier lip dock leveler, is designed to help red... Read More
Industrial lift tables are often installed as permanent pieces of material handling equipment. When a lift will remain at the same workstation, a fixed installation makes sense. But manufacturing facilities, warehouses and assembly areas do not always stay the same. Production lines change, workstations are reorganized, and equipment may need to be repositioned as processes evolve.
This raises a common question: Can you move a hydraulic lift table?
The answer depends on how the lift table ... Read More
Choosing the right scissor lift table weight capacity is critical to achieving reliable, long-term performance. Selecting a lift table that is undersized for the application can lead to premature wear, reduced performance, and potential operating concerns, while choosing the right capacity provides the durability and performance your application requires. Pentalift Pro-Series lift tables are available in 2,500 lb, 4,000 lb, and 6,000 lb capacities, making it easier to match the lift table to you... Read More
When a material handling application requires more than simply raising and lowering a load, the right positioning equipment can improve operator ergonomics, productivity, safety, and efficiency.
Two commonly considered solutions for applications requiring tilting loads along an axis are Lift & Tilt Lift Tables and Upenders. While both are designed to improve load positioning and accessibility, they solve different material handling challenges.
The simplest distinction is:
A Lift &am... Read More