All Pentalift dock lifts are provided with 2 OSHA compliant 42” high guard rails c/w a mid-rail and 4” high kick plate. Typically the guard rails are installed on the long sides of the dock lift platform however based on the application and traffic flow they can be positioned on any side or end of the platform. The standard design is referred to as removable guard rails.  Removable guard rails are bolted to a threaded plate that is welded to the dock lift platform. Hand tools are require... Read More
Prior to forming a pit and pouring concrete it is imperative that the Contractor follows the manufacturers pit drawings that are specific to the individual project. In the early stages of a project a Contractor may be called upon to provide budget pricing for a customer to excavate, form and pour a dock lift pit. The budget pricing for the pit and the equipment often determines if and when the project goes forward. This general information is provided for planning purposes only. The ... Read More
Pentalift offers technical support for all equipment that we manufacture. Prior to making a call for technical support, there is important information that Pentalift requires to assist in addressing the topic in a timely manner. Every piece of equipment Pentalift manufactures has a 9 digit serial number; this number is located on the equipment specification plate. The 9 digit serial number ties directly to the production file which contains the date of manufacture, list of components, wi... Read More
Dock Lifts are typically used to load or unload trucks from the truck bed to ground level. One of the main advantages of a dock lift is its ability to service a very wide range of trucks/trailers. The majority of dock lifts are installed into a recessed pit however not all applications can accommodate a recessed pit. Surface-installed dock lifts are the alternative, they are typically installed on a poured concrete pad. See Pentalift web pages for more information on dock lift applications.https... Read More
Pentalift recently introduced a new model of dock lift to our extensive lineup of our existing dock lift products. The model VCD Vertical Cylinder Dock Lift is designed as a cost effective solution to provide grade level to truck bed loading without creating a pre formed pit. https://www.pentalift.com/solutions/vcd-low-profile-surface-mounted-dock-lift/ The Model VCD Vertical Cylinder Dock Lift is available with a 72” wide x 96” long platform designed for traffic flow across both ends of ... Read More
ProSeries remote power units are generally installed right on the floor within close proximity of the lift table. Remote power units are supplied with 10’ of hydraulic hose as standard however longer hydraulic hose lengths are available; depending on the model up to 35’ of hydraulic hose can be ordered. An optional wall mounting bracket is available to install the power unit up off the floor and out of harm’s way. It is recommended to install this option with a minimum of 6’ of under cle... Read More
There are 4 - 5 common control stations to choose from to operate a dock lift; the selection is usually based on the application requirements. The most common control station ordered is a hand held pendant with 2 push buttons (up/down) on a 10’ long or longer cord. The same push button can be upgraded to include a coil cord that is 4’ retracted and 20’ extended. The retracted coil cord minimizes the amount of cord potentially lying on the floor and when fully extended provides a good range... Read More
The main concern is operator safety as it relates to eliminating potential pinch/shear/crush points when the lift table platform and rotating top lowers into the pit. First the lift table is equipped with . Electric toes sensors are an interlocked 4 sided bar assembly that is suspended under the lower 4 sided edge of the lift table platform. When lowering if any obstruction (operator’s foot, debris etc.) contacts the suspended 4 sided perimeter bar the lowering stops immediately. Second the ro... Read More
On an electro-hydraulic lift table the lift motor is mechanically coupled to the hydraulic pump. When the lift motor is activated the hydraulic system pumps the hydraulic oil to the lift cylinders and the lift table rises. When the lift motor is shut off by there is a slight overrun “freewheel” effect, the pump continues to pump oil for a split second and the lift table rises slightly. If precise positioning is required a Sure Stop Valve is added to the hydraulic circuit. At rest the Sure St... Read More
As standard dock lifts are supplied with removable guard rails. At the time of manufacture the guard rails are bolted to a threaded plate that is welded to the dock lift platform. These guard rails are now removable however they require hand tools to first remove the locking bolts, 4 locking bolts per guard rail. Based on the amount of work required and the time involved removing this style of guard rail is not a common practice to do repetitively. Another option is permanent guard rails, as th... Read More