Interlocking dock equipment is becoming more common than ever. Interlocking the equipment improves safety at the loading dock area and also reduces potential for loading dock area equipment damage. First let’s identify some of the equipment that is commonly interlocked...usually equipment such as hydraulic dock levelers, vehicle restraints, overhead doors and inflatable dock seals. For example if the hydraulic dock leveler is interlocked to the overhead door, the door must be open before the d... Read More
The majority of dock lift control stations are electrically operated to both raise and lower the platform, so if there is a power failure the control buttons will not operate the lift table. If the dock lift is in the elevated position when the power failure occurs you will not be able to lower the dock lift unless the power unit is equipped with an optional manual lowering valve. The manual lowering valve would be located on the power unit, and when opened, the hydraulic oil in the lift cylinde... Read More
Dock lifts can be installed in many locations, and will usually have lift/lower controls readily available for the operator. Some are in a restricted, controlled access applications and the number of personnel permitted to operate the equipment are limited. Some dock lifts are installed outside of the building at a retail or institutional facility, where it is necessary to ensure that they cannot be operated by the general public. To prevent unauthorized use, the controls can be removable, key o... Read More
The hydraulic cylinder is the primary component of any hydraulic lift system. Pentalift's exclusive PentaFlow cylinder design ensures long cylinder life, reduces maintenance, and eliminates oil spills. The PentaFlow cylinder is completely sealed from the surrounding atmosphere and all components are continuously bathed in fresh oil. Contamination and deterioration of the cylinder cannot occur. When the cylinder reaches full extension, the bypass valve opens and allows oil to flow through the pis... Read More
The required lifting capacity of the dock lift determines the diameter and stroke of the hydraulic cylinders, and the number cylinders to be used. Once the cylinder requirements have been determined, then it simply becomes a matter of the volume of hydraulic oil that is pumped into the cylinders, more volume = faster lift times. Think of it this way; if it takes 2 minutes to fill a bucket with water using one garden hose and you want to fill it faster, add a second hose to the bucket. It will no... Read More
The rule of thumb that most manufacturers recommend for a Dock Lift's lifting speed is 10 to 12 feet per minute. The majority of dock lifts have a vertical lift of 5’, so 10-12 fpm equates to approximately 25 to 30 second lift time. This would be the average speed requested for most applications. Pentalift can offer increased or reduced lift speeds by manipulating the flow of oil, adjusting the horse power or the pump on the associated power unit. The maximum lift speed that Pentalift offers o... Read More
A dock lift is an integral part of the loading system for any warehouse.
The actual function of a dock lift is simply to act as a platform that is adjustable by height, but its extensive benefits are often overlooked. It allows for greater height adjustments than a leveler and can be used a bridge between a truck and a dock; essential tasks that streamline your backdoor operations.
Dock lifts can be powered by mechanical, air powered, or hydraulic systems. They eliminate ramp danger and stri... Read More
A company’s dock equipment is essential in ensuring all materials are handled with care and on-site breakages are mitigated. If you own a transportation or shipping company, you require dock equipment that will offer safe and effective performance over many years. Within this latest company post, we’ll examine the many advantages that preventative maintenance can offer your dock equipment.
Controlling Repair Costs
By crafting a versatile preventative maintenance strategy, you can gain co... Read More
Why do most loading dock equipment manufacturers offer both a pit model and a surface model of dock lifts? The majority of dock lifts are manufactured to suit a recessed pit installation. In some applications the site is unable to accommodate a recessed pit, perhaps due underground services and the difficulty and/or expense associated with rerouting them. In this application, temporary applications, or perhaps just for flexibility in the future, a surface installed dock lift equipped with an app... Read More
Many applications will require that your lift table be installed into a concrete pit.
The first thing to consider is your pit's overall dimensions. Beginning with the width and length, you want to leave a 1" gap around the perimeter of the platform, between the edge of the deck and edge of the pit wall. As a starting point, therefore, your overall pit width and length will be the platform width + 2" and the platform length + 2". This is for a lift table with no hinged bridges. Once you add a ma... Read More