Is it really worth the extra money to upgrade from a mechanical dock leveler to a hydraulic dock leveler?
There’s no question that it is worth the small amount of money to upgrade to a hydraulic dock leveler. Mechanical dock levelers require more periodic maintenance than hydraulic dock levelers to keep them in good working order. Hydraulic dock levelers are more ergonomically correct as there is no physical effort required to raise or lower the dock leveler, all operations are by simple push... Read More
It is common knowledge that most equipment requires maintenance from time to time, and that providing regular service will help ensure its proper function and increased longevity. Dock levelers are no exception. There are not many pieces of equipment that take a greater beating than your loading dock. Although you may push a button or pull a chain, and the dock seems to work somewhat properly, the bends or cracks in the structural components may not be visible, or there may be a part that is gri... Read More
Why are dock levelers available in 6`, 8`and 10` platform lengths? Different length dock levelers offer different above/below ranges, and will impact the angle of decline or incline that the load will experience. First a dock leveler is basically just an adjustable bridge or transfer plate between the loading dock floor and the bed of the trailer. The dock height is a fixed height; the trucks that arrive can be level with the dock height, higher than the dock height, or lower than the dock heigh... Read More
Pentalift's standard warranty states that product manufactured by Pentalift Equipment Corporation will be free from defects in materials and workmanship for normal use for one year. To properly validate the warranty, you need to complete a Product Registration Card. This general warranty applies to all equipment that Pentalift fabricates. If a longer structural or hydraulic warranty period is required, then your Pentalift Sales Representative can quote a custom warranty for your consideration. T... Read More
Looking for extra safety features in the loading dock area? The loading dock has been rated as one of the most hazardous areas of any industrial facility. More and more products are developed to increase operator safety at the loading dock. The loading dock floor is usually about 4’ higher than the outside grade, and with busy lift truck traffic in this area, accidents can easily occur. Roll Off Stop Dock Levelers were designed specifically to address this situation. With the dock leveler in t... Read More
Dock levelers are available to suit either a preformed pit installation or a “cast-in-place” pour in design. The pour in place design lowers the overall cost of the installation by eliminating any on-site forming, and minimizes labor required to commission the equipment. Scheduling the dock equipment becomes more important to ensure that the dock leveler is on site and in position at the time of the concrete pour. Preformed pit installations have more flexibility regarding the timing of deli... Read More
Why would a dock lift be preferred over a regular dock leveler? With the majority of loading docks being approximately 48” above the road or driveway, there are many more dock levelers in use than dock lifts. Applications that don’t have a 48” raised dock area will often require ground level loading. Hydraulic dock lifts provide a safe and efficient answer for this situation. Product is loaded onto the dock lift at grade level, the operator then raises the dock lift to the truck bed heigh... Read More
Why is the Pentalogic valve so important on a hydraulic dock leveler? The power unit on any brand of hydraulic dock leveler is designed to raise the platform and to extend the hinged lip assembly. Conventional hydraulic dock leveler plumbing contains a number of individual valves and assorted fittings. Increasing the number of individual valves increases the likelihood of component failure and hydraulic leaks developing. The Pentalogic valve is a one piece machined housing that incorporates only... Read More
This time of year brings cold temperatures and increases the temperature variance between the indoors and the outdoors. This can lead to increased condensation or frost on a dock leveler's surface. This condensation or frost can compromise traction for fork lifts and dock employees, which leads to potential safety concerns. This is also true of the inverse situation in summer, when the outdoor temperature far exceeds the interior temperature, especially in cold storage facilities. Foam insulatio... Read More
A nationally recognized company was planning a new entertainment facility in the Midwest, and after comparing product lines, contacted Pentalift’s local dealer to assist with the design of a safe and efficient loading dock.
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The customer’s requirements included accommodating a wide variety of trucks and trailers from courier to over-the-road models via two dock positions. In order to fulfill this request it was determined that a dock lift alongside an edge of dock leveler would satisfy ... Read More